Wyatt Tan

Decay and violence are not the usual adjectives one would use in scrutinizing, commenting nor verbalizing an artist’s work. However, when seeing and experiencing the works of a young Malaysian artist these are the adjectives he uses with one critical modifier “of organic nature”. Visualizing the natural ravages of age, nature, or the subtle unseen forces that are very much presence around us such as time and social issues, among other organic decay and violence through his own whimsical and unconventional perspectives, Wyatt Tan brings to life his fascination of exploiting opposites through the juxtaposition of conventional beauty.

His artistic instincts where first manifested through photography. It was his experimentation with altering images that would later influence his creative talents looking at objects, people and environment from unconventional perspectives. He discovered a kinship with street photographer Vivian Maier whose work exudes a charming but honest quality of the people and the streets of Chicago and New York, rather than style and fashion most contemporary street photography exhibited. Diane Arbus, another photographer whose primary interests in capturing the deviant, marginal or whose normality seem surreal or ugly to most people also resonates with Wyatt’s interest in unconventional beauty in both organic and inorganic matters, especially how decay forges through the unseen brute forces of time.

Seeking more formal training he was accepted in the prestigious Parsons School of Design where he perused a master’s degree in fashion studies. His interests being more academic and intellectual he wanted to understand how art history serves as a base platform in understanding the theory of clothing as a form of art. His time at Parsons was cut short when his father disinherited him and cut off all financial support having learned of his sexual orientation and recent HIV diagnosis.

Resilient and needing to distance himself from his family’s action, Wyatt developed a deep passion for decorative arts and designs. He was accepted in the acclaimed Alpha Workshops in the trade of faux painting, traditional wallpaper design and printing, as well as other interior/exterior related faux finishes. Wyatt cites mid-century giants Gio Ponti, Bjorn Winblaad and Tapio Wirkkala as his favorite designers who influence his general concept in pursuing an interior decorating career. As a result of his passion in decorative objects, Wyatt learned how to identify even the most obscure of decorative objects and tabletops.

Wyatt’s intellectual interest in better understanding his own creative path, especially with his newfound passion in working in the method of assemblage, lead him to the works of Robert Rauschenberg. His work is constantly evolving often incorporating photography, various mediums, decorative painting, and the incorporation of found objects; both organic and inorganic; not only utilizing his candid yet down to earth perspective, but also spinning a touch of whimsy and kitsch based on his personal understanding of different culture, religion, sexuality, and social pragmatism.

Through these interests and passion, Wyatt hoped to rope them in and translate them into a well-rounded career where photography, interior decorating and faux painting designs, while not only Utilizing his candid yet down to earth perspective, as well as spinning a touch of whimsy and kitsch based on his personal understanding of different culture, religion, sexuality, and social pragmatism, all of which are qualities that Wyatt chose to weaved into his interests and passions in photography, decorative painting, and assemblage art.