"Is it art that sells houses? Why don't you try selling one to me!"
As Taiwan's well-known interior designer, David Tan has many well-known designs. Yuan Daqing Wan Ya Ju, Hongsheng Dibao, Tianmu Fubon, etc., are famous representations of Taiwanese design. In the interview he spoke frankly about wanting to return to his authentic self, to brush off the layers of his past imitations, and uncover the artist that lies beneath.
As early as twenty years ago, David Tan boldly influenced a new wave of art within the sample home market in Taiwan. At that time David Tan was determined to bring a focus on art to the market, but an important boss contemptuously asked him "Is it art that sells houses? Why don't you try selling one to me!"
David Tan's determination drove him to set ambitious goals. To prove that his artistic designs were worth the risk, he worked for free, and now every real estate company in Taiwan desires his work.
Because his business plan has used artworks, he is intimately linked to art and his works will always have this strong connection. David Tan chose to do commercial design because it was lucrative, and his business found great success through people's appreciation for his personal talents and strengths.
In pursuit of perfection, David Tan does not deny that he was the first to use artist's masterpieces as inspiration for his works, looking to artists such as Zhu Dequn, Zao Wou-ki, Sangyu, as well as other artists. He copied their creations to form an aesthetic, through amplifying or reducing their designs and incorporated them into the interior decor for his customers.
David Tan now feels that using the artworks of others was setting a bad example, so he's now working on changing his methods.
"Now I have matured, I want to make up for my mistakes," say David Tan.
Experienced middle-aged people have a different approach to life;
when they are not good enough, they don't seek out advice but rather understand themselves to practice self improvement. David Tan then learned to let go of imperfections, free up his time to spend accomplishing the most important things.
This year he organized his first exhibition. Through careful exhibition of his collection of interior decor and the juxtaposition of artworks, he creates a space with a specific atmosphere.
Although it is a small exhibition that is set up in a small house, the layout, route and atmosphere of the exhibition are comparable to professional international exhibitions.
To repay his karmic debt, David Tan silently contributes to the community. Knowing that in his past work immaturely copied others he now seeks to use mature methods to make up for his mistakes, which he now has the courage to admit, ignoring the gossip- he bares his true self.
"I am like a hyperactive child, trying to do many different things all at once."
Actions speak louder than words, and David Tan truly like acts like a hyperactive child in his endless energy to accomplish his goals.
As a second generation child with a Chinese (Taro) parent and a Taiwanese (Sweet potato) parent, David Tan's sensitive personality was shaped by his childhood through the tumultuous cultural divisions between his parents. It's hard to tell from his current success, but he had a wild childhood, he ran away from home during Junior high and actually failed to graduate from Junior high, immediately transitioning to working many kinds of jobs. But it was actually through these difficult experiences and frustrations that helped him develop his unyielding commitment and resilient personality- motivating him to find success.
In this year's upcoming 'Caring for Stray Animals Charity Exhibition' David Tan also learned from his frustration. He realized that many animal lovers do not necessarily care about art, and art lovers do not necessarily care for animals. He found that striking a balance between art and public welfare was especially difficult, but it the end it helped him grow stronger.
Current Artists of Interest:
Artists that Tan are currently interested in include Korean monochrome painter Zheng Xianghe and Park Jiupu, he also has work by Zheng Xianghe (Untitled 05-7-15, 05-2-14) hanging in his home. He is also interested in Switzerland's well-known video installation artist, Marck, who he's been keeping track of since four years ago. Tan also loves Marck's latest work from this year, "black/white", finding inspiration from Marck's video works, seeing infinite potential in both its beauty and concept.
Advice and encouragement for new collectors:
David Tan doesn't consider himself to be a collector, so he doesn't feel qualified to give advice to new collectors. He sees himself as an "administrator of art" rather than as an owner, finding owners to be intrinsically aggressive, focusing too strongly on ownership. David Tan has moved past his previous burdens, freeing himself from the constraints of the market, free of shame just as a newborn baby is not embarrassed by its nakedness.
He earnestly cautions other collectors not to rely on trends and currents of the market, or you will be sucked into a cycle of collecting and be swept away into the deceptions of the market. Only after his first purchase of work by Zao Wuji did true artistic strength strike up a change in David Tan: he then began to slow down- to care for his family as well as the world around him.
David Tan's upcoming exhibition [Art. Righteousness speaks for itself] is set to be held from December 23 2017 to December 30, 2017 (the theme for this exhibition is 'Caring for Stray Animals') at BELLA VITA B1F Gallery. Art lovers welcome- in this exhibition collecting is part of giving back to the community, making both art and life more meaningful.
(Figure 2 top) Zao Wuji "24.4.69"
(Figure 2 left) CHUNG SANG-HWA "untitled 05-7-15"、"05-2-14"
(Figure 2 right) Fernando Botero
