To understand the art of Fred Tan is to delve into an earnest search for meaning and purpose. Although most are abstract expressionist works created in the heat of the moment, Tan believes that these moments of splashing paint on canvas are a means of externalizing what’s in the innermost being. It is a way of letting go—the subconscious’ way of purging emotions from the memories of the trauma to be able to reflect on them, come to terms with the past and let go. In so doing, creates a mindset of stoic indifference that brings one to a state of inner peace. This is a recurring theme of Tan’s work, and it is expressed in his latest solo exhibition “Story and Struggle”.
In “Story and Struggle”, Tan, whose art is intricately intertwined with his ontology, focuses on the process of learning detachment. This detachment is related to the Eastern, meaning Buddhist and Taoist, philosophical detachment where it is believed that to live attached to the very things that define who we are—family, love, friends, our past, our status, our abilities, our desires and wants, our beliefs, our faith, and many of the things we consider precious—is to suffer from their loss.
While conventional wisdom tells us to treasure these, Buddhism encourages us to see life as transitory, to accept it as such, and to not be attached. Pushing this thought further, we are taught to recognize how our thoughts, our beliefs, and our emotions can lead us to harm ourselves, as when we allow the past to affect us negatively; to live in the shadow of trauma in hurt, anger or fear.
“Story and Struggle” reflects on this process. Struggles become stories and lose their negative power on us, once we learn to be self-aware and let go. When we let go, our minds are not clouded by hurt, fear, or anger, and we get to see clearly and regain our composure. Such a process takes time, and Tan, through this exhibit, encourages those on a similar path to composure and calmness, to continue the worthwhile effort. He reminds us to examine what struggles we’ve gone through, and what stories we tell ourselves, and learn to let go as a way of forgiving and getting to terms with the struggles we’ve faced so that we do not suffer them over and over again. An affirmation of our agency, “Story and Struggle” reminds us of our power to be free.
This exhibit runs from November 2 – 15, 2023 at Galerie Francesca: SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
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