FROM FOLDING PAPER FLOWERS TO MAKING WAVES IN THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY ART, PAMELA TAN IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE COME FROM FOLLOWING THE HEART.

Pamela Tan’s artistic journey began with folded paper—origami flowers crafted with delicate hands for her mother. What started as a child’s creative play later revealed itself as an intuitive design language, foreshadowing her future work. “I now recognise that those flowers held a similar form to the work I currently produce, so perhaps subconsciously there was a design language within me, from my youth, that I have since had the opportunity to develop,” she reflects.

Pamela’s parents were quick to notice her creativity and encouraged her to pursue architecture, believing it to be a practical outlet for her talents. However, her experience studying architecture in Malaysia was a mixed one. "I struggled with the rigidity of the coursework,” she admits. “Lecturers often emphasized practicality over creativity, and I felt boxed in."

It wasn’t until Pamela moved to the UK for her master’s degree that her horizons truly expanded. There, the approach to architecture was much broader. “We were encouraged to derive inspiration from art, film, and various other forms. I began to see architecture as a discipline that encompassed so much more than just buildings,” she recalls. This shift in perspective was transformative, allowing her to develop her own thought processes and artistic insights, which had long been stifled by conventional learning.

It was during her time in London that she also discovered a love for public art. “I loved how the work engages not only with the environment but with the public. It didn’t matter whether I fully understood it or not—especially in the way the artist may have intended—but it always inspired thought. The realisation that art could spark conversations in public spaces was incredibly powerful to me.”

After completing her master’s in London followed by a couple of years of work experience, Pamela returned to Kuala Lumpur, again to work in architecture. However, an unexpected opportunity arose when sportswear giant, Nike, commissioned her to produce a sculptural work ( Footprints) for Air Max Day. While the experience ignited her creative fire, Pamela doubted whether she could truly follow her passion full-time. Like many artists, she grappled with the pressure to conform to societal expectations, particularly those of her family. “I felt like I wasn’t listening to myself, and if you keep doing that, it eats you up inside,” she shares. "I didn’t have a valid reason to leave architecture, but I knew I had to explore a different aspect of my work—one that would fully utilise my potential."

Pamela took a giant leap of faith, deciding to step away from architecture and focus on her art. Her parents were concerned, but she promised herself one year to see where her creative instincts would take her. If it didn’t work out, she reasoned, she could always return to her former career. It was a self-imposed safety net but as it turned out, she never needed to fall back on it.

Pamela’s first major installation, Eden, at 163 Retail Park, proved to be a turning point. The large-scale public installation, which elegantly explored the intersection between man-made and natural elements, garnered widespread acclaim. It was more than just a beautiful piece of work—it was Pamela’s declaration that she had arrived. The installation earned her a Bronze in the Design for Asia Awards in 2020 and later, the prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ title in the German Design Council’s Iconic Awards in 2021.

NO RISK, NO REWARD

From there, her work continued to evolve, with each project growing in scale and complexity. She was commissioned to create installations in various spaces, from murals on badminton courts to large installations in hospitals, offices, and even the Pasar Seni MRT Station. These works were not just decorative; they were intricate conversations between art and environment, speaking to her background in architecture while embracing her passion for storytelling through design.

Earlier this year, she was the only Malaysian artist featured at Cartier's Trinity 100th Anniversary Pop-Up in Singapore, where she crafted a delicate structure inspired by the Greek mythology of the Three Graces: Grace, Beauty, and Charm. It was yet another highlight in her artistic career, showcasing her versatility and growing influence in the world of contemporary art.

“I feel like I’m constantly on an adventure,” she says, her excitement palpable. “I’m always evolving, always meeting people from different backgrounds. I love learning from them, their philosophies, their creativity, their principles in life.” This constant flow of ideas and experiences has become an integral part of her journey, pushing her to explore new forms and methods of expression.

In a unique collaboration with Niko Neko for the Malaysian Coffee Championship in 2022, she designed trophies for all three categories of winners. “My entire life, I’ve chased trophies, but now I get to create them in honour of someone else’s achievement. It was a really special moment for me.”

As Pamela’s career blossomed, so did the demands on her time and energy. The constant pressure to produce coupled with the comparison game fueled by social media began to take a toll on her mental and emotional well-being. “I noticed I was starting to get overwhelmed very easily,” she says. “I felt like I was burning out while also constantly feeling like I wasn’t doing enough.”

