Teong Eng Tan

In the Middle Teong Eng Tan

The French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, remarked in his book Negotiations that, "Things and thoughts advance or grow out from the middle, and that's where you have to get to work, that's where everything unfolds". This prompts the question: How does an artist get to work in the middle of a process that is continuously becoming? The thesis is an unfolding narrative of the author's attempt to experientially answer the question by way of an art practice, leading to an examination of the issue of freedom: freedom from attachments and freedom to create new possibilities with all for all. The thesis off ers a view: that art practice – exploring ways to break free from the bondage of the mind, moments of freedom from oneself – is spiritual practice is life practice.