RUNNING (IN) LIFE 1.0

About KAI SYNG TAN: artist / art curator / art educator

Since being named ‘The Most Promising Young Artist’ at the UOB Painting of the Year Competition at the age of 18, Kai Syng TAN has been out and about in the art world – hopefully still with some degree of ‘promise’. Kai Syng is a die-hard Made-In-Singapore Artist who is an insatiable tourist- consumer-hoarder who scavenges the surrounding clutter of signs/noise; as a compulsive editor she chews up, re-arranges and re-maps the found fragments into densely-layered works that question our ‘realities’ of the here and now, via the image (she was trained as a painter and sculptor)-music (she underwent classical piano education for 11 years) and text (for all her grandiouse philosophical and semiotic inquiries) in time and space, about, and for our here and now.

Having lived in the ‘Wild West’ and ‘Far East’ makes Kai Syng and her works a delicious concoction. Be it multimedia installation, single-channel video art, short films, text, ‘live’ cinema or performance, Kai Syng’s work are fiercely personal but always at a critical distance, with an urgency laced with self-reflexivity, inviting multiple levels of reading. Her works have been shown in more than 40 cities (Guangzhou Triennale 2008, Asia Art Biennale 2008, Biennale of Sydney 2006; ICA London 2005; House of World Cultures 2005, Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2001, British Short Film Festival 1996, Transmediale 2000). Kai Syng won several grants and awards along the way (San Francisco International Film Festival Golden Gates Award New Visions Video 1998; NIFCA Artist-In-Residency Award Helsinki, Finland 2006, Japan Foundation Artist-In-Residency Award Beppu Mixed Bathing World Contemporary Arts Festival 2009; The Young Artist Award 2007; project and travelling grants from the National Arts Council).

In 2008, Kai Syng was video artist and performer in Generations (directed by Ivan Heng), which premiered in Moscow’s Dom Musiki. She also participated in the Cinema South Festival in Sderot, 2km from the Gaza Strip in Israel, as curator of South East Asian programme. In 2010, she will premiere her permanent public commission, a video installation, at the new subway Bras Basah Station of the Circle Line in Singapore. She will also curate a film programme at the Jaipur International Film Festival 2010. Her works are collected by Fukuoka Asia Museum of Art, streamed in a UK media channel Firecracker Media, and being sold by Artinno Galleria.

Kai Syng sees her roles as an educator, curator and writer as extensions of her creative practice. She was educated at Slade School of Fine Art, University College London (BA in Fine Art, 1st class honours), School of Art Institute of Chicago USA as well as the Musashino Art University (Masters of Arts Distinction, Excellence Award), on full scholarships (Shell-NAC Arts 
Scholarship 1994; JCCI Arts Scholarship 2005). She taught Film Theory, 16mm Filmmaking and Film History for 3 years as lecturer in a polytechnic, and for nearly 4 years, she was Pathway Leader of Video Art at the Faculty of Media Arts, at an art college in Singapore. She was also Digital Arts consultant and Adjunct Lecturer at the School of the Arts, and since 2007 she has been an Advisory Committee member for the Interactive and Digital Media Industry, Media Development Authority of Singapore.

From Fall 2009 Kai Syng returned to the Slade School to undertake her PhD degree in Fine Art, on the Overseas Research Scholarship and Graduate Research Scholarship from the University College London, as well as a grant from the National Arts Council of Singapore. Her written and practical research examines the collision and collusion of our off- and on-line realities in the internet-mediated era of today, under the supervisions of Dr Susan Collins, Dr Sharon Morris and Mr Jon Thomson. For 1000-days she will live Life 3.0 as ‘Kaidie’ (performed by Kai Syng), who attempts to look for the Meaning of Life 3.0 in the city of ‘Nondon’ (performed by London) with the help of the audience at <3rdlifekaidie.com>. Kaidie will conduct her first Life 1.0, real-life appearance in Zurich, Switzerland in January 2010, on the Villa Straeuli Artist-In-Residency programme.

On a day-to day basis, Kai Syng enjoys her endurance swims and runs, being rather accomplished at enduring herself (it has been all these years after all). Having completed her first half-marathon (SAFRA Bay Run, August 2009 Singapore), she looks forward to running/limping/crawling her first marathon while waxing lyrical about the age-old mind-body problem. Otherwise, she still harbour of fantasies riding the Trans-Siberian, and about being a (mature) concert pianist some day in some life, since music – along with Math and Mark Rothko – can be more distant from this daily grind of ‘contemporary art’ (hence the Eisenstein lament of the advent of sound in cinema – what would he say about the arts today!?!). She also enjoys random friendship with stray cats.

*For full CV please contact any of the Kaidies at <dislocation@3rdlifekaidie.com> and one /some/all of them should respond to you.

* CRITICS’ COMMENTS (EXTRACTS)

* The work of Tan Kai Syng engages with the disorientation and realities of urban life. Although originally trained as a painter and sculptor, Tan has established herself as one of the foremost video artists in Singapore, engaging with the medium in interesting and often innovative ways. – Dr Eugene TAN. 2007. Contemporary Art In Singapore.  Eds NADARARAJAN G, STORER, R. & TAN, E. Institute of Contemporary Arts. Singapore. 142.

