The Goals Behind "The Rapture of Victor Tan"
For the National Gallery Singapore’s Light to Night Festival 2024, we set out to craft a moving artist profile video that would not only introduce festival-goers to Victor Tan Wee Tar’s remarkable journey but also inspire them to experience his commissioned artwork, Rapture, in person.
Victor Tan, one of Singapore’s most distinguished sculptors, lost his sight at 23 but found a new artistic language through wire sculpture. Our goal was to elevate his public profile and showcase his world—one shaped by touch, memory, and intuition. More than a straightforward documentary, The Rapture of Victor Tan is an artistic interpretation of his process and philosophy, immersing viewers in the way he “sees” through his hands.
Commissioned as part of a 10-video series under the festival’s theme, Reimagine, our approach was inspired by Lewis Carroll's surrealist classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and films like Midnight in Paris. The festival-goer was envisioned as “Alice,” encountering artists like Victor as characters in an art wonderland. This narrative framework added a dreamlike, exploratory quality to the film.
The final piece was crafted in a vertical format, aligning with modern viewing habits while maintaining cinematic depth. By using monochrome visuals, intimate close-ups, and layered sound design, we translated Victor’s tactile world into an evocative visual experience—one that allows audiences to feel, rather than just see, his artistry.
Bringing "The Rapture of Victor Tan" to Life
For the National Gallery Singapore’s Light to Night Festival 2024, we created "The Rapture of Victor Tan," a vertical video capturing the artistry of blind sculptor Victor Tan Wee Tar. Victor sculpts with wire using touch, memory, and intuition, making it essential for us to develop a unique visual storytelling approach.
Our vision was to immerse viewers in Victor’s world, portraying his tactile experience through close-ups of his hands shaping wire. That together with his reflections on his work and personal journey gave us a narrative voice that is both intimate and authentic, making the film both deeply personal and impactful at the same time.
To reflect Victor’s non-visual experience, we also decided on a black-and-white/chrome aesthetic. While we filmed in colour, every shot was composed with monochrome colour palette in mind, focusing on lighting, shadows, and textures. This choice not only highlighted the depth and details of his sculptures but also resonated thematically with his experience of the world. Every shot had to maintain depth and contrast even after grading, requiring precise lighting and composition. By carefully planning each frame, we ensured the final monochrome look was visually compelling.
Another major challenge was filming a visually-driven subject with an artist who is completely blind. Instead of relying on traditional visual cues, we emphasized the tactile and auditory elements of his process. By focusing on his hands and the physicality of his work, we captured the essence of his artistry without conventional framing.
By embracing Victor’s perspective and overcoming creative challenges, we hoped we crafted a film that is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. The result honours the resilience, creativity, and unique vision of an artist who creates without sight, yet sees so much.
The Success of "The Rapture of Victor Tan"
The Rapture of Victor Tan successfully met the client’s objectives, creating a moving and immersive artist asset that resonated strongly with the target audiences and elevated Victor Tan’s public profile. By capturing his unique creative process and artistic philosophy, the video provided an intimate look at how he navigates the world through touch, bringing his story to life in a way that was both visually and emotionally compelling.
Despite persistent wet weather throughout January, Light to Night 2024 also recorded its highest attendance ever, with 972,000 festival-goers and an online reach of over 4 million boosted by the video series including The Rapture of Victor Tan. The festival’s overall success—combined with the high engagement among the 18-35 demographic—demonstrates that our content effectively connected with its intended audience. The video’s vertical format and narrative approach helped draw younger viewers into the festival’s world, while its artistic depth ensured broader appeal across generations.
Notably, Victor’s installation Rapture also became one of the top three most visited installations during the festival, underscoring the strong public interest in his work. Beyond the two-week festival, The Rapture of Victor Tan played a role in introducing the wider public to one of Singapore’s most remarkable sculptors by showcasing Victor’s artistic journey and encouraging deeper appreciation for his work—ensuring his impact as an art maker beyond the exhibition space.
