Kevin Tan
The Artist with a point of view!
by Radhika Narayan
Three weeks in Singapore was something that we had all been looking forward to for almost a year. We needed the break, my daughter needed it so that she could have her aunt and uncle spoil her while we visited them, and my husband and I needed to break away from the daily routine of our respective work schedules.
What I wasn’t counting on though, was a chance encounter with an amazing artist who had me thinking about work when I should have been holidaying. I’ll have you know, however, that I’m not complaining one bit!
I met him while I was ambling through China Town in Singapore, enjoying the views, smells and even the odd offbeat taste which I was brave enough to indulge in. The place was pleasantly crowded as I walked along Smith Street. On one little corner, I noticed a conspicuous bunch of people, ranging in ages from about seven to seventy, standing around what looked like an easel with a piece of canvas on it. As I strolled over, I realized that an extremely sweet mannered gentleman, and the work that he was doing, was the object of all this attention.
As I stood and watched him, I realized that he was no ordinary artist. All the while that he was producing this breathtaking illustration; he kept humoring his audience as they chatted with him and watched him work. It was evident that he knew exactly what he was doing, his strokes were firm and confident, he had an amazing eye for detail; and he was mature enough to know that all the people who stood around him meant him well. He wasn’t taking them as detractors, they were his subjects! And on some plane, beyond the physical, everything they said or did or laughed at was going to become a part of his work. The good time that he was having while working and interacting with those people, was somehow going to get portrayed in what he was doing. He noticed the newcomer to the gang, and looked up at me. “Hi”, I said as I reached out my hand, “I’m Radhika”. “Kevin Tan”, he said as he shook my hand while sitting on his work stool, “Pleased to meet you”.
I realized that I wanted to get to know this artist. And as we met for a second time in China Town itself, I realized that he was a man who was self made and motivated. Here was someone who had all the right lessons to impart. I knew that I wanted to introduce him to all the young and not so young artists who hadn’t had the chance to see his work as yet.
Born in Singapore in 1963, Kevin grew up interested in art. As a youngster he would find himself doodling on any piece of paper that he found, in fact he cheerfully admits that he wouldn’t even spare the daily newspaper, and would fill up with his sketches till it was unreadable. What today is a passion began as a hobby. Although his first love was art, he ended up studying in schools which had no relation to what he cared for most. “The need of the hour was to develop a technical skill, get a job, and give into the demand of the market”, says Kevin reminiscing. During secondary school he joined a technical class learning metal works; however, he soon realized that he still needed to choose his path and went on to study Graphic Design from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Subsequently he entered the world of advertising and has been associated with it for almost 30 years.
There was so much that I wanted to know about Kevin Tan, and only one way to find out. So I pulled out my pencil and scribble book and began to let the questions fly.
Me: What would you consider to be your style of art?
Kevin Tan: Radhika, I believe that I’m just aspiring to be an artist. I’m still trying to find my style! Right now, I am obsessed with depicting China Town, Singapore. So, all the work that you see is China Town specific.
Me: What made you choose China Town as a subject?
Kevin Tan: Well you see, China Town bustles with life. Moreover, a lot of my childhood memories reside in China Town. As children we would hang out here and have a whale of a time. If you notice, my illustrations on China Town always has children in them, it’s because I am often reminded of my Childhood here. So choosing China Town as my subject was actually a no brainer.
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| Behind Temple |
Me: All your art that I see is in black ink using a fountain pen as a tool, I’m also interested to know if you try to use any other medium of expression?
Kevin Tan: Call me sentimental, Radhika (smiling broadly), but most of the tools and the medium that I use now has a lot to do with my childhood memories. While in school, we would use a fountain pen to write. The fountain pen is like an old, authentic, traditional tool; but it is still an effective way of bringing a new age China Town to life. So you see, in my own way, I have tried to bring the old and new together. I also feel that the fountain pen is an ideal tool to bring together current happenings in an old place which has a lot of history (such as China Town).
Right now I am working on the China Town series, but I do try to work on other mediums as well. As an artist I do try to explore as much as possible. I think it is my training as an illustrator in the advertising world that compels me to search for other mediums. An artist, however, must adapt the medium to the subject that he wants it to portray. I look forward to doing a series on fabric. Fabric has a rich history, initially it was used to keep people warm, and slowly it developed into a medium which depicted the character of the wearer. Now it is a costume which depicts authority. Fabric has now become a story teller. My aim is to use fabric to tell various stories at some point in time.
Me: What is your inspiration when you start a piece of art?
