Represented in Australia by Art Atrium, Sydney
Artist Statement
Jayanto Tan is a visual artist who was born and raised in a small village in North Sumatra, Indonesia to a Sumatran Christian mother and Guandong, China Taoist father. As an immigrant visual artist living in Sydney, who fled poverty and political repression in search of a better life, his practice blends Eastern and Western mythologies with the reality of current events.
He draws on the identity politics of his diaspora to express personal experiences of ‘otherness’ through ceramic sculpture, authentic food, installation, drawing and performance. His practice shares autobiographical experiences of loss, displacement, hope and offering a sentiment of mixed spirituality and sharing demonstrates a diverse culture bringing the timeless wisdom of meditation to a contemporary world.
Artist CV
Education
2017 – 2019 Masters of Fine Arts, Drawing, National Art School
2014 – 2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics, National Art School
2010 – 2013 Diploma of Fine Arts, Sculpture and Painting, Sydney Gallery School
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2022 A Little Potluck Party Pai Ti Kong with the Ghosts, Curator: Anne McLaughlin, supported by Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2022 Ritual Ceng Beng, Curator: Jake Treacy, Atrium Space, supported by Incinerator Gallery, Aberfeldie, Victoria
2022 Ritual Gathering Potluck Party, Text: Shoufay Derz, Launched by Amrit Gill, Artist in Conversation with Natalie Saez, Art Atrium Gallery, Botany
2022 Ritual Ceng Beng – Phoenix Rises From The Ashes, Curator: Kyle Weise, Text: Siobhan Campbell, supported by Metro Arts West End, Queensland
2022 The Waterfalls in the Moon Gardens, Bilpin International Ground for Initiatives, NSW
2021 Ritual My Beautiful Curse (Cap Go Meh), Text: Greg Daly, Verge Gallery, The University of Sydney, supported by City of Sydney.
2021 Mantra, I am a ghost In My Own Home, Curator: Tony Twigg, Slot a Window Gallery
2020 Happy Days, Cabinet of Curiosity, Ashfield Town Hall, Inner West Council
2019 Ritual Everywhere But Nowhere (Buah Semangka Berdaun Sirih), supported by Firstdraft, Sydney
2018 Offerings, Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, Western Sydney University
2018 Heritage – Peranakan, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Inner West Council
2017 Journey – Merantau, Kensington Contemporary, Sydney
2014 Conversations, NG Pop-up Gallery, Ground Central Park, Sydney
Awards and Prizes
2023 Finalist – HIDDEN Rookwood Sculpture Walk, Curator: Kath Fries
2023 Highly Commended – Dobell Drawing Prize #23, National Art School, Sydney
2022 Finalist – The 60th Annual Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Center
2022 Finalist – Eden Unearthed: Art In The Gardens, Eden Gardens Macquarie Park
2022 Finalist – The Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award
2022 Finalist – HIDDEN Rookwood Sculpture Walk, Curator: Kath Fries
2022 Finalist – North Sydney Art Prize
2022 Finalist – Muswellbrook Art Prize, NSW
2022 Finalist – Sculpture at Saw Millers McMohans Point
2021 Winner – Georges River Sculpture Art Prize, Hurstville Museum Gallery
2021 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre
2021 Finalist – Blacktown City Art Prize, Leo Kelly Art Center
2021 Finalist – The Churchie Emerging Art Prize, Institute of Modern Art, Queensland
2021 Finalist – Incinerator Art Award – Art for Social Change, Incinerator Gallery, Victoria
2021 Finalist – Eden Unearthed: Art In The Gardens, Eden Gardens Macquarie Park
2021 Finalist – Western Sydney University Sculpture Award, Campbelltown
2021 Winner – First Prize Sydney Royal Easter Show, Ceramic, Olympic Park
2021 Finalist – The 66th Blake Prize, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
2020 Finalist – HarbourSculpture, Balmain Rowing Club
2020 Winner – The 11th Greenway Art Prize, Small Sculpture, Inner West Council
2020 Finalist – Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery
