G13 GALLERY 16TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Artist Statement

Gan Tee Sheng’s first exploration into blurred imagery feels less like an attempt to obscure reality than to capture the fragile state of memory itself. The indistinct forms evoke the way memories often surface, not as sharp recollections but as fragments that drift between consciousness and subconsciousness. They resemble the semi conscious state of the human mind, where emotions remain vivid even after the details have faded.

As Gan explains, his paintings do not begin with an image but with “a feeling that has not yet found its form.” Rather than illustrating a subject, he allows forms to emerge intuitively through the act of painting. Images are not predetermined; they gradually reveal themselves, much like memories that slowly resurface without ever becoming fully complete.

Artist Statement

Inspired by his childhood in Pudu, where the rivers and waterways were once his playground, Gan observed the behaviour of ikan keli gathering in large numbers whenever food was thrown into the water. To him, this instinctive rush mirrors human behaviour when people are often drawn together by opportunity, shared interests, or the lure of attention. By using the ikan keli as both a personal memory and a social metaphor, the artist reflects on the ways individuals navigate competition, community, and survival within an ever-changing urban landscape.