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Aram Tanis was born in Seoul but grew up in The Netherlands, where he lived in a predominantly white neighborhood and attended schools with little diversity. As an individual of Asian descent, he often felt different from his family, friends, and the people he saw in the media. During his adolescence, he actively sought individuals who shared his identity but was disappointed to find a dearth of role models. Consequently, he has always been acutely aware of his distinctiveness.
Aram Tanis has found the concept of ‘Feeling at Home’ a complex one. For him, home is intricately tied to his identity. As a child, he longed to appear white, believing that it would resolve his uncertainties. Over time, Aram Tanis has gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be Korean, particularly in the context of living in The Netherlands. As he embraces his identity, he feels increasingly at home both in his own skin and in his surroundings. Now, as a father, his Korean heritage plays an even more significant role in both his personal and professional life.
North of The Fortress, South of The Forest (Amsterdam) has been exhibited at Museum Het Schip (Amsterdam / NL).