Artist Talk: Fiona Tan

How did the artist Fiona Tan arrive at the selection of works she made for Monomania? What sparked her fascination with Théodore Géricault’s 'The Kleptomaniac', and how did Tan experience curating an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum? Mayken Jonkman, Curator of 19th-Century Paintings, speaks with Tan about the years of research leading up to the exhibition and delves into the artist’s creative process

Monomania

Monomania presents Fiona Tan’s perspective on the imagination of the inner self and the emergence of psychiatry at the beginning of the 19th century, exploring the role of attentive observation in diagnosing mental "disorders." Tan, internationally renowned for her research-based film and video installations, invites you to view a past that feels surprisingly contemporary through a new lens.

In her exploration of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, Fiona Tan was guided by questions such as: What was understood by monomania? How were individuals struggling with mental health issues perceived at the time? And above all, how were they depicted?

The exhibition Fiona Tan: Monomania will be on view from 4 July until 14 September 2025.