Meet Danny Raven Tan
DANNY - CHIEF ACTIVIST
Danny Raven Tan had always dreamt about being an artist since he was a child but he have to put his ambitions on the back burner and yield to his parent’s wishes. He studied Building Estate Management at the National University of Singapore and stayed in the property industry for 15 years. At some point, he decided to get into several marketing positions before happily ending up as a marketing manager at LASALLE College of the Arts. But a series of events eventually made him question what he was doing. He was diagnosed with stage 2 pancreatic cancer six years ago following the death of his father from respiratory failure due to pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs) two years ago. His mother also began deteriorating from Dementia shortly after. All of these led him to think it was high time to pursue his dreams and spend time with his loved ones.
In 2015, Danny became a full-time caregiver for his 85-year-old mother. Danny left LASALLE College of the Arts, after spending six wonderful years in an environment that is both creative and inspiring. He decided to pursue his dream as a painter. He co-founded The Tiffin Gallery, a unique art appreciation space nestled in the heartland of Singapore, Ang Mo Kio.
“A gallery of this nature, where artists combines living, working, and exhibiting his artworks would be interesting to both locals and tourists, who are curious about where and how the majority of Singaporean lives.”
Enable Asia
Danny believes Art heals. It allows expressions when words seemed cumbersome for people living with dementia.
2016, he cofounded Enable Asia which organises the annual Enabling Festival that champions dementia and caregivers’ well-being. The Enabling Festival is in its 5th year now and it is growing strong with wonderful support from many like-minded organisations and people. He referred to them as Rock Stars of The Enabling Festival!
This video had gone viral and received about 4.7 million views on Channel News Asia’s Facebook. It presents an unvarnished look at the stress and love-hate relationship when roles are reversed and a son must now play caregiver to his once strict and strong Peranakan mother. Artist Danny Raven Tan talks about the emotional and psychological challenges of caring for someone with dementia.
UNDEAD
Danny has had two solo exhibitions titled “Unlisted” and “Undead” in 2016 and 2017. In 2022, “Undead” returned and was parked under The Enabling Festival 2022 supported by SimpleArte Gallery. “Undead” 2022 is a cheeky twist about how the world is “touched” by the longevity of the memories and legacies we leave behind after we die.
When You Are Old
Agreeing to shoot this short film titled “When You Are Old” directed by Mr Koh Chong Wu, a young and talented filmmaker, was probably the most rewarding project Danny has embarked upon in 2016. This project is one of his several advocacy works for the dementia community. It was an emotionally draining shoot because this story is very much close to Danny’s heart. The script is based on true events that happened between Danny’s mom, his helper and himself.
This film brings to light the struggles and heartbreak caregivers face, as well as the importance of being supported by their communities. “When You Are Old” is the Winner of Singtel’s 5-Min Video Challenge 2016. It was also shortlisted as a finalist for Unbroken Festival in London (Britain). This film also travelled the short film festival circuit in Chaktomuk (Cambodia), Auroville (India) and Toyama (Japan)
Mommy Not At Home
In 2017, Danny hosted 30 strangers into his home as part of a Live Theatre performance called Open Homes – a significant curation for the Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA). The performance piece is Danny’s other attempt to raise awareness for dementia through Arts i.e.Theatre. His mother was present for some of the performances, lending a heartbreaking air to the piece’s title: Mommy Not At Home.