Tea Ceremony in the Celestial Garden 2024

Taking place in conjunction with the installation work kitchen tales from the celestial garden, Jayanto has created the lament of a tea ceremony performance that echoes the sound of a loved one. The performance of gathering and drinking the green tea whilst creating a magical sound from teacups collected from community, symbolises the act of sharing cultural knowledge. Embracing the tale of the past brings us to the present to gain better understanding for the future.

About the artist

Jayanto Tan is a Gadigal-based visual artist who was born and raised in a small town in North Sumatra, Indonesia. His practice draws on his family history and diasporic background, blending Eastern and Western mythologies with the contemporary world and current events. Using ceramic sculptures, found objects, authentic recipes, performances and workshops, his work often opens dialogue with community and investigates how hybrid cultures can create new identities of possibility and hope.

He won the 2021 Georges River Sculpture Art Prize and Highly Commended for the 2023 Fisher's Ghost Award (Contemporary category). He has conducted arts projects and workshops with diverse communities and museums, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Maitland Regional Art Galery and WorldPride 2023. Jayanto holds a Master of Fine Arts from the National Art School.

Jayanto Tan is represented by Art Atrium, Sydney.

Image: Jayanto Tan, Tea Ceremony in The Celestial Garden (detail), 2024, Photograph of performance as part of Tea Exchange at the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Photo: Emma Silwanis.