HELD IN THE MIDDLE
Held in the Middle is the first solo exhibition by Christian Tan, winner of the second edition of the UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize.
Through linocut printmaking, Christian draws the things around him: cleaning tools, workstations, chairs and the pop stars whose music and image animate his world. Often placed at the centre of his compositions, these subjects are held with care and attention – revealing how ordinary objects and familiar icons carry deeper associations of labour, rest, aspiration and joy.
The show brings together a selection of Christian’s works across three areas of his practice, inviting visitors to consider the patterns of daily life that often go unnoticed. It marks a new chapter for him as he continues to deepen a medium and visual language that have become distinctly his own.
About the Artist
Christian Tan (b. 1994) is an autistic artist and printmaker with ART:DIS. An observant and expressive artist, his practice draws inspiration from the everyday. With a discerning eye for line and form, he transforms ordinary objects into images that are at once direct and resonant. He demonstrates fluency across both wet and dry techniques, employing reduction processes that lend his works a layered depth.
His winning entry for the UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize 2025, Red Plumbing Set, Yellow Broom and Floor Scrubbing, turned everyday tools of labour into emblematic forms. His art resists ornamentation, opting instead for clarity and strength of imagery that speaks to personal experience and the textures of daily life.
Christian Tan, Winner of UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize 2025
About the
UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize
Singapore's first comprehensive platform recognising artists with disabilities at every stage of practice. Launched in 2023 and open to artists with disabilities in Singapore aged six and above, the Art Prize returns for its third edition in 2027.
In the 2025 edition, 18 original winning artworks were selected to showcase the diversity of creative expression, each reflecting the artists' personal narratives, resilience and imagination. Held in the Middle forms part of Christian’s prize as the 2025 winner, which included a $20,000 grand prize.