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Shaun Tan

ショーン・タン

Shoon Tan

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1974-01-15 （Fremantle, Western Australia）
Nationality
Australian
Languages
English
Residence History
Grew up in northern suburbs of Perth → Fremantle (birthplace)

Career

Occupations
artist, writer, illustrator, filmmaker
Active Years
1