One of the first changes she made was setting boundaries with her phone and social media. “I started noticing my relationship with my phone,” she explains. “The algorithm was showing me just how much other people were doing, and it made me feel like I wasn’t enough.” It’s a sentiment many can relate to—scrolling through social media, comparing ourselves to the curated, highlight reels of others’ lives. She began leaving her phone in the living room at night, ensuring that it wasn’t the last thing she looked at before falling asleep or the first thing she reached for upon waking. “It got me into the habit of reading more books, which really helps me wind down.”

DEEP WORK

This intentional shift toward more mindful living and working has had a profound impact on her creativity. “I think it helps a lot in being present, being human,” she says. Newport’s emphasis on doing one thing at a time, the importance of solitude, and even embracing boredom became central to how she now structures her days.

“It’s okay to just be bored and listen to your thoughts,” she says, “because it is time to yourself, and you get to know yourself better. That’s what your sense of self is built upon.” In a world that glorifies hustle culture, Pamela found solace in slowing down, in taking time to reconnect with herself and her creative process. This approach has allowed her to balance the demands of her career with her own well-being, proving that true success comes not from rushing, but from deliberate, thoughtful action.

Technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), plays a supportive role in Pamela’s creative process, but she firmly believes that it should not replace the human element. “I find ChatGPT very useful for research,” she admits, acknowledging the potential of AI as a tool for information gathering. However, when it comes to creation, Pamela remains skeptical of relying on it too much. “If you use it solely to produce art, then I feel it defeats the purpose of the creator.”

She is especially drawn to artist Daniel Arsham’s views on AI’s limitations in producing art. "AI can never replace the work of a human because when it comes to producing art, humans make mistakes. We have to go through a journey, we have our own imperfections, and all of the emotion and experience—the accidents and failures—are translated into art. That’s what makes it so unique. AI lacks human nuance and experience. It is a wonderful tool at the hands of the conductor, orchestrator or architect, but it cannot produce the human experience.” These imperfections, imbued with the emotions of their creator, breathe life into art, something no machine can ever truly grasp.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS

She also acknowledges that while technology has made it easier to share her work with a broader audience, it can never replace the experience of seeing art in person. “I see social media as a wonderful platform to disseminate information about your work, but it does not replace the experience of the real world. Art needs to be experienced in person.”

In a world where digital consumption is at an all-time high, Pamela’s views are a timely reminder of the irreplaceable depth that human-created art can offer. It is not just about the finished product but the entire journey—the exploration of ideas, emotions, failures, and triumphs—that makes the final presentation a true reflection of the artist.

Pamela begins her days in nature, either walking or jogging in quiet solitude. “I recharge by being outdoors,” she explains. “We’re surrounded by so many man-made things, where everything is planned. But a tree is just a tree, and you can’t tell it to be taller or prettier or anything other than what it already is.”

For Pamela, the simplicity found in nature stands in stark contrast with the noise and chaos of city life. “When you are in the city, your views turn inwards, and it feels very cluttered,” she says. “But when you step out into nature, you are gifted these amazing panoramas, forcing you to look outwards, and you begin to realise that life is not that bad.”

ADMIRING THE VIEW

Nature is a constant source of inspiration for Pamela’s work. Her pieces often mirror her reverence for the natural world. “My work expresses itself in a very delicate, very skeletal manner. I find great beauty in highlighting certain details.When you strip things down to their bone structure, you find both strength and beauty,” she says. “It gives you a better understanding of how lyrical and organic the natural world truly is.”

Travel is another way Pamela reconnects with Mother Earth, with Iceland next on her bucket list of destinations, a place she dreams of exploring for its vast, untamed landscapes. Yet no matter where her travels take her, one thing remains constant—upon returning home, her first meal is always a plate of chicken rice.

As for the legacy she hopes to leave, Pamela’s goals are simple yet profound. “I hope my work helps people feel more connected to the environment and sparks a sense of childlike wonder. I want to nurture a process that takes care of both people and the planet.” With a voice both powerful and delicate, Pamela Tan is quietly shaping how we see the world, urging us to pause and take a moment to look outward, to appreciate the beauty of nature and to find wonder in the details.

No risk, no reward.