Singapore - Twenty paintings, delivered via TNT Express, are lost in transit and have not been recovered in time for the opening of ARTSingapore.

The paintings, by Italian artist Luigi Rincicotti, are valued at up to S$500,000 and were expected to arrive in Singapore from Bangkok three weeks ago. They were packed into a 50kg box and transported by TNT Express.

Delia Kang owns the Bangkok-based Carpediem Galleries that is bringing in the show. It was one of more than 100 outfits taking part in the four-day art fair which ran from 10-13 October.

TNT said the company has doubled efforts to track down the shipment, but has yet to recover the missing paintings at time of press.

"TNT is doing its utmost to recover the shipment; the search is still ongoing and TNT's team in Southeast Asia is continuing to work very closely with relevant parties to recover the paintings as soon as possible," said Damien Tan, MD of TNT Express Worldwide.