Artist Danny Raven TAN is a full-time painter and has opened a gallery in his home called: Tiffin Gallery, it is in his HBD where it showcases his original artwork.

During his presentation, he talked a lot about his past. He says his father passed so he was on an emotional roller coaster, he claims to have often questioned why we die? or what happens when we die?

He was born in 1967 in a small family, his mom, his dad and him.

“I was created to create.”

“Art has always been in his blood.”

“Art is the most intense mode of feeling.”

“Art is self-confidence and being fearless.”

Danny Raven TAN graduated from NUS and worked for building estate management. He says that it was boring and the only interesting thing was designing. TAN then worked at Celia Loe (senior fashion merchandise) but he says it sucked and that fashion world was plastic, even though he was getting paid he was wasn’t happy. He really wanted to work for the Versace fashion company, who his idol was the founder. Fortunately, he was shortlisted for the job.  His idol ‘Gianni Versace” was sadly shot in 1997.

In 2009, he tried very hard to alter his career path and started marketing and working in different places. In 2010 he got pancreatic cancer and it was painful. He had to go through morphine and chemo. He did not let his mom and dad know what had happened because he didn’t want them to worry. He also went through a 7-hour operation for his pancreas. He fought very hard to look and act normal. This caused him to have insomnia, diarrhea, and depression. He wanted to give up at one point in the battle and even told the doctor “I don’t want it anymore.”

The surgery left him with a scar, and that scar is a constant reminder of the nightmare he survived. A photo shoot was done on him to show his scar and what he has survived. “Every scar tells a story.”

Quotes:

“In life, we will face many challenges.”

“God only sends his best soldier to fight the toughest.” But at the same time, we still need support from family and friends.

After he bounced back from depression he wasn’t scared when changing his career.

When asking him about what he wanted most in life he responded: Faith, Strength, and Wisdom.

In 2016 he made a new friend who made his mother disappear. His mom had suffered from dementia at age 82. He states that in the next life he would still want to be her son. When he was 48, that was a turning point where he spent more time with his mom. He started to paint again after such a long time. The first piece he made was for Wanderlust 2016. He drowned himself into art.

Quotes:

“Do it before it’s too late.”

“The worst thing is to live in regret.”

“If you don’t try you’ll never know.”

Out of all the people who I saw in writers fortnight, I think he was the one with the most powerful message. He was humorous and was very straightforward in what he was saying. I would not imagine myself at his position from all he’s been through. He could have lost his life but he is a survivor of cancer which millions die from.

 

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