Notable Roles | - Multimedia Artist and Illustrator (post‑2009) |
Key Recognition | - Named among Prestige 40 Under 40 creatives in Singapore (2021) |
Background and Early Foundations
Tan Zi Xi was born and raised in Singapore, daughter of a painter who inspired her early passion for visual art. She graduated from Central Saint Martins, London with honors in Graphic Design (Illustration Major) in 2009 and briefly stayed in the UK before returning to Singapore to pursue independent art. Facing early challenges she persevered through pro-bono commercial work and small exhibitions. Her breakthrough came in 2010 with the “Ten Years of Work for Every Minute on Stage” series, earning her awards and recognition. Her Installations like Plastic Ocean (2015) and subsequent Mumbai edition propelled her international profile. She now maintains her practice while teaching, collaborating with leading brands and exhibiting across Asia. Her work mixes personal narrative, environmental advocacy, and public art storytelling to engage broad audiences in sustainability dialogue
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2009 | Graduated with honors in Graphic Design (Illustration Major) from Central Saint Martins, London; returned to Singapore to start independent art practice |
2010 | Awarded New Talent of the Year at London International Creative Competition and Best Illustrator by JUICE Magazine (SG) for "Ten Years of Work for Every Minute on Stage" series |
2015 | Debuted installation "Plastic Ocean" at Singapore Art Museum, an immersive exhibit of thousands of plastic pieces raising ocean pollution awareness |
2016–2017 | Recreated "Plastic Ocean" at Mumbai's Sassoon Docks Art Project using 400 kg of recycled plastic; installations attracted widespread attention |
2017–2023 | Collaborated with major brands and institutions including Facebook, Google, Kiehl’s, SK-II, Hermès, Foot Locker; created public murals for LinkedIn Singapore |
- Installed Plastic Ocean using over 20 000 pieces of ocean plastic waste (~500‑400 kg)
- Taught illustration and watercolour workshops across schools and organisations in Singapore
- Built international visibility via features in Singapore Art Museum, Mumbai St+Art Festival, and prestige media platforms
Leadership Style and Influence
Tan Zi Xi blends lighthearted wit with stark environmental messaging. Her works such as Plastic Ocean and An Effort Most Futile use humor, repetition and scale to confront the viewer with ecological fragility and waste culture. Inspired by consumerism, ocean degradation and humour, she constructs installations that invite reflection through visceral experience. She transitions between illustration, sculpture and public art to spark sustainability awareness through a playful but urgent visual lexicon
Legacy and Future Focus
Tan stands as a creative trailblazer in Singapore’s environmental art scene. She pioneered waste‑based immersive art installations and brought ocean pollution debates to public spaces. Her collaborations with global brands and cross‑cultural projects mark her influence beyond galleries. She continues producing interventions and murals, teaching workshops, and advocating sustainability through creative activism. Her future is likely to include deeper cross‑sector partnerships and expanded global installations raising environmental consciousness.
