Dawn

Floral series by Tan Kent Keong is more than a mere depiction of objects—it transforms flowers into symbols of emotional states, vividly expressing his inner sense of solitude. This “solitude” is not to be confused with loneliness or emptiness; rather, it allows him to find peace within a quiet state of mind.

He references a verse by Qing dynasty thinker Gong Zizhen: “Fallen flowers are not heartless things; they turn into spring soil to nurture new blossoms.” The poet used this line to describe his decision to resign from his official post and return to his hometown, conveying a sense of emotional surrender. Chen resonates with this sentiment—like fallen flowers, his own choices, though involving sacrifice, are not meaningless. Instead, they cultivate hope for the future.

His floral paintings do not focus on portraying a single type of flower; instead, they embody a full life cycle—budding, blooming, and withering—using transformation, ambiguity, motion, and montage techniques. Through this approach, he captures different stages of flowers within a single composition as a metaphor for himself: someone who, after experiencing the complexities and fluctuations of life, still holds onto the hope of renewal.