ARTFICIONADO

Multimedia design artist Jamie Tan is making waves in USA, as the founder, plus lead designer of The Motion Arsenal Studio, based in Los Angeles

Tell us about yourself!

I was born and raised in Malaysia before moving to the UK at age 16, to complete my A-levels. Living abroad and getting the opportunity to assimilate into another culture was the stepping stone to my journey in the US. I was accepted into Calarts and migrated once again to California.

What led you to founding your own studio in the US?

During my time at Calarts, I explored a spectrum of art practices including sculpture, photography, interactive media and even performance art. My unbounded curiosity cultivated my interest in designing and conceptualising multimedia installations— these often take the form of large-scale experiences that involve video projections, animations and sound design. After graduating in 2015, I struggled with deciding which art practice to commit to. So, at the age of 23, I took the initiative to start my own design company to offer a wider range of creative services to a multitude of visual platforms.

What is the goal of The Motion Arsenal Studio?

To become a platform that connects emerging artists— both locally and from Southeast Asia—to share our experiences, resources as well as creative opportunities that are otherwise not as easily available.

Tell us about your work.

It includes creating animations and developing visual experiences for concert tour performances (e.g. Deep Purple, Jennifer Lopez), award shows (e.g. VMA Weekend, Miss America) and even broadcast commercials. Some recent notable projects include creating several experimental cake sculptures for display at the Museum of Contemporary Art

“My creative portfolio often ref lects themes of displacement and features reflections of my Malaysian roots”