Moses Tan
Study for Dramatic Venus
HD video, colour / 5:01 mins
ABOUT THE WORK
This work was made in response to NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Lab's <!Doctype Work> curated by Shireen Marican, Lim Ze-Tian and Leon Tan. Study for Dramatic Venus is a response to the processes and conditions of art making. Originating from an experiment where he uses artybollocks and artyexpress – online generators that automatically produces an artist statement and title – the artist explores the mechanics behind conceptualisation, research and performativity through the use of the 'artist statement', that can be read as both arbitrary and satirical.
The intention behind the work comes as a result of the continual need for online discussions via various forms of text during the lockdown in Singapore. Text that is used to serve a purpose in articulating work at times becomes central to keeping with relevance, either through grant applications, communication with key personnels in work and even marketing via social media. The need to be present in both digital and analogue domains has led to conditions in making art under pressure, hence the act of using online generators is in itself a statement.
Credits:
Text written by Shireen Marican
Audio credits: Frankum and Frankumjay
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Moses Tan (b.1986) is an artist interested in histories that intersect with queer theory and politics while looking at melancholia and shame as points of departure. He has exhibited in Grey Projects (SG), Hidden Space (HK), 1a Space (HK), Indiana University (US), Sabanci University (TR), 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (SYD) and recently at NTU Centre for Contemporary Art The Lab (SG).