Mark Tan is a first-gener­a­­tion Cana­dian born and raised in Toronto by Filipino immi­grants. He produces inter­ac­tive sculp­tures made from reclaimed solid wood, found mate­ri­als, and domes­tic construc­tion build­ing mate­ri­als at an archi­tec­tural scale. His work expresses the emotional value of precon­ceived notions, longing, and discon­nect­ed­ness in seeking accep­tance within a commu­nity. He received his MFA in Furni­ture Design & Wood­work­ing in the Craft/​Material Studies program at Virginia Common­wealth Univer­sity in Rich­mond, VA. His work has been exhib­ited inter­na­tion­ally at exhi­bi­tions such as the Mesa Contem­po­rary Arts Museum in Mesa, AZ., Hillyer Contem­po­rary in Wash­ing­ton, D.C., Messler Gallery in Rock­port, ME., Patter­­son-Apple­­ton Gallery in Denton, TX., Fuller Craft Museum in Brock­ton, MA., Wharton Esher­ick Museum in Malvern, PA., Aspen Art Museum in Aspen, CO., and the DeLeon White Gallery at the Glad­stone in Toronto, ON. He has partic­i­pated in resi­den­cies at Arrow­mont School of Arts & Crafts and the Windgate Artist in Resi­dence at San Diego State Univer­sity. He is currently an Assis­tant Profes­sor of Sculpture/​Wood at Arizona State University.

A short interview with Mark Tan:

Do you have a brief thought about the role of woodworking/​craft/​making in your life?

“This is such an interesting question since I just re-read my thesis paper during my time here at VSC. Woodworking started as a way of building things I needed for skateboarding and grew into a language through which I process identity and belonging. Making allows me to translate lived experiences into material form. It’s how I reflect on where I come from, where I am, and where I hope to go. Craft for me is more than skill, it’s storytelling and the pursuit of connection.”

Is there a favorite movie/​podcast/​book at the moment (bonus points if they relate to craft/​design etc)?

“The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction”. Matthew Crawford, 2015. ​“The studio is a place where the mind and body work together. Our practices become a form of attention, a dialogue with materials that pushed back, surprises, and teaches.”

Is there a maker/​woodworker who you think we should be looking at, who inspires you?

Love Hulten: A great example of blending electronics and traditional craftsmanship with modern technology in a retro futuristic aesthetic.

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