Mr. Tan's daily swim

“Mr. Tan can barely walk. Mr. Tan swims every day. It takes him approx. 45 mins to reach the water from the entrance of the swimming complex. His determination and love for the water is admirable. “

Mr Tan’s walking is weak, sometimes he doesn’t seem to be moving at all. It is painful to watch and one wonders if he’ll ever reach the water and if the video will ever end. His whistling while walking is in sharp contrast with the actual effort it takes him. Knowing he does this every day, the viewer gets a feeling of admiration and inspiration. When he reaches the water, he is weightless and transforms into another being.

There are no actors in the video. Alleblas simply asked to film Mr. Tan on one of his daily pilgrimages to the water. Alleblas and Tan both share a deep love for water.

  • Frances Alleblas
    Director
  • Frances Alleblas
    Writer
  • Frances Alleblas
    Producer
  • Mr. Tan
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    art film
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Singapore
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2017 ArtWalk@Wessex
    Singapore
    Singapore
    March 25, 2017
    Singapore premiere
Director Biography - Frances Alleblas

Born 1971 Netherlands

1994-1998 Willem de Kooning fine Art Academy, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
1997-1998 Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Java, Indonesia
2004 Pacific Art, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA

Lives and works in Singapore since 2002

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Director Statement

They main focus in my work in recent years has been video. I currently have 5 videos finished and about 5 more that need to be finished. Hand held, as if to ensure the 'hand' of 'touch' of the artist is still visible, like how in a drawing you can trace the artist's decision in the pencil traces on the paper. The video's subjects vary from horses, to windows, to the ocean. The video's are poetic moving images of subjects that captivate me. Some are more narrative that others. Some are purely aesthetic. Visual poetry. Most videos are shot impromptu, with no set up plan, , no actors and often candid.