Michael Thaddeus Tan Koon Boon

Biography

Since joining the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) in September 2007, Asst. Prof. Michael Tan has taught in the area of 4D Foundation Studies and Visual Communication. Using art and design practice as a starting point, his work explores the role art and design in fostering an inclusive and supportive society by developing creative strategies that attend to health and well-being inequality and encourages human flourishing. Michael holds a PhD in Arts and Health from Durham University, a Masters in Photography & Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths College, University of London and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also a recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council Postgraduate Scholarship (2012) and was awarded the Nanyang Award for Excellence in Teaching by NTU in 2011. His current professional and public services include serving as an art advisory committee member at Ng Teng Fong Hospital, Singapore, and an assessor for the Singapore Internationale Programme by the Singapore International Foundation. Prior to joining NTU, he served as a part-time lecturer at LaSalle College of the Arts and at The National Institute of Education (NIE) where he taught a range of media art related courses in studio practice, theory and history. As a visual artist, he has exhibited widely in Singapore and internationally. And where an opportunity arises, he does occasionally venture into curatorial work.

Research Interest

Art and design practices in relation to health & Well-being, care, aging, and human flourishing.