Erika Tan, born in Singapore in 1967, is a British-based artist and curator whose work has evolved from an interest in anthropology and the moving image. Her work is often informed by specific cultural, geographical or physical contexts; exploring different media to create situations that excite, provoke, question, confront and invite comments from an audience.
Her work has been exhibited as part of EAST International 2000 at Norwich Gallery, and was included in “Cities on the Move” at The Hayward Gallery. She recently completed a Film & Video Umbrella Commission and is currently producing new work for a permanent work commissioned by East England Arts. She has exhibited both in the UK and abroad.
As an extension to her practice, Erika has also jointly curated and project managed art projects in association with Above:Below (an independent art organisation set up by Erika and Neil McConnon) such as: The ICA in China; Imaginaria Digital Art Prize ‘99; HUB @The RiCHMiX, an urban regeneration project; Souvenirs, interventionist project in Museum Street, London.
Erika has also had a long-standing interest and engagement with the Chinese Arts sector in Britain. Working as a Chinese Arts Worker and freelance research assistant/curator she has contributed to Half the Sky: Chinese Women in London, Museum of London, 1997. In Focus: Film and Video from the Chinese Diaspora: Britain and Another Province, Watermans Art Centre, London, 1997.
Erika studied Social Anthropology and Archaeology at Kings College, Cambridge; Film Directing at The Beijing Film Academy, followed by an M.A in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins School of Art, London.
Awards have included: The Arts Council Black Arts Video Award, 1993. Firstbase, ACAVA Studio Award, 1995. Digital Arts Fellowship, The Arts Foundation, 1998. British Council Travel Grant to Japan, Arts Council Connections Fund to Singapore, 99/2000. ACME Live Work Studio Award, London, 2001-2004.