2020 Finalist – Incinerator Art Award – Art for Social Change, Incinerator Gallery, Victoria
2020 Finalist – A Little Things Arts Prize, Saint Cloche, Paddington
2019 Finalist – Blacktown City Art Prize, Leo Kelly Art Center
2019 Finalist – The 10th Annual Greenway Art Prize, Inner West Council
2019 Finalist – Urban EDGE Art Prize, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Inner West Council
2019 Finalist – Sculptures @ Bayside Acquisition Prize, Cook Park, Kyeemagh
2019 Finalist – North Sydney Art Prize, Sydney
2019 Finalist – Art on GreenWay Art Prize, Inner West Council
2018 Winner – Mentoring Blooming Arts, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Inner West Council
2017 Finalist – HIDDEN, Rookwood Cemetery Sculpture Walk
2017 Finalist – A Little Things Art Prize, Saint Cloche, Paddington
2017 Finalist – Sculptures @ Bayside Sculpture Award, Cook Park
2017 Finalist – Harbour Sculpture Prize, Woolwich
2017 Finalist – North Sydney Art Prize, Sydney
2016 Finalist – Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre
2016 Finalist – A Little Things Art Prize, Saint Cloche, Paddington
2015 Highly Commented – Women’s Art Prize, See Street Gallery, Meadowbank
2014 Finalist – Sculpture in the Vineyard, Wollombi Valley, Lower Hunter Valley
2014 Finalist – Utopia, Chippendale New World Art Prize, Sydney
2014 Finalist – Sculpture at Scenic World, Blue Mountain, NSW
2013 Finalist – Sculpture in the Vineyard, Wollombi Valley, Lower Hunter Valley
2013 Highly Commented – Revitalisation, Chippendale New World Art Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist – The 59th Hunters Hill Art Exhibition
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 The Hungry Ghosts Party, a part of Food Festival, supported by Canterbury Bankstown Arts Center
2023 SLOT’S 20-Year Survey Exhibition, Curator: Catherine Benz, Delmar Gallery, Trinity Grammar School, Ashfield
2023 True Colours, Mardi Gras WorldPride Exhibition, Kerrie Lowe Gallery
2023 Reunion Table, Queer Lunar New Year, Worship Queer Collective, Red Rather Theatre, supported by IWC
2023 A Little Imlek Pot Luck Party, Celebrate Lunar New Year With Us, supported by SBS Center Artarmon
2022 Art in the Heart of Haymarket, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and MOCA, supported by City of Sydney
2022 Summer Sojourn, The 13th End of Year Group Exhibition, Art Atrium, Sydney
2022 Cheap Nyonya Luck-Sha from Chinatown, the 13th Anniversary of Firstdraft Auction
2022 HIDDEN Satellite Exhibition: And then Pai Ti Kong, Curator: Kath Fries, McGlade Gallery Australian Catholic University
2022 At The Met: A Language Queer – Mardi Gras Exhibition, Kerrie Lowe Gallery
2022 Year of the Tiger – Lunar New Year Exhibition, Audrey Fine Art, Sydney
2022 Parallel Wandering, Curator: Cassandra Hard Lawrie, Lunar New Year, supported Willoughby City Council
2021 Summer Sojourn, The 12th End of Year Group Exhibition, Art Atrium, Sydney
2021 The Third Space, Curator: Elaine Kim – Kudos Gallery UNSW Art and Design, Sydney
2021 Après Christian Boltanski (After CB), Firstdraft’s online Auction, Sydney
2021 Sacred Gathering (Worship Ritual Datuk Gong) Curator: Suzanne Davey – Eramboo Arts Environmental, supported by Northern Beaches Council
2021 Acute Actions: Responses to I Am Not A Virus, No Friend But The Ghosts (Ceng Beng), Curators: Con Gerakaris, Renae Takeuchi, Dylan Goh, supported by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
2021 A Little Tea Party, VESSEL – Carrie // receptacle, May Space, Sydney
2021 Dragdolls Through the Looking Glass, Mardi Gras Exhibition, Kerrie Lowe Gallery
2020 Summer Sojourn, The 11th End of Year Group Exhibition, Art Atrium, Sydney
2020 Lemonade – mon amour, not here not there nowhere (buah simalakama) Curators: Kalanjay Dhir, Namika Parajuli, Amy Toma, Tian Zhang, supported by PARI ARI, Parramatta
2020 Fortune Cookie after Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Firstdraft Art Auction
2020 Fresh Perspective, Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Newtown
