Alliance Française de Singapour

“IN” BEIJING

『因』北京

Visual fine art: Tan Haur

This exhibition exemplifies the discovery process of Singaporean artist Tan Haur, who through introspection and the practice of Zen philosophy conceives an intimate vision of the profoundly historical yet uniquely urbanized landscape of Beijing. Having worked and traveled extensively, Tan Haur offers depth to his art by reflecting on a myriad of cultural and visual experiences.

Globalization has incurred a significant impact on our working and living environment. Today's artists have not been exempted from this massive shift in culture and reliance on travel. Through participating in activities, festivals, and projects across the globe, artists inevitably develop foreign and global perspectives, while retaining their core values derived from childhood experiences. Being at this front has inspired unique perspectives, evoked increasingly fascinating points of view from the art community, and enveloped a wider spectrum of subject issues beyond the capacity of a single artist. This synergy has added a different dimension to the course of local art, and in particular, the migratory nature of contemporary art.

Tan Haur employs digital photography as a medium to investigate and question how we grapple with a globalize culture, find harmony in today's fast-paced environment, and maintain a clear mind in the face of issues due to rapid urbanization and globalization. His pictures serve to function as a mirror of Zen philosophy, infusing calmness, concentration, and enjoyment. Through his lens, Tan Haur shares his point of view as he searches for tranquility within the fast-paced cities of today's modern societies.

The entire artistic idea behind the exhibition:

This exhibition reflects Tan Haur's passion for black & white, and fine art color photography. By combining straightforward street photography with visual statements of local subject matters onto a single frame, Tan Haur leads the viewer into his world without the use of complicated post-production techniques. The artist explains that, "most of the photos in pairs are simply placed side by side to shed light on the ideas and artistic statement."

This series of artworks represent more than just an artists' experience of Beijing. Instead, it is an in-depth exploration into the expression of Zen in context of daily life.