Tan Mu (b. 1991, Shandong, CN) explores the intricate relationship between technology, global interconnectedness, individual memory, and collective consciousness. Her work emphasizes the themes of connection and continuity within the shared human experience, utilizing tools such as microscopes, satellites, and human imagination to transcend practical machinery and iconography.

Tan Mu’s educational background at Alfred University’s Expanded Media Studio Art program, under the mentorship of Emil Schult, shaped her interdisciplinary approach. Further training at The Institute for Electronic Arts deepened her exploration of sensory media, programming, and mechanical devices, allowing her to expand traditional painting into a multidimensional practice that investigates humanity’s connection to both the microcosmos and the cosmos at large.

At the core of her practice lies the concept of technology as both an extension of the human body and an externalization of memory. She envisions the fabric of memory as a dynamic system—internal memory, embodied in the brain and carrying personal emotions and experiences, and external memory, reflected in data centers and digital archives that preserve collective consciousness. Her work maps these systems, revealing technology as a bridge between personal experience and collective consciousness, akin to an archaeological excavation uncovering the hidden structures of existence. Her “universe of concepts” framework weaves together dimensions ranging from atomic particles and human cognition to cosmic systems, offering a profound exploration of how technology shapes and preserves memory and experience. By employing layered textures and luminous color gradients, her work evokes a fluid connectivity that bridges the seen and unseen realms. Her work bridges the tangible with the abstract, the personal with the collective, creating a visual dialogue that feels both timeless and deeply present, fostering deeper connections to memory and the shared human experience.

Her paintings are a heartfelt exploration of world-making, intertwining personal reflections with collective memory, drawing from archival records and contemporary advancements. She adopts a self-distanced perspective that transforms personal memory into a bridge to collective consciousness, fostering an evolving dialogue with herself and a reflection of our time. Exploring themes such as genetic engineering, neural networks, computing, energy systems, and cosmic mysteries, her practice reveals the intricate interplay between technology and human experience. Her paintings, functioning as “timestamps,” weave together milestones of human history and collective memory, capturing the intersection of past and present, evoking both blurred and familiar sensations that invite viewers to reflect on cultural synchronicity.

Infused with a sense of wonder, Mu’s art embodies a profound love for humanity, mapping the intricate flow of knowledge and emotion while testing boundaries to reveal new perspectives. By highlighting the interconnected web of collective memory, her work transcends mere historical documentation, serving as a vessel that nurtures memory and fosters resilience. Bridging past and present, it imbues human culture with a sense of continuity and profound spiritual resonance.