2020 Rainbow Visionaries, Mardi Gras Exhibition, Kerrie Lowe Gallery
2019 Summer Sojourn, The 10th Anniversary End of Year Group Exhibition, Art Atrium, Botany
2019 Master of Fine Art Exhibition, National Art School, Sydney
2019 Ritual Looking For Enlightenment, Mpavillion Monash University, Melbourne
2019 Healing, Firstdraft Art Auction, Woolloomoollo, Sydney
2019 Suburban XTRA, Curator: Jacqueline Larcombe, The Bearded Tit, Redfern, Sydney
2019 Yes, Yes, Nanette! Mardi Gras Exhibition, Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Newtown
2018 The Drawing Exchange, Curator: Maryanne Coutts, National Art School and Adelaide Central School of Art
2018 Offering, Firstdraft Art Auction
2018 A Particular Portion of Space, Curator: Maryanne Coutts, Library Stairwell Gallery, National Art School
2017 A Fresh Perspective, Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Newtown
2017 Colors, Place Suisse des Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland
2017 Hiver, Place Suisse des Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland
2017 Get Amongst It, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
2016 Bachelor of Fine Art Exhibition, National Art School, Sydney
2016 TWENTY TWENTY, Curators: Nicky Ginsberg and Claudia Chan Shaw, Lunar New Year Exhibition, City of Sydney, Kensington Street
2014 This is not Art (TiNA) – Monuments of the Everyman, Curator: Jacqueline Larcombe, NANA art space, Newcastle
2014 Crossing Boundaries, City of Sydney, Curator: Catherine Croll, Chinese New Year Exhibition, Sydney Town Hall
2013 Diploma Graduate Exhibition, Sydney Gallery School, Sydney
2013 Open Studio Exhibitions, BG Studio Red Gate, Beijing
2013 蛇 rắn 뱀 A Celebration of Asian Australian Art, City of Sydney, Curator: Catherine Croll, Sydney Town Hall
2013 Australian Identity and Beyond, City of Sydney, Curator: Nick Baldas, Muse Gallery Ultimo
Funded Projects
2023 Flying Green Fish, EDGE ArtCamp on the GreenWay, with Diamando Koutsellis, Performance by Ryuichi Fujimura, Jayanto Tan, Stella Chen, Flute: Jessica Kejun Xu, Inner West Council
2022 Fairy Hands In Fox’s Lane, Curator: Jayanto Tan, Ryuichi Fujimura, Carlos Gomes, Kyati and Kartika Suharto, the EDGE Fox’s Lane Activations, Inner West Council
2022 There is Always be a Light on For You, Fox’s Lane Ashfield Permanent Copper Lanterns Public Art Installation with Alessandro Berini, Selina Springett with the 27 Inner West Community, Inner West Council
2021 RAW CLAY LAB, Eramboo Gallery, Curator: Suzanne Davey with Kath Fries, Michelle Parrette, Helen Earl, Chirstina Frank. Northern Beaches Council
2021 Ritual Rainbow Gathering, Eden Unearthed: Art In The Gardens, Macquarie Park
2021 Potluck Party: Pai Ti Kong Feast, Caterer Nyonya Food, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
2021 Ceng Beng, No Friend But The Ghosts, I Am Not A Virus Project, Diversity Arts Australia
2020 A Little Ceng Beng (Felix Gonzalez-Torres) Curator: Hetty Diggiti, Knox St Window Gallery, City of Sydney
2019 Their Sea is Always Hungry, Caterer Jajan Pasar for Leyla Steven Exhibition, UTS Art
2019 Ritual Red Chandeliers, Warringah Aquatic Centre Public Art, Northern Beaches Council
2019 Moon Festival, EDGE Ashfield, Inner West Council
2019 Ritual Looking For Enlightenment, Newtown ArtSeat, Inner West Council
2019 Ritual Tea Tree, Art on GreenWay Art Prize, Lilyfield, Inner West Council
2019 Peranakan Ritual Gathering Curator: Jayanto Tan with Local Inner West Artists, EDGE Leichhardt Town Hall, Inner West Council
2019 Warung Peranakan Waginem Curator: Jayanto Tan with Tony Twigg and local Inner West Artists, Slot Gallery
2018 EDGE Spring Festival, Ashfield Civic Center, Inner West Council
2018 Eden Unearthed, Eden Gardens, Macquarie Park, NSW
2017 Eden Unearthed, Eden Gardens, Macquarie Park, NSW
2015 Mental Health Day Curator: Jayanto Tan with local community. Supported by Indonesians Welfare Association and Sydney South Community
2014 Performance Pondok Ranggon Cemetery, Curator: Jayanto Tan with the Victims Riot of May 1998, Jakarta, Indonesia
