Tattfoo Tan crouches next to an old-fashioned trunk, filled with dirt, that bears a sign advertising "free worms."
Tattfoo Tan offers "free worms" at NYC's Arario Gallery and encourages
visitors to start their own compost bins. (Photo: Leslie Koch)
Tan's homemade uniform-- khaki shirt and shorts, complete with merit badges-- grants him an air of authority as he extols the virtues of composting.
"It just has three components: the food scraps, the newspaper and worms. You just kind of toss them together like a big salad and just leave them. Don’t touch them," he advises a rapt crowd.
Over a dozen visitors press closer for a better look. They pepper Tan with questions.
Can I compost in my apartment? Where do I get the worms? Will this attract roaches?
Tan reassures the audience that it is possible to compost in New York City. He keeps his own scrap heap under the kitchen sink in his Staten Island apartment.
He reminds visitors to take home a handful of worms each so they can start their own compost piles.
This isn't an unusual scene, but the location is surprising. We're not standing in a farmer's market; we're on the second floor of an art gallery in Chelsea-- the heart of New York City's art scene.
Tattfoo Tan's exciting installation is part of a show at the Arario Gallery titled "Irrelevant: Local Emerging Asian Artists Who Don't Make Work About Being Asian."
Don't miss this exhibit, open now through August 6, 2010.
>> Scroll down for exhibition details and for information on Tattfoo Tan's next show. Don't forget to click on the slideshow for more images of Tattfoo's work.
Artist and "Master Composter" Tattfoo Tan taught a lesson in
composting at the Arario Gallery in Chelsea on Thursday,
July 15 2010. (Photo: Leslie Koch)
Catalyst for change
New Yorkers can help create a better world-- and have fun in the process.
That appears to be the driving vision behind Tattfoo Tan's work.
He invites community members to become active participants in his projects, which raise awareness about environmental issues.
Tan is concerned that people are losing important skills-- like gardening and foraging-- and have become too reliant on a food system that is not sustainable.
"We are facing a crisis right now because people are ignoring it and it’s not going to solve itself," Tan explained after the composting demonstration.
"Right now we outsource everything. We outsource even washing our own laundry. We hire someone to do it. We are too lazy to walk our dog."
A proponent of social sculpture, Tan sees himself as a catalyst for change. He encourages his audience to explore the politics of food production and to question their own behavior.
"I’m creating a scenario, a place for people to interact… it’s about bringing people together to start a conversation. I don’t strive for a resolution, like [an activist]."
He organizes fun community activities that raise awareness but don't overwhelm participants with details of a "doomsday crisis."
"[I] try to get the people excited about recycling and empowering them with tools and knowledge—how to recycle, basically," Tan said of a recent project, a paper making workshop held at a senior center.
Taking art to the streets
Tattfoo Tan's sense of humor is present throughout his work.
A photo taped to the wall of the Arario Gallery shows Tan engaging in one of his "mobile garden" projects.
Tattfoo Tan's "mobile gardens," on display at the
Arario Gallery in Chelsea. (Photo: Leslie Koch)
Wearing a gray coverall of his own design, he pushes a stroller filled with plants down a city street. Beside him two women push their own strollers, which are occupied by actual children. A male passerby with a bemused expression stares at Tan and his botanical baby carriage.
This is exactly the reaction Tan is looking for.
"Sometimes I don’t tell them what the project is. I let them think, what’s going on?," he explained when asked about the photo.
"That particular project… is also about reproducing. Because the more people in the world, the worse the whole environment is... Maybe they should think before they keep on reproducing. Some sort of controlled reproducing thing. Because if everyone just has more babies, there will be no more food for everyone."
Does he tell that to couples with children who stop him on the street to ask about his stroller?
"Yeah, why not?" he said with a shrug.
Becoming a 'Master Composter'
When Tan embarked on his S.O.S. (Sustainable Organic Stewardship) project, he did not know anything about gardening. He was trained as a graphic designer.
So he set out to acquire horticulture skills in order to teach others in his Staten Island community.
