Image: Sandra Tan, "Lahaina Noon"

Artist's Profile
Sandra Tan is a writer from Singapore. Her poems have appeared in Panorama: The Journal of Travel, Place, and Nature, The Oxonian Review, Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, The Kindling, and Eastlit. She was most recently longlisted in the 2024 National Poetry Competition by The Poetry Society. Her poetry examines the themes of art, faith, nature, place, and the self, set against the backdrop of domestic life and her travels to Europe and Japan.

Base of Activity: Singapore, Singapore
Media Used: Poetry

Selected CV:
1. Longlisted, National Poetry Competition (2024), The Poetry Society
2. Nominated, Panorama Prize (2024), Panorama: The Journal of Travel, Place, and Nature
3. Special Mention, National Poetry Competition (Senior Category) (2024), Poetry Festival Singapore

Project Plan
Sandra is working on a collection of poetry and plans to include poems inspired by the urbanity and unique artistic and cultural heritage of Japan. She is particularly interested in the aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi (侘び寂び), aesthetic principles such as yugen (幽玄) and shibui (渋い), and the use of traditional craftsmanship techniques - such as shakkei (借景) in nihon teien (日本庭園) gardens - to achieve such effects. During her residency, she will conduct research and fieldwork by visiting local neighbourhoods, shinise (老舗), museums, and temples and shrines. She will also use a camera to document her visits, and the resulting photographs may be paired with relevant poems in the eventual publication.