Tsan Wang

Tsan Wang is an artist and researcher born and raised in Sichuan, China. She spent her formative years living between Beijing and Tokyo before settling in Vancouver. She works and experiments with still and moving images, text, drawings, and field Recordings.

Tsan is interested in the ever-presence of nature, land, earth, and water regardless of human movement or intervention. Her ongoing research tries to create or unearth new ways to understand what is the decentralised relation between us and the otherworldly, a tangled and deeply intimate interconnection between disparate forms of existence. Tsan's artistic sensibility is characterized by inclusiveness and transience, inspired by the qualities of water. Through her work, she engages in imaginary dialogues about the form of self, longing and belonging, displacement, and impermanence, constantly evolving and transforming her artistic vision within contemporary feminist discourse.

Tsan has exhibited work in group shows in China, U.K., and U.S. She is currently based in London where she is completing an MA in Photography at the Royal College of Art (London, U.K). Previously she studied Fine Art & Painting at Emily Carr Art & Design University (Vancouver, CA). Her MA thesis titled “Undisturbed Water” is part of RCA’s permanent library collection.

Upcoming Exhibitions:

3 -9th of July, Off_RCA, Arles 2023 (Atelier Alonso, Arles, France)

13 – 16th of July, RCA Graduate Show, 2023 (Truman Brewery, London, UK) 

In my artistic practice, I explore the interplay between absence and presence, the seen and unseen, and the tangible and intangible aspects of existence. Through visual experiments, I engage with ordinary objects, scenes, memory, psychological space, and our connection to nature. I aim to uncover transcendent qualities and create connections between entities in constant flux.

Creating a meditative environment is crucial as I delve into the intricate relationship between space and embodiment. Bodies depicted in my work undergo a transformation, becoming new species, while conscious observation shapes a mindful and open environment.

I also explore the non-human gaze and its intersection with my personal connection to specific locations, particularly bodies of water. Using photography, multimedia practices, and research, I investigate and reimagine the complex relationship between the non-human world and human agency, Elements like images, installations, and text act as intermediaries, highlighting the dynamic exchange between humans and the environment.

"The Murmuring" series meditates on the interconnectedness of diverse bodily forms of earthly agency, symbolized through visual inquiries across different locations. "The Altered Series" focuses on the overlooked connection between nature, urban landscapes, and personal experiences. By engaging with waste, I transform materials into new forms that reflect contemporary relationships. "Remembering Water," my installation, explores the fluid interchange between organic and synthetic elements, challenging traditional notions of seeing and offering a haptic visual experience. These series emphasize the potential for transformation and recombination, revealing the intensity of becoming and new forms of being. 

Through my artistic practice, I aim to cultivate a deeper sense of care and responsibility for our relationship with the environment and each other. By sharing, unfolding, and connecting with multiple existences, I strive to raise awareness of the interconnectedness that we live to experience the world through diverse bodies, looking for meaningful relationships to unify us. 

We become one another in a sensuous way.