Perspective Tour - Exploring Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude
Film Director and Graphic Designer Yen Tan joins us for a Perspective Tour exploring current exhibition Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude.
Tan's films are largely informed by his emigration journey and themes of grief, home, and companionship -- narratives that parallel Prachakul's approach to portrait painting. Prachakul also began with a career in film before pursuing painting, providing another connective thread between their works and life experiences.
Beginning with a presentation by Tan of his own work in our Community Room, the tour will then venture into the galleries where Tan will touch on specific works by Prachakul.
Tan was born and raised in Malaysia, and after graduating from college in Iowa, moved to Texas where he has been working in Austin as a screenwriter and film director for over 22 years. His films often explore the gay experience in America, as well as relational intimacy, grief, and loss. His most recent film "All That We Love," was featured at Tribeca in 2024 and stars Margaret Cho grieving the loss of her dog while confronting an empty nest and new feelings for an old flame. Tan also designs key art for films and documentaries.
Perspective Tours is a new talk and tour series that invites guest artists and curators to present their own works within the context of our ongoing exhibitions.
For accommodations please contact [email protected] in advance.
Event is included with the price of general admission.
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About the Exhibition
Jiab Prachakul: Sweet Solitude comprises a selection of paintings from the past five years, presented in a sequence that loosely mirrors Prachakul’s own journey as an artist. Having lived in Europe for much of her adult life, her paintings are often inflected with her desire for connection amidst a feeling of displacement, a sense of romantic longing pervading throughout.
About Yen Tan
Yen Tan is an award-winning Chinese American writer and director. He premiered 1985 at SXSW 2018, a GLAAD-nominated and critically acclaimed New York Times Critic’s Pick starring Cory Michael Smith, Virginia Madsen, Michael Chiklis, and Jamie Chung. His previous film, Pit Stop, premiered at Sundance 2013 and was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Yen co-directed Until We Could with David Lowery, an Addy-winning PSA for Freedom to Marry that was narrated by Robin Wright and Ben Foster. He was named an OUT100 by Out Magazine. His latest feature, All That We Love, starring Margaret Cho and produced by Ley Line (Everything Everywhere All At Once), premiered at Tribeca 2024. Yen was born and raised in Malaysia and is presently based in Austin.