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Jack Tan

Country: United Kingdom

Website:  https://jacktan.wordpress.com/

Jack makes work that explores the connection between the social, the legal and art. Using social relations and cultural norms as material, he creates performances, performatives, sculpture, video and participatory projects that highlight the rules — customs, rituals, habits and theories — that guide human behaviour.

Prior to becoming an artist, Jack trained as a lawyer and worked in civil litigation as well as in NGOs undertaking human rights case, policy and anti-racist campaigning work. He then studied ceramics, obtaining a BA from the University of Westminster and an MA from the Royal College of Art. In 2020, Jack completed his Ph.D in legal aesthetics and performance at the University of Roehampton, Dept of Drama, Theatre and Performance. Jack is a co-editor of the Art/Law Journal.

Recent projects include Four Legs Good (2018) a revival of the medieval animal trials for Compass Festival Leeds and V&A London; Voices from the Courts (2016) a Singapore Biennale presentation and residency at the State and Family Justice Courts of Singapore exploring legal vocality; Karaoke Court (2014-ongoing) a legally-binding karaoke dispute resolution process; Law’s Imagination (2016) a curatorial residency on legal aesthetics at arebyte; his solo exhibition How to do things with rules (2015) at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore; A kiss is just a kiss (2014), a performance exploring kissing and reconciliation at the Institute of International Visual Arts (Iniva), London; The Office of Public Ritual (2014–ongoing), an artists’ collective and bespoke ritual design service; and Closure (2012), a year-long residency and exhibition at the UK Department for Health, which documented the legal dissolving of a social work quango.

He was the Special Projects Curator for fig-2, a year-long series of 50 exhibitions in 50 weeks at the ICA London, and has also curated shows for Wiltshire Creative (Salisbury) and arebyte (London). He teaching experience includes: MA Sculpture Royal College of Art (2011-2013), MA Art & Politics at Goldsmiths (2018), BA (Hons) Sculpture at Brighton University (2012-2016), BA (Hons) Fine Art at Goldsmiths (2015-2017), BA (Hons) Theatre at Roehampton University (2013-2015).

Born in Singapore, Jack is based in Galloway, Southwest Scotland.

Events

Latest articles

Watch: Accounting and Accountability

Join us as we consider accounting and accountability with artist in residence, Jack Tan, FACT trustee, Matthew Balnaves and artist, curator and cultural futurist Lauren Craig.

by FACT

Quipo in the Museo Machu Picchu Casa Concha Cusco

Easy Read Artist Contract

Download a template for an easy read artist contract that can be used for your next exhibition, project, event or opportunity. Created by artist Jack Tan (UK), the contract is accessible, dyslexia friendly and free of jargon whilst still providing the legal security and clarity that you need.

by FACT

Jack Tan Cover Image for Website

Podcast: Performing Trust

Join us as we discuss how trust is built and exchanged within digital spaces. Speakers include artist-in-residence and trustee Jack Tan, Chair of FACT’s Board of Trustees, Rachel Higham and expert in cultural institutions, Jane Wentworth. This online event is part of our Framework for Trust series, an international Transformer Summit with partners WAAG and transmediale, and Artsformation.

by FACT

Decisionpong

Online Workshops: You're On Mute

You’re On Mute is a series of online workshops and webinars specially designed for arts educators and practitioners with an interest in participatory and engagement projects that work with older people, or individuals that are isolated or vulnerable.

by FACT

Watch: Framework For Resilience

Rediscover Framework for Resilience, our series of online conversations that invite you to think about the world we are creating, destroying and the systems behind this.

by FACT

Artsformation Cover Image Framework for Resilience

Podcast: Framework for Resilience

Listen back to Framework for Resilience, our series of online conversations that invite you to think about the world we are creating, destroying and the systems behind this.

by FACT

Artsformation Cover Image Framework for Resilience