Tan Mu’s Vision (2020) guides viewers through the focusing process of human sight using a distinctive artistic approach. Characterized by black borders and circular viewing apertures at the center, these works mimic both the structure of the human eye and the perspective of a camera lens. Viewers are invited to examine the mechanics of seeing and the ways in which vision is replicated through technology. In the diptych pieces, two focal points represent the perceptual shift as the eyes switch between different objects. One image appears blurred, while the other is sharp, reflecting the natural astigmatism of human vision versus the instant clarity achieved through mechanical lenses. This transition not only illustrates technology’s intervention in our visual perception but also captures the fleeting moment of refocusing—akin to the magnification and extension of sight through a microscope or telescope. By documenting these shifts within a single time frame, Tan Mu highlights both the limitations and precision of vision, emphasizing its enclosed and concentrated nature.

Q: Could you describe the content and underlying meaning of your artwork Vision (2020)?

Tan Mu: This painting depicts the image seen inside an autorefractor during a routine eye examination. It comes from my own experience of having regular eye checkups every year or two. Since childhood, I have been deeply impressed by the surreal and highly focused images that appear inside the refractor, such as a small house or a hot air balloon. These images left a strong and lasting impression on me. What fascinates me is that this imagery is almost universally shared. People around the world, regardless of age or background, recognize the same visual scene because it is a standard part of eye examinations. In this sense, it becomes a collective visual memory, a moment where technology temporarily reshapes how we see.

I think of technology as an extension of the human body. Tools such as microscopes and telescopes expand or alter our visual range, allowing us to see what would otherwise remain invisible. Vision captures the instant when technology recalibrates our sight, revealing how perception can be transformed in a single moment through mechanical adjustment.

Q: How do you express this mechanical intervention in vision through the diptych format?

Tan Mu: In this diptych, I bring together abstraction and representation to depict a moment of visual transition. One panel reflects unfocused, organic vision, a soft and diffused image that mirrors how the world appears without any technological assistance. The other panel represents the moment of correction, when the image suddenly snaps into focus through mechanical calibration. Placing these two states side by side allows the viewer to experience the shift from blurred perception to clarity. It highlights how a brief technical intervention can fundamentally alter the way we see.

This transformation is closely tied to time. Like the instant of a nuclear explosion or the moment a droplet hits a surface, it captures a fleeting transition when perception is abruptly redefined.

Q: You mentioned that the mechanical aspect of vision is downplayed in this work. Would you consider emphasizing the machinery itself in future works?

Tan Mu: In this painting, I intentionally minimized the presence of the machine. The device itself is not shown. Instead, the focus is on the effect of the intervention, presenting the states of vision before and after adjustment. In the future, I may explore a version that includes the machine more directly, making the mechanical process itself visible. For this work, however, I wanted to concentrate on the visual transformation and how subtly yet profoundly technology alters our perception of the world.