2014 Born as a Wooden Horse, Curator: Mayu Kanamori with Maylen Hunt and local artists, City of Sydney, Sydney Town Hall
2013 Rainbow in Beijing, with Snow in Bali, 798 Art District, Yuanfen – Flow, Beijing, China
Funded Workshops
2023 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Manly Art Gallery and Museum
2023 Making Clay Fish Sculpture, EDGE ArtCamp GreenWay, Inner West Council
2023 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Buddha’s Birthday Multicultural Festival, Tumbalong Park Darling Harbour
2023 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Minus 18 ACON, Mardi Grass WorldPride, Roundhouse, UNSW Kensington
2023 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Mardi Gras WorldPride, Newtown Square, Inner West Council
2023 Making Air Clay Pai Ti Kong Food Sculpture, Lunar New Year Celebration, Maitland Regional Art Gallery
2023 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year Celebration, Mosaic Multicultural Center, Willoughby City Council
2023 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year Celebration, Library Willoughby City Council
2022 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, The Langston Weekender, Epping
2022 Making Air Clay Fortune Cookie, Fairy Hands at EDGE Green Sydenham, Inner West Council
2022 Making Air Clay Food, Peranakan Feast, City of Ryde
2022 Making Clay Fortune Cookie, Granville Arts Centre, Cumberland City Council
2022 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Curator Tian Zhang, interns Ryuichi Fujimura and Kyati Suharto – The Way We Eat Art After Hours, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2022 Making Air Clay Fortune Cookie, Curator Dylan Goh, interns Ryuichi Fujimura and Carlos Gomes, Campsie Street Food Festival, City of Canterbury Bankstown
2022 Making Air Clay Food Sculpture, Curator Tian Zhang, intern Ryuichi Fujimura, The Way We Eat Art After Hours, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2022 Making Clay Fortune Cookie, EDGE Fox’s Lane Ashfield, Inner West Council
2022 Making Clay Fortune Cookie, Lunar New Year Celebration, Eden Gardens, Macquarie Park
2021 Making Clay Fortune Cookie – Youth Off The Streets, Mungo Scott Place, Inner West
2021 Making Copper Lantern – Youth off The Streets, Mungo Scott Place, Inner West Council
2020 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year – Henley Street Reserve Garbage, Strathfield Council
2019 Making Paper Lantern, Mpavillion Monash University, Melbourne
2019 Making Paper Lantern, North Sydney Art Prize, North Sydney Council
2019 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year – Kensington Street, Chippendale
2018 Making Paper Lantern, Mittelschule am Aschberg in Weisingen, Bavaria, Germany
2018 Making Paper Lantern, Ashfield Civic Centre, Inner West Council
2018 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year – Kensington Street, Chippendale
2017 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year – Kensington Street, Chippendale
2016 Making Paper Lantern, Lunar New Year – Kensington Street, Chippendale
2015 Making Clay Bowl, Disability Hospital Regens Wagner, Germany
2015 Making Paper Lantern, Children’s Hospital Les Ateliers Du Coeur, Lausanne
Art Grants
Inner West Council, City of Sydney, Art Gallery of NSW, Diversity Arts Australia, Create NSW, Australia Council, Nava Artist’ Benevolent Fund, Northern Beaches Council, EDGE Inner West, Newtown ArtSeat, City of Parramatta, Cumberland Council, Willoughby City Council, City of Ryde, Rookwood Cemetery, Eden Gardens, NSW Government, Canterbury Bankstown City Council.
Collections
Mittelschule am Aschberg in Weisingen, Bavaria, Germany, Inner West Council – Ashfield, Australia, Tanteri Pottery – Bali, Indonesia. Private Collections, Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, China and Indonesia.
Residencies
2022 BigCi, Bilpin, New South Wales
2017 Tantery Pottery, Bali, Indonesia
2013 Red Gate Gallery Beijing, China
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