singapore illustrator mightyellow

singapore illustrator Adeline Tan
Follow Tan on Instagram @yell0w.

We love good design – it’s why we have an entire page dedicated to artwork in every print issue, and why we’ve featured local artists like Yanyun Chen and her lifelike stills. An artist we’ve spotted recently is Singapore illustrator Adeline Tan (above), who has created works for Facebook’s new APAC HQ; the launch of The Projector; and the opening of Lululemon’s Ion Orchard store.

Her works, which feature vivid colours and slightly sinister undertones, have mostly stayed as 2D drawings up till now, with the creation of a sculpture in the shopfront of local shoe store P. V. S. as part of the FART movement (referring to the “female art movement”, it will see six local female artists creating displays for the retail space, and Tan’s piece is the first). Here, Tan shares more about her aesthetic and the illustrators she admires on Instagram: 

 

singapore illustrator adeline tan works

 

How she got into illustration “Upon graduation in 2005, I did part-time/freelance work for some filmmakers. One year later, I went full-time into graphic design and would produce commissioned drawings on the side. After the birth of my son, I decided to work from home as an illustrator.”

Her signature style  “I like to take things that are normally not related and put them together to give them a new story or meaning, or try to present them in a way that is opposed to what is typically perceived of them.”

 

singapore illustrator adeline tan design

Where her artwork is sold “I have some limited run prints currently sold at Goodgoods (#01-30 Millenia Walk) at $250 each (for an A1-sized piece of art).”

Illustrators she stalks on Instagram “I have loved British artist @davidshrigley’s work since I was in school; he has a wicked sense of humour and most of my books at home are illustrated by him. American designer @aaronhorkey creates amazingly detailed large-size murals of creatures, and fellow American artist @awsommers does beautiful dreamy/nightmarish paintings and sketches. I also adore Instanbul artist/researcher @cmkosemen’s project, Snaiad, named after an imaginary planet that have creatures evolved from those on earth. He studies animals and uses this knowledge to create an entire (make-believe) planet of creatures and it’s mind-blowing both in terms of his style and the process.”

singapore illustrator cineleisure PVS

 

The inspiration behind her sculpture “This is an imagined plant-animal creature specimen after humans have died out, where plants are no longer weak and silent. They have learnt to merge with other animals, taking over objects and buildings mankind once built and loved. I was inspired by Japanese sci-fi anime and scientific botanical/animal drawings, and came up with a series of my own. This is one of my drawings come to life.”

What it’s made of “The installation was made with foam, paint and vinyl stickers. I decided to scatter dried leaves on the floors of the display window to complete the look. These leaves were from the Sea Almond tree, which commonly sheds its leaves during July/August, around the time we were setting up, which was perfect. With the help of experienced sculptors and the super helpful crew from P. V. S., it was completed in three to four weeks.” Now on till Oct 25 at P. V. S. (#02-05 Cineleisure)

 

Like this? Check out these spots in Singapore that showcase art in unexpected places.