'No longer silenced': How this sculptor transforms his past trauma into vibrant artwork

Australian sculptor Jayanto Tan can now say out loud that he's proud of his mixed background. Back then in Indonesia, he was oppressed for being Chinese.

Jayanto Tan's work as a Finalist North Sydney Art Prize 2022, Ritual Gathering Ceng Beng, North Sydney, 2022. Credit: Document Photography

Growing up in Indonesia, visual artist Jayanto Tan - born as Tan Seng Lie in 1969 - had to change his name just to be allowed to attend primary school.

"I wasn’t allowed to be under the spotlight at school," Jayanto said.

Jayanto Tan's family photo, Sembayang Ceng Beng (Tomb-Sweeping Day) Tebing Tinggi, 1977. Credit: Jayanto Tan

When Suharto came to power in 1965 after a coup, he brought in a number of policies that discriminated against ethnically-Chinese Indonesians who had lived in the country for generations.

“I wasn’t allowed to hoist a flag. Only those from the majority could,” Jayanto recalled, adding that his appearance marked him as different.

“I was called ‘Cina’, ‘banci’,” he said, referencing derogatory terms that mean ‘Chinese’ and ‘gay’, respectively.

Jayanto Tan's 'Acute Actions: Responses to I am Not a Virus' Project Exhibition at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Haymarket, Sydney, 2021. Credit: KAI-WASIKOWSKI

But having fled to Australia two decades ago, Jayanto has since sculpted his ‘true’ identity.

Listen to his full story here.

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'No longer silenced': How this sculptor transforms his past trauma into vibrant artwork

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