Signal: Submarine Networks 01, 2024
Oil and acrylic on linen
150 x 180 cm ( 59 x 71 in)
Earth, our shared home, functions like a vast motherboard, where submarine cables form the invisible pathways connecting supercities. These unseen networks carry humanity’s collective knowledge and emotions, fueling breakthroughs and sustaining our interdependence. Yet, even as we remain tethered to our mother planet, our gaze reaches the stars, seeking guidance and hope in the cosmic expanse.
Signal poetically bridges technology and human sentiment, the interplay between Earth and the cosmos, and the vital role of art in archiving collective memory. Tan Mu arranges abstract dots to form a "digital constellation," where the connections between nodes and cables merge cosmic vastness with oceanic depth. Each dot symbolizes a digital node and a trace of "white noise," embodying the subtle, continuous flow of data and human connection. For Mu, technology is not merely functional; it is an extension of the body and an externalization of memory. Her works trace the flows of knowledge and emotion across oceans, emphasizing the expanding web of human connection while linking historical narratives to speculative futures.
Inspired by The Classic of Mountains and Seas, an ancient text mapping the mythical and the unknown, Signal transforms the unseen digital networks of our era into a contemporary narrative. Like ancient chroniclers who charted mystical landscapes, Signal explores the uncharted digital world, blending the poetic mythology of starry constellations with the tangible structure of global connectivity.
As an ongoing project, Signal evolves over time, embodying the fluidity of the digital age and recording the technological and emotional timestamps of our era. It captures the duality of connection and isolation, exploring how humanity navigates an increasingly interconnected yet fragile world. At its core, Signal preserves the ineffable—our shared memories, dreams, and aspirations—offering a contemplative space to imagine new futures while grounding us in the rhythms of our collective past.
Q: What inspired you to create the “Signal” series?
Tan Mu: My fascination with the ocean runs deep, a connection that traces back to my childhood spent by the sea. My grandfather, a marine engineer specializing in land reclamation, worked on harbor designs and large-scale oceanic projects. Surrounded by his engineering blueprints and designs, I developed an early interest in the intricate structures of the ocean and mechanical engineering. These experiences also shaped my ability to view the world through both scientific and artistic lenses. I’ve always been particularly drawn to bathymetric contour lines and maps, captivated by how these visuals reveal the hidden depths of the sea. As a passionate freediver, I have long been drawn to the island nation of Tonga, dreaming of one day witnessing its majestic humpback whales.
The Signal series originated from my 2022 work, Eruption. This painting focuses on the dramatic eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and its impact on global communication networks. In January 2022, the volcanic eruption caused severe damage to submarine cables, severing Tonga’s communication with the outside world. The event profoundly moved me, marking the first time I realized the extent to which modern society depends on the hidden infrastructure of submarine cables, far more than satellites. On the day Tonga restored its communication a month later, I began painting Eruption, symbolizing the reconnection process. The work not only serves as a record of the event but also reflects on how the fragility and resilience of modern technology profoundly shape human destiny.
The completion of Eruption deepened my curiosity about submarine cables. In my 2023 painting, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, I began exploring the material structure of these cables, focusing on cross-sectional representations to visualize their inner workings and connective functions. This work transcends technical details, transforming submarine cables into metaphors for global connectivity and paving the way for my broader exploration of the global information network.
Through these initial investigations, I came to recognize that submarine cables are not merely conduits for data but also metaphors for recording collective human memory. Moving from specific events to structural details to global perspectives, I launched the Signal series, a long-term project exploring the interplay between technology and emotion. Anchored by maps and submarine cable networks, the series unveils the complexity of modern technology while delving into humanity’s shared emotional and cultural memory. More than a collection of artworks, the Signal series represents an evolving narrative about connection and the future, blending technological intricacy with profound emotional and philosophical depth.
Q: Why did you choose to start this series with a depiction of the Northwest Pacific region?
Tan Mu: I began with the Northwest Pacific because this region includes my hometown, making it personally meaningful. This area’s cable networks, connecting places like the East China Sea, Korea, and Japan, felt like a natural starting point for a global project. By starting here, I wanted to root this exploration of global connectivity in something intimate, capturing both a geographical and emotional anchor. From this point, the series can expand to other regions, gradually mapping out the intricate, worldwide web of submarine cables that connects us all.
Q: How do the points and dots in this work convey the essence of the submarine cables?
Tan Mu: The points in the artwork serve a dual purpose. On one hand, they represent the data packets flowing through these cables—an abstract visualization of information as it travels across oceans. On the other, they evoke the sensation of “white noise” or pixelation, almost like the visual static of data streaming. These dots convey both the randomness and structure within the flow of information, inviting viewers to reflect on how these countless fragments of data collectively build the continuous stream of global communication. They also remind us of the hidden pulse within our digital lives—an invisible, ceaseless rhythm that underlies our daily interactions.
Q: Can you speak about the colors and composition in this piece?
Tan Mu: The color palette—deep blues and gradients—aims to evoke the vastness of both the ocean and the night sky. These shades create a sense of depth and calm, reflecting the quiet, constant presence of the underwater cables. The arrangement of points mimics both star constellations and the flow of data across a network, bridging the ocean and sky metaphorically. This color choice brings a sense of serenity to the piece, inviting viewers to contemplate the underlying network that connects us all. It’s meant to feel expansive yet meditative, an endless sea of connections that feels both vast and close.
Q: How do you see this network as similar to constellations?
Tan Mu: Visually, the network resembles constellations—each data point and cable line can be imagined as stars connected across the ocean floor, forming a map of human connectivity. This constellation-like network symbolizes how we explore, understand, and chart the world. Much like stars guiding early navigators, this network connects and guides modern society, helping us understand the vastness of human connections.
Q: How does this series reflect your interest in hidden structures and invisible connections? You mentioned seeing this network as an extension of the body. Can you elaborate on that?
Tan Mu: I’ve always been intrigued by the hidden frameworks that support modern life—those structures that quietly hold everything together yet often go unnoticed. Submarine cables are a perfect example: they lie beneath the surface, unseen but vital. Through this series, I wanted to highlight these “invisible veins” of the world. They remind me of the meridian lines in traditional Eastern medicine, connecting different parts of a whole and sustaining a kind of global “circulation.” By bringing these hidden structures to light, I hope to evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for the unseen forces that shape our interconnected lives.
Q: How does this series connect technology, human experience, time, and labor?
Tan Mu: This series highlights submarine cables as powerful extensions of our human need for connection, blending technology with deep human effort. These cables symbolize our desire to communicate, to share, and to understand each other across vast distances, yet they’re also physical achievements built through meticulous human labor, with each kilometer laid through immense collaboration. Each dot in my artwork reflects this, representing not just data points but also the time, patience, and care involved in creating these networks. This deliberate, meditative process contrasts with the rapid flow of information across the cables, serving as a reminder of the human presence behind these invisible systems and honoring the dedication required to construct something that unites us globally. If an image can pull one into a broader perspective of the world, to be reminded of this profound coexistence and unity, it's a truly amazing experience.