Kai Syng Tan, Author at a-n The Artists Information Company

@kaisyngtan www.kaisyngtan.com [email protected] Dr Kai Syng Tan FRSA SFHEA is an artist whose artistic and curatorial practice, teaching, writing and research straddle within, between and beyond the art and academic worlds. Known for her 'eclectic style and cheeky attitude' (Sydney Morning Herald), 'radical interdisciplinarity' (Dr Alan Latham, UCL), her installation, film, text and performances have appeared at Documenta, Royal Geographical Society, Biennale of Sydney, MOMA, ZKM, ICA and LADA Study Guide. Recognition includes San Francisco International Film Festival Golden Gate Award and Artangle Open 100, and collections include the Museum of London and Fukuoka Art Museum. Since 2014 Kai is known as someone 'instrumental in the UK and lots of other contexts' 'to start to form what might become to be called "Running Studies"' (Professor Gregg Whelan 2015). Of her RUN! RUN! RUN! Biennale, the Guardian urges academics to 'take a leaf out of its book' (2014), and she was heard on BBC Radio 3 on running as an artistic discourse (Free Thinking January 2017). Co-created with disabled colleagues, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 8th ASEAN Para Games (for which Kai was Visual Director) was applauded by the Singapore Prime Minister as 'spectacular'. Kai completed her PhD at the Slade School of Fine Art as a UCL scholar, and has taught in the practice, history and theory of fine art, media art, film and art education in higher institutions in Australia, Singapore, Tokyo and London. Currently Visiting Researcher and first Artist in Residence at the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) at King's College London, Kai is working on an Unlimited commission funded by Arts Council England that explores mind wandering. She is also Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University and UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, as well as Director of RUN! RUN! RUN! International Body for Research and RUN! RUN! RUN! Biennale, and Arts and Humanities Research Council Peer Review College member. RUN! RUN! RUN! Biennale www.kaisyngtan.com/r3fest #MagicCarpet commission: @wesatonamat http://www.wesatonamat.weebly.com King's College London

Blogs (6)

Blog Artist

ARTFUL LEADERSHIP: novel visions needed in novel virus pandemic

by Kai Syng Tan

Here are my notes (09/2019-05/2020) of the framework of ‘artful leadership’: artful+novel ways forward led by (neurodivergent) thinkers/makers embedded within socio-political structures to catalyse social/cultural change amid COVID-19+ future novel challenges.

Blog Artist

TRANSCRIPT: 10 Reasons to Collaborate with Neurodiverse & Creative Allies

by Kai Syng Tan

This is the transcript for a Lecture & Masterclass to be held at Frankfurt University Hospital.With the COVID-19 crisis, I reframed my talk to the criticality for scientists to work with creative & neurodiverse allies. I invited all to join a new Network. We’re stronger together.

Blog Arts organiser

TRANSCRIPT: Neurodivergent Leaders in the Cultural and Academic Sectors?

by Kai Syng Tan

Why aren’t there female leaders who identify as neuro-divergent in the arts and academia? Who are the gatekeepers? What needs to change?

Blog Artist

TRANSCRIPT: Too Much/ Not Enough ‘Neurodiversity’ in UK art & academia?

by Kai Syng Tan

It’s been 1 year since my #MagicCarpet was launched at the Art Workers Guild, when we unpacked the term ‘neurodiverse art’. Since then, there’s been a mini-explosion of activities tagged ‘neurodiversity’ in UK arts & academia, but, or hence, the term remains contested.

Blog Artist

Towards cultural change: re-imagining mental health through ‘lofty’ art

by Kai Syng Tan

We are amidst a global mental health crisis. To bring about policy and culture change, we must think outside the pillbox. Through an ACE-funded Unlimited commission #MagicCarpet, we argue for ‘lofty arts’ in effecting cultural change in mental health.

Blog Artist

Mind Wandering: Best Friend or Worst Enemy? An art-science inquiry

by Kai Syng Tan

This post is about an interdisciplinary event held last October at the Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, KCL. It enacts and is part of #MagicCarpet, an Unlimited Commission funded by ACE, and aims to irritate prescribed notions of (an)normality and wellbeing.