INVIGORATING SPACES

A conversation with Pamela Tan, an artist-architect who entices the public to the city via blown-up art pieces

- LORRAINE CHAI

WITH SEVERAL AWARD-WINNING artworks under her belt, Pamela Tan is an artist-architect who creates large-scale public art installations you have perhaps walked past unknowingly. For instance, if you commute to work, you might have noticed the palm tree-lookalike skeletal artwork hovering above the stairway at Pasar Seni MRT station.

The mastermind behind her eponymous Poh Shin Studio, Pamela turned up on the day of the interview in a vibrant yellow dress, matching the colour of her work “Sunnyside Up”. While she walked me through the art installation, she pulled out a sachet of wet wipes from her bag. “I saw this in someone’s video the other day, so I came prepared with wipes,” she explains, as she wiped off the black stains on the sign attached to her installations.

She gestured to show me how the sunrays would travel through the sunroof, and reflects on the yellow installation, casting kaleidoscopic lights on the floor. “It’s not sunny today, unfortunately,” she commented, pursing her lips. The dismay didn’t last long enough for me to react before she proceeded to gush, “In this case, the Sunnyside Up shines more brightly in the gloom.” Despite the brief time spent with each other, I can almost feel Pamela’s oozing warmth, beaming like “Sunnyside Up” suggests.

Given your architectural background, would you describe your work as architectural art?

You can say that because they involve site, public users and understanding spacious experience. There are indeed some architectural influences on my work.

For your latest artwork, ‘Sunnyside Up’ located in Pasar Seni MRT station, how would you introduce it?