Sketch No. 03

This original work on paper explores migration, cultural memory, and the relationship between movement and belonging.

Siyuan Tan frequently uses symbolic figures to connect personal experience with broader histories of exchange. In Sketch No. 03, the horse functions as a metaphor for travel and migration, while the female figure introduces ideas of home, language, memory, and cultural identity.

Their close physical relationship suggests that migration is never only about movement through space. It also involves carrying emotional, linguistic, and cultural attachments across borders.

The work reflects Tan’s broader interest in the abstract concept of “relationship.” Human and animal, homeland and destination, tradition and contemporary experience are not treated as opposing categories, but as interconnected states.

The use of color further separates the figures from a purely observational sketch. Blue, red, orange, and violet areas begin to transform the drawing into a symbolic composition, hinting at the artist’s wider engagement with blue-and-white aesthetics, decorative traditions, and contemporary abstraction.

As an artist study, Sketch No. 03 preserves a transitional moment in Tan’s creative process—where a figurative encounter begins to develop into a larger meditation on migration and cultural identity.

Sketch No. 03 brings together two recurring symbols in Siyuan Tan’s visual language: the female figure and the horse. The composition presents an intimate encounter between human and animal. The woman turns toward the horse, while the horse leans into the space beside her, creating a sense of closeness, trust, and shared movement. Rather than appearing as separate subjects, the two figures seem connected through gesture and proximity. For Tan, the horse can suggest migration, passage, and movement across geographical or cultural boundaries. The female figure, meanwhile, often carries associations with homeland, memory, identity, and mother tongue. Together, these two motifs transform the sketch into a study of departure and belonging. Movement is not represented simply as physical travel, but as an emotional and cultural condition—one in which identity is carried from one place to another. The visible pencil construction and areas of colored drawing preserve the immediacy of the artist’s process, allowing the viewer to see how narrative, symbolism, and composition gradually take shape.

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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.