Sketch No. 01

This original work on paper reflects Siyuan Tan’s broader interest in the relationship between cultural identity, historical memory, and visual symbolism.

Drawing from traditional Chinese visual culture, including theatrical face painting, folk embroidery, and paper-cutting traditions, Tan reinterprets familiar graphic structures through a contemporary visual language. Rather than reproducing historical motifs directly, he fragments, simplifies, and transforms them into new symbolic forms.

In Sketch No. 01, the repeated mask-like figures suggest identities that are neither completely fixed nor singular. Their changing forms evoke the experience of cultural translation—how identity can shift when it moves between different places, languages, and historical contexts.

This idea connects to Tan’s continuing exploration of migration, multicultural coexistence, and the abstract concept of “relationship.” The sketch functions as a visual laboratory where traditional imagery and contemporary questions of identity meet before developing into larger artistic compositions.

Sketch No. 01 captures Siyuan Tan’s exploration of identity through repeated mask-like figures and shifting facial structures. Across the sheet, related forms appear in different poses and configurations, as though the artist is testing how a single visual character can transform while retaining traces of the same identity. Pointed silhouettes, exaggerated facial divisions, and dark graphic areas recall the visual intensity of traditional theatrical masks, while the loose, immediate lines preserve the spontaneity of the artist’s working process. For Tan, the mask is more than a decorative motif. It can suggest performance, cultural identity, inherited memory, and the roles individuals assume when moving between different social and cultural environments. The repetition of these figures turns the page into a visual investigation rather than a finished narrative. Each variation becomes another possibility—another way of negotiating the relationship between appearance and identity. As an original artist study, the work offers an intimate view into the development of Tan’s symbolic vocabulary before these forms enter more complex paintings, sculptures, and cross-cultural narratives.

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Each artwork is carefully prepared and securely packaged to help ensure safe delivery. Protective wrapping, reinforced corner protection, and sturdy outer packaging are used to safeguard the artwork throughout transit. Package Dimensions: 42 × 34 × 9 cm Package Weight: 0.7 kg If you require custom framing or professional mounting services, please contact us by email before placing your order or prior to shipment. As framing requirements, packaging specifications, destination, and shipping conditions may vary for each artwork, framing and shipping costs will be individually assessed and quoted on a per-artwork basis. Our team will recommend an appropriate packing and shipping solution based on the specific work to help ensure it arrives safely and ready for your space.

As an original work on paper, this artwork should be displayed and stored with particular attention to light, humidity, and surface protection. Keep the work away from direct sunlight and prolonged exposure to strong artificial light, as excessive UV exposure may gradually affect the paper and drawn surface. Display the artwork in a stable indoor environment away from excessive humidity, heat, and significant temperature fluctuations. Avoid placing it near radiators, fireplaces, air-conditioning vents, or damp areas. For long-term display, archival-quality framing materials and UV-protective glazing are recommended. Avoid direct contact between the artwork and non-archival materials. Do not touch the surface of the paper with bare hands. When handling is necessary, hold the work carefully by the edges with clean, dry hands or suitable protective gloves.