“Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters,” his fourth solo art exhibit, also focuses on nature’s life-sustaining and overflowing abundance. By situating viewers in front of an imaginary mountain, Tan allows them to withdraw inward, into their own connection with nature and their core.
Artist Fred Chin Tan is holding his fourth solo exhibition at Galerie Francesca at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong. Dubbed as “Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters,” the show will run until September 30.
In Chinese painting, many critics consider the landscape as one of the most complex subjects to take on. With over a thousand years of history, this genre, if done well, resonates with not a few seasoned art collectors and the learned, as the landscape embodies a withdrawal from the imposed order of society.
For his part, Tan has drawn parallels with what’s happening in the world today. With the raging pandemic resulting from humanity’s excesses, perhaps clinging to the natural order will bring a more sustainable and lasting harmony.
“Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters” hearkens to the tradition of Chinese landscape painting. Although his style leans toward gestural abstraction, Tan’s works have an affinity not only to the implied image that’s strong in Chinese landscape tradition, but also in the philosophy he personally abides in.
He achieves this by working with wet paint and a randomly textured canvas to achieve fluid transitions of color and paint through his “painting by not painting” approach inspired by Taoist philosophy. Following further the way of the Tao, he celebrates the natural progression and harmonious design that are ingrained in nature. This philosophy resonates with Lao Tzu’s “be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there’s nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
“Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters” also focuses on nature’s life-sustaining and overflowing abundance. By situating viewers in front of an imaginary mountain, Tan allows them to withdraw inward, into their own connection with nature and their core, while contemplating his works.
Prior to his current show, Tan has had solo exhibitions at the Ayala Museum, the Yuchengco Museum and a number of local art galleries. He has also joined group shows in Art in the Park, Rockwell Powerplant North Court and in galleries in Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. He has been on the cover of Asian Art News (Volume 3, No. 24) in 2013 and has been reviewed by The Singapore Pocket Guide. His Moods 333, done under the pseudonym “Toro,” has been sold for S$212,400 at 33 Auctions in 2013.
“Silver Mountains, Sparkling Waters” is presented by Galerie Francesca, 4L, Building A, SM Megamall, EDSA, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, call 0935 5511305, or email info@galeriefrancesca.com.
