Vaccine (2021) explores the profound significance of the COVID-19 vaccine, symbolizing both hope and scientific achievement in the face of a global pandemic. The painting focuses on the essence of the vaccine vial, capturing the delicate contours of the glass and the gleam of its contents. Through this portrayal, the artist invites viewers to contemplate the transformative impact of medical innovation on society, emphasizing the intersection of science, health, and collective resilience. Vaccine stands as a visual testament to the power of human endeavor and collaboration in overcoming global challenges, prompting reflection on the role of vaccines in shaping our future.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Vaccine (2021)?

Tan Mu: The inspiration came from observing the contradictions of the pandemic era. On one hand, there was isolation, uncertainty, and social rupture. On the other, there was an unprecedented mobilization of scientific knowledge and global collaboration. While earlier works in my practice explored genetics and human DNA from a more conceptual distance, Vaccine responds directly to a specific historical moment. The rapid development of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID vaccine struck me as a powerful symbol of collective resolve. I was fascinated by how such a small vial could contain both advanced scientific innovation and a shared sense of hope. The mRNA technology in particular felt like a continuation of my long-standing interest in genetic codes, but now embedded within an urgent social reality. By isolating the vial as the central subject, I wanted to acknowledge its quiet yet transformative role during that moment, not only as a medical breakthrough, but as a marker of human cooperation under pressure.

Q: Why did you choose to depict a vaccine vial rather than using abstract symbols of science or medicine?

Tan Mu: I was drawn to the vaccine vial because it became a cultural artifact of the pandemic. Even without explicit branding or detailed labeling, its form is immediately recognizable. During that period, images of vaccine vials circulated constantly across media platforms, scientific reports, and personal conversations. The vial became a visual shorthand for vulnerability, anticipation, and relief. By grounding the work in a concrete object, I could anchor the painting in a shared collective memory while allowing abstraction to expand its meaning. This approach reflects my interest in investigating specific phenomena to uncover broader truths. The vial is not depicted as a pharmaceutical product, but as a container of layered significance. It holds scientific knowledge, political tension, public anxiety, and collective hope all at once. Through its semi-abstract treatment, the painting invites viewers to move between recognition and interpretation, between the literal and the symbolic.

Q: How do you understand the relationship between representation and abstraction in this work?

Tan Mu: My practice often operates in the space between representation and abstraction. I begin by extracting fragments of reality such as scientific imagery, technological objects, or media references, and then reconfigure them to reveal underlying structures. In Vaccine, the vial functions both as a scientific object and as a cultural prism. Its presence grounds the work in a specific historical moment, while its abstraction opens space for reflection on how we experience and archive crisis. Abstraction does not erase reality for me. It allows me to question how meaning accumulates around objects over time. The glowing contents of the vial suggest not only biomedical success, but also the emotional and ideological weight placed upon it. Through this balance, the painting connects the microscopic scale of genetic instruction with the macroscopic impact of a global pandemic, reinforcing my belief that painting can serve as a medium for both documentation and critical inquiry.