Artist Biography
PHUNK is an art and design collective founded in 1994, comprising Singapore-born and based creatives Alvin Tan (b. 1974), Melvin Chee (b. 1974), Jackson Tan (b. 1974) and William Chan (b. 1973). Known for their bold graphic style that combines Neo Pop and postmodernist influences with urban subculture iconography, PHUNK’s works across painting, print, film, music, typography, animation and design collaborations with global brands and fashion houses.
Originally planning to form a rock band, PHUNK’s members—who met as design students in college—instead decided to focus on visual art projects. Their approach of merging wide-ranging imagery across eras and cultures has led to works such as the Electricity (2006–ongoing) series. In these imaginary cityscapes, dystopia and utopia collide, while being densely populated by fantastical creatures that draw inspiration from the collective’s global travels.
All four artists obtained their Diploma in Visual Communications (Graphic Design) from LASALLE College of the Arts in 1994, with Alvin Tan and Jackson Tan further receiving their MFA from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2015. Their work is held in collections including the Singapore Art Museum.
Notable exhibitions include Superfluous Things (2022), Singapore Art Museum; Modern Love (2014), Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore; Welcome to the Jungle (2013), Yokohama Museum of Art; Future Pass 2.0 (2012), Wereldmuseum Rotterdam; Future Pass – From Asia to the World (2011), (Collateral Event of the 54th Venice Biennale) Fondazione Claudio Buziol, Venice; You West I East (2010), Shenzhen Fine Art Museum; Celebrating 50 Years of Helvetica (2007), Design Museum, London; Massive Territory (2007), National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta; and Universality (2007), Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei. The artists have also participated in major international festivals including Panorama of the Next World (2014), 5th Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale; Metaphors of Unreal (2009), 2nd Animamix Biennale, Shanghai; 1st Graphic Design Festival Breda (2008); From Modernity to Eternity (2007), 1st Animamix Biennale, Shanghai; and Light into Life (2005), 1st Gwangju Design Biennale.
PHUNK had their residency at the STPI Workshop in 2008, resulting in the group exhibition BMW YAAS II: The Singapore Edition: David Chan, Donna Ong and :phunk (2009).