About /
Erika Tan is an artist whose work has evolved from an interest in received narratives, contested heritage, subjugated voices and the transnational movements of ideas, people and things. Her work arising out of processes of research and responses to the unravelling of facts, fictions, and encounters related to events, locations, audiences and specifics that may already exist. Her work has been exhibited internationally including The Samsung Art Plus Prize (BFI London, 2011); There Is No Road (LABoral, Spain 2010); Thermocline of Art (ZKM, Germany 2007); Around The World in Eighty Days (South London Gallery / ICA 2007); The Singapore Biennale (2006); Cities on the Move (Hayward Gallery, London).
As an extension to her practice, Erika has also jointly curated and project managed art projects in association with Above:Below such as: The ICA in China; Imaginaria Digital Art Prize '99; HUB @The RiCHMiX, an urban regeneration project; Souvenirs, interventionist project in Museum Street, London. Erika has also had a long-standing interest and engagement with the Chinese Arts sector in Britain. Working as a Chinese Arts Worker and freelance research assistant/curator she has contributed to Half the Sky: Chinese Women in London, Museum of London, 1997. In Focus: Film and Video from the Chinese Diaspora: Britain and Another Province, Waterman Art Center, London, 1997. She was involved in the initial developments of CAS, an East Asian Art Space within the center of London and was part of the Chinese Art Centre’s (Manchester) Leadership Network Training Scheme.
Erika studied Social Anthropology and Archaeology at Kings College, Cambridge; Film Directing at The Beijing Film Academy, followed by an M.A in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins School of Art, London. Awards have included: an NAC Singapore Arts Creation Award for new work (Repatriating the object With No Shadow), The Arts Council Black Arts Video Award. Firstbase, ACAVA Studio Award. Digital Arts Fellowship, The Arts Foundation. British Council Travel Grant to Japan. Arts Council Connections Fund to Singapore, 99/2000. ACME Live Work Studio Award, London, 2001-2004. Artists Links British Council/Arts Council Residency in China Award.
Erika is a Lecturer on the B.A Fine Art course at Central Saint Martins School of Art, University of the Arts, London.