He took courses sponsored by city agencies and earned "Citizen Pruner" and "Master Composter" certificates, which he proudly displays on his website.
“...I went to get certification about gardening, and to learn from my friends and neighbors. And in the process of getting certification I designed my own patches to put on my clothing," revealed Tan.
Like a Boy Scout, he adds a badge to his khaki uniform each time he learns a new skill.
The artist takes his certification seriously.
When asked about the legality of his "Greenade" campaign-- for which he assembled a group of volunteers wearing fatigues and planted seeds on bare patches of city sidewalk-- Tan responded, "It is my duty as a Citizen Pruner to do this," and pointed to his badge.
[According to Tan's website, the certificate allows recipients to "legally work on trees owned by the City of New York." Undoubtedly, the seed planting campaign is serving a public benefit].
The artist's uniform-- his gray coverall with "S.O.S." badge-- is prominently displayed at the Arario Gallery, where it hangs from the ceiling near the exhibit's entrance.
Community participation
As a social sculptor, Tattfoo Tan believes anyone can become an artist.
"It’s the idea that art happens when people interact together rather than art as an object or commodity that you can trade.
"...I give the idea, I create a situation, but the artwork still belongs to the participant, so I don’t own the artwork. I think that’s the beauty of what I am doing right now."
Tan invites community members to participate in his work by contacting him on his website or by leaving a business card at his Arario Gallery show.
Details of current exhibit:
What: "Irrelevant: Local Emerging Asian Artists Who Don't Make Work About Being Asian"
Where: Arario Gallery
521 West 25th St, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 206-2760
When: Show closes on August 6, 2010
Cost: FREE
Tattfoo Tan's next show:
What: Unveiling of Tattfoo Tan's new SOS Mobile Classroom, at the Farm City Fair
Where: The Invisible Dog Gallery
51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
When: Sunday, September 12, 2010, 11am - 5pm
Cost: FREE
***
Did you enjoy this post? Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and the DowntownTraveler blog.
Related Articles:
Yoko Ono's 'wish tree' draws hopeful crowd to MoMA
New rules for NYC park artists to start Monday, after judge denies injunction
Update: Armory Show installation kills ladybugs, culprit at large
Is it garbage or art? Trash can sparks controversy at Armory Arts Week
Shaquille O'Neal curates art show in New York City
Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA showcases drawings, movie memorabilia
Comments
great write up leslie! i love the idea of the mobile garden and the make it yourself compost bins! Proud to be Malaysian.. hmmm.. now to go find me some newspaper and worms;)
Very different and interesting, what a different spin to "art" in a gallery! Love the SOS hanging jumpsuit!
@Ciki - Thanks! Tattfoo orders his worms and has them delivered in the mail, so you can probably find them online. He explained at the demo that he gives worms away so others don't have to go through the expense and hassle of ordering them!
Excellent, info-packed piece, Leslie..well done..
Cheers..
Excellent article! I also love worms just like Tattfoo!
I see the composting for people with gardens, but apartment dwellers? I don't think so.
Tattfoo Tan sounds like a very interesting artist, and it will be fun to keep an eye on his future. Actually, I think I'll go check out his blog. Thanks for the intro, Leslie.
Good article. Not a fan of worms myself.
I heard the musician Jack Johnson talking about the worm thing during in an interview and thought it sounded interesting. The plant in the baby stroller is hilarious.
I just started composting this year for my garden. Worms are supposed to be really good for it as well. Also, if you want to garden and produce a lot of stuff in a small space, check out square foot gardening! I guess composting can be art too!
This reminds me of a conversation I had years ago with a friend who is an artist. We were trying to define art. We had to finally conclude that it's art if someone says it is.
Composting as art? Certainly. Tan just said it was. While I wouldn't put it in my living room, why not have an artful compost pile :)
<b>Get Stuff!</b>
We have a big green plastic compost container in the yard, but minus the worms. Not sure I'd want to keep it under my kitchen sink.
Great article...ugh to worms though....remember the elephant dung exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum? Sometimes I think these guys are getting a little bit over the top.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!