* Kai Syng’s ability to juxtapose images and sound of any site she finds herself in and piece these together into a tableau of cut-and-paste reality, creates an almost frenzied, but almost surreal mirror of contemporary life. - Joselina CRUZ. 2007. You Are Not A Tourist. Sculpture Square Limited. Singapore. 20.

* In all these works as also in her latest ISLANDHOPPING, Kai Syng Tan confronts her new social surrounding with the strategy of a research in progress that is an unusual mix of critical engagement, intellectual references and not to forget a very, very special way of engaging humour. - Johan PIJNAPPEL. ‘Kai Syng Tan’. Biennale of Sydney (catalogue). Sydney. 268-269.

* The room Tan Kai Syng devised for the exhibition ‘Politics of Fun’ in the House of World Cultures is overwhelming. Interviews and documentation are shown on many monitors, among them hundreds of books, tickets, brochures, maps, notes and sketches. Some of these seem to be relevant, others less so, but all are souvenirs of her three-year stay in Japan. Her video ‘Island Hopping, 2002-2005 Japan’ confirms the impression of a magpie-approach. In this potpourri of unstructured, disparate, but dense scenes and recollections, all details are interesting, and jump-cuts can be bridged by viewers’ associations. Blank spaces make for challenges. The viewer has to add his own narrative thread to the disparate stories. Even an email from her is brimming with information. She rejoices in communication, and her guises are protean. Within a brief conversation she is the humorous cynic, the attentive listener and so on and so forth. Whether she is gathering, making or showing things, she is wholly engrossed. - Susanne MESSMER. 2005. ‘The Manic Collector’. Culturebase.net.

*ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

* April 2003 – March 2005: Masters of Art (M.A.) Department of Imaging Arts & Sciences, Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan. Receive Award of Excellence, Distinctions in all subjects.
* April 2002 – April 2004: Japanese Language Center of Japan Student Services Organization, Tokyo, Japan
* Sept. 1994 – June 1998: First Class Honours, B.A. In Fine Art, Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, UK.
* Aug. 1996 – Dec. 1996: Exchange student at School of Art Institute of Chicago, USA.
* 1988 – 1993: Art Elective programme, G.C.E.’A’ Levels, G.C.E. ‘O’ Levels, Singapore.

*SCHOLARSHIPS

* 2009: Overseas Research Scholarship and Graduate Research Scholarship from University College London; grant from National Arts Council of Singapore.
* 2002: Scholarship from Japanese Chambers of Commerce Industry Singapore to read Masters in Japan.
* 1994: Shell-National Arts Council Art Scholarship Singapore.

* ART BIENNALE, TRIENNALE

* 2008: Guangzhou Triennale 2008 with new 3-projection installation, Here/There/Where, China.
* 2008: Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh.
* 2008: Invited to participate in Nanjing Triennale 2008 (but later dis-invited!), China.
* 2006: Biennale of Sydney 2006 with mixed media installation, ISLANDHOPPING IN-CONCLUSION 2002-2006. Undergo Artist- In-Residency. Conduct masterclasses at Universities in Canberra and Perth, Australia.

* AWARDS, GRANTS

* 2010: Permanent public commission at Bras Basah Station (Subway) Singapore.
* 2002-2009: Project and travel grants from the National Arts Council, Singapore.
* 2007: National award, Young Artist Award. National Arts Council, Singapore.
* 2003: President’s Young Talents Exhibition, Singapore Art Museum.
* 1999: Merit Award, New Visions (Video), 42nd San Francisco International Film Festival, USA.
* 1997: Sessional Prize from University College London.
* 1997: Project Grant from Slade School, UCL.
* 1994: Award at 8th Panasonic Video Awards with stop-motion animation, Singapore.
* 1993: The Most Promising Young Artist Award, UOB 12th Painting of the Year Art Competition.
* 1992: Certificate of Distinction Phillipe Charriol Contemporary Art Competition 1992/1993, Singapore.
* 1990: Distinctions for ABRSM piano examinations Grade 8 (practical). Pass Grade 8 Theory of Music, Singapore.

* ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY PROGRAMMES

* 2010: Villa Straeuli, Winterthur, Switzerland
* 2009: Beppu Project, sponsored by Japan Foundation, Japan.
* 2006: Sydney, Perth’s Edith Cowan University and Canberra’s Australian National University, as part of Biennale of Sydney
* 2006: Artist-in-Residence Award from NIFCA-Theatreworks. Suommenlinna, Finland.

* SOLO EXHIBITIONS

* 2005: TOKYO, JAPAN: 30 May: Kai Syng Tan Special Programme: 4-hour screening &  talk. Space NEO, Ochanomizu,
* 2005: TOKYO, JAPAN: ISLANDHOPPING IN-CONCLUSION Spring 2005 9-21 Gallery Surge. Opens with live concert with Tamaru and Adachi Tomomi.
* 2005: LONDON UK Curated by Ong Keng Sen at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.90-minute ‘live’ lecture performance at Brandon room, solo exhibition at Digital Studioso 4 projections of films at cafe.
* 2004: TOKYO, JAPAN: 13-25 September: ISLANDHOPPING Fall Variation at Gallery Surge. Opens with concert with Carl Stone and Christophe Charles.
* 2004: TOKYO, JAPAN: ISLANDHOPPING at ASK gallery in Ginza. opens with concert, and talk show with  the legendary Takahiko Iimura.
* 2004: TOKYO JAPAN: Over a 2-hour Tan Kai Syng Special Programme, 2 works screened. Tokyo Film School, under Yamagata in Tokyo Festival.
* 1999: SINGAPORE: 13 May: Pardon My French!, screening and installation, Alliance Francaise du Singapour.

* BODIES OF RESEARCH / THEMES & VARIATIONS / LEITMOTIFS :

* 2009 – 2012: London, UK: Life 3.0: existence, in between, psychogeography, realities, fantasy, internet art, performance: A ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MEANING OF A LIFE 3.0; THE AMAZING NEVERENDING UNDERWATER ADVENTURES! (from 2010: permanent exhibition at Bras Basah Station, Singapore).

* 2005  -2009: Singapore: City as theme park, psychogeography, realities, fantasy, performance in video, installation; work as curator: HERE/THERE/WHERE (Guangzhou Triennale 2008); A FOOL ON THE STOOL IN SCHOOL (inaugural show at 8Q SAM 2008); THE RATHER TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF THE TOUR GUIDE (Singapore Art Show 2007); CEASE/FIRES/DIS/EASES (Asia-Europe Mediation, 2007). Begin long-distance running.

* 2002- 2005: Tokyo, Japan: ISLANDHOPPING: in between, travelling, essay film, installation, ‘live’ laptop performance, subjectivity, realities, histories, video. (Biennale of Sydney 2006, ICA London 2005, House of World Cultures 2005, solo exhibition ASK and Surge galleries in Tokyo, President’s Young Talent 2003)

* 1998 – 2002: Singapore: Self, histories, subjectivity, identities, essay film, installation, film, video: CHLORINE ADDICTION (Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival 2001); I AM FIT FOR LIFE! (Nokia Art Show 2000) SPRING.BEAUTY.LOVE. (Earl Lu Gallery 2001), FEELING SO WHAT (CONTRADICTION IN TERMS) (Venice Open 2003). Begin collaboration with composer Philip Tan. Begin daily swim (1-1.5km).

* 1994 – 1998: London, UK: self, subjectivity, alterity, identities, self-reflexivity, experimental forms, essay film, 16mm, video, sound, installation, text, artist’s books, hypertext, performance: mud hypertext (1998), ALL CHANGE!!! trilogy (1998), BROOKFIELD ZOO (British Short Film Festival 1996)

* 1993- 1994: Singapore: identity, issues, experimental forms, ink paintings, comic books, text, video: THE CREATION (Panasonic Video competition 1994)

* Aged 14 – 18: Singapore: identity, fantasy, other worlds, escape, painting (oil, water colour), sculpture, design, portraitures: SAMS (UOB Painting of the year competition 1993); NIRVANA (Philippe Charriol Art Competition 1993)

* Aged 14: Has epiphany of sorts; begin taking art (a bit too) seriously.

* Aged 13-18: Enrolled in Art Elective Programme from secondary school – junior college, alongside Double Math, Physics, Chemistry, Economics et al.

* Aged 4: Begins piano lessons. Begins ‘professional career’ as artist by participating in art competitions.

* Aged 0: 1 month premature, but weighs in at 7lbs.

* SUPERVISORS

* 2009 – 2012: Slade School: media artist Dr Susan Collins, artist/writer Dr Sharon Morris, media artist Mr Jon Thomson * 2002-2005: Musashino Art University: Sound artist Associate Professor Christophe Charles *1995-1998: Slade School: Performance artist Professor Stuart Brisley

*PROFILE IN JAPANESE (Beppu Project artist-in-residency programme 2009 June)

* ONLINE PRESS (SELECTED, IN JAPANESE)

* 2009 Beppu project artist-in-residency programme/exhibition * 2005 Peeler magazine interview * 2004 Solo exhibition A.S.K. Gallery, Tokyo * 2004, 2005 2 solo exhibitions at Gallery Surge, Tokyo

* ONLINE PRESS (SELECTED)

* UCL scholars profile * Slade School of Fine Art * Slade Centre for Electronic Fine Art Media * 2008 Guangzhou Triennale China * 2005 Culturebase interview * 2006 Saatchi Gallery profile * 2001 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival *UNESCO profile * Artinno gallery

* For BIBLIOGRAPHY (TEXT THAT CITE KAI SYNG TAN; TEXT BY KAI SYNG TAN); FULL LIST OF COMMISSIONS, WORK AS CURATOR AND EXHIBITIONS, WORK EXPERIENCE AND CONSULTANCY et al, please contact Kaidie at <dislocation@3rdlifekaidie.com>