Kevin Tan: Well you see I do my work outdoors. When I’m in front of a scene, I’m continuously watching for things that inspire me. It could be anything or anyone, a store owner, kids at play… I then develop the subject further. I take anything between four to eight hours to develop my picture. So in the beginning, I start on a raw thought, as time goes by I see new things and try to implant them in my picture. My aim is to make my still life drawing more interesting.
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Me: What do you feel are the important aspects that an artist needs to work on?
Kevin Tan: (Laughing out loud)… That is quite subjective. Personally, I feel that as an artist you must be able to develop your set of skills. Let me try and give you and example, if you want to use a tool like watercolor, you must insist on using a medium which furthers the use of watercolor and thereby improve your skills in that genre.
Secondly, I feel that an artist must have self motivation. Passion for the job is a must. You must not want to become an artist because of money or fame, but you must have love of the art. You must enjoy every piece of art. Self motivation helps you wake up early every morning, if that’s what you need to do to complete a project that you’re working on. It helps you push yourself, for no one will do the pushing for you.
Me: What are the most memorable responses that you have received for a piece of art?
Kevin Tan: I post my work online. I haven’t really gone about marketing it. I do have a tie up with an art gallery to show my work. But I haven’t had a solo exhibition showcasing my art yet. I feel I’m still not ready for a solo show. I do want to do something and am still developing towards it, so I can’t really say. I guess it still hasn’t happened yet. I just have to focus on my work and leave the responses for later.
Me: Do you have a dream project that you would like to work on?
Kevin Tan: I have an advertising background and I have been involved in the critique of some work. Hmmmm…. Difficult question (smiles)! I don’t know, I have dreamt of having a wall mural for my living area (laughs).
Me: What is the best advice that you have for an upcoming artist?
Kevin Tan: Top of the list, I feel an artist should have the correct mind set. To me one must have the passion, and must concentrate on improving ones skill. An artist must be able to keep expanding his knowledge. I feel it is extremely important to work at getting an insight into history and how ancient artists worked. All artistes must aim to keep expanding and exploring, try to understand how the old masters have done it. Even if what you have is in theory, you must experiment with it, try and understand how the masters went about it. Work on important things like how to get textures, effects, views and try to imagine what was in the mind of the old masters.
I feel that there is a strong need to study art history. Although I am an artist myself, I spend hours studying other works. I don’t think anyone can start anything new. There are always others who have done it before. Studying their work can help you get your act together, instead of reinventing the wheel you can work on bettering what they have done. An artist must be a student first. Don’t think about making money because I feel that that would be the wrong approach.
Everyday that I wake up I am dedicated to being an artist.
I have to put my soul and love into the work.
Me: Who would you call your favorite artist?
Kevin Tan: I think my favorite artist would be Rembrandt. He has done a lot of detailed work and he was instrumental in changing the culture of art during that time. He introduced depth in art at a time when art was just more or less two dimensional. As I study books on Rembrandt to understand him more, I see the control that he exercises on light and color and that truly inspires me. During the time that he was working he was not paid much, but he insisted on art. I truly feel that artists such as Rembrandt relied on “the art of life” to produce what they did. Art has made subtle advancements throughout the ages; Rembrandt is one man who facilitated such an advance.
Me: What medium do you think is the best for a young artist?
Kevin Tan: I really wonder whether I am qualified to suggest a medium to anyone. Having said that, I feel that the thought is important, the medium that a young artist uses is secondary. The medium is just a method to express your thoughts. Certain mediums are suitable for certain thoughts. If an artist believes that oil is a suitable medium to represent his thoughts, then so be it. It is for the artist to realize if the medium of his choice is doing him justice.
Me: Lastly, Kevin, Do you consider yourself a professional artist?
Kevin Tan: There are those in the market who call me a professional artist. But as far as I go, I am still learning. I’m still like a young kid finding out new things for the first time, still discovering styles of art. This approach inspires me to want to know more. I believe that an artist is exploring every day. And though people may call one a professional, I believe that an artist is always learning.
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| Chinese Opera |
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| Granted Leisure |
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| House of Lantern |
Not only did I have the privilege of interviewing Kevin Tan, I also got to watch him work for several hours. Even when he wasn’t sitting with his precious easel, He seemed to be always on the job, studying expressions, movements and various facets of the people around him. He did all of this in a matter of fact way, constantly interacting with them, befriending them. Not only was he in love with his subjects, he was also extremely respectful towards his medium and his tools.
He told me that he had never been to India, but had always dreamt of making a trip. I have no doubt that the warmth of India will give him tremendous opportunities to create the art that he so loves. I, in turn, promised him a trip that he would cherish if he did put his plans into action. Till then, Kevin Tan, I wish you joyful art!!
Photos of Kevin Tan courtesy Dominic Lazarus.
