Sketch No. 02

This original work on paper explores portraiture, fragmented identity, and visual transformation within Siyuan Tan’s broader cross-cultural practice.

The female figure appears frequently in Tan’s visual vocabulary as a symbol connected to homeland, memory, language, and cultural identity. In Sketch No. 02, that figure is not presented as a single complete portrait. Instead, the face is repeatedly reconstructed through different combinations of profile, geometry, expression, and color.

This process reflects the artist’s interest in the instability of identity within multicultural environments. A face can be recognizable yet fragmented, personal yet symbolic, rooted in one visual tradition while absorbing another.

The colored head study is particularly significant. Its divided planes recall both traditional decorative structures and the visual logic of modernist abstraction, allowing figurative portraiture and hard-edged color composition to coexist within the same image.

Through these experiments, Tan transforms the portrait into a field of relationships—between individual and culture, tradition and modernity, memory and reinvention.

Sketch No. 02 documents Siyuan Tan’s exploration of the female figure as a shifting visual and cultural identity. Across the page, the artist repeatedly studies the head, face, and upper body from different angles and degrees of abstraction. Some figures remain close to portraiture, while others are broken into simplified geometric planes, exaggerated profiles, and mask-like facial structures. One of the most striking studies introduces color into the otherwise monochrome page. Blue, yellow, orange, pink, and dark tonal blocks divide the face into distinct visual zones, transforming the portrait from an observed likeness into a constructed image. Rather than depicting a single fixed character, Tan treats the female figure as a site of transformation. Each variation tests how identity can be altered through line, proportion, color, and abstraction. As an original artist study, the sheet preserves the immediacy of Tan’s working process. It reveals how a recognizable human figure can gradually move between portrait, symbol, mask, and cultural sign.

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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.