Tan Thian Joo ( 1965 - )

Born in 1965, Singapore, Tan Thian Joo graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), majoring in Western arts in 1989. Growing up, Tan had always enjoyed painting and drawing. When he was in secondary school, he often participated in outdoor drawing sessions held by his teachers. Upon graduating from NAFA, Tan went on a trip to Europe to study the paintings of old masters. His admiration for their works inspired in him, a lifelong commitment in the fine arts. With oil as his preferred medium, Tan ha explored a variety of painting styles in his artistic career. From creating works in the style of pointillism to still life to realism, Tan has painted a variety of subjects ranging from human figures to natural landscapes to fruits and flowers. Known for his exceptional control of colour and texture, Tan creates vivid imageries reflecting his emotions, perception and life experiences. Tan’s practice has also been featured on broadcast media in 2007 under the television series, The Travelling Palette, where he undertook a three-day painting trip to Kukup, Malaysia. Tan is a recipient of the Dr. Tan Tsze Chor Art Award, 2008, where he was awarded the Distinction prize under the representational medium category. In 2000 and 2002, Tan won the Highly Commendable award in the UOB Painting of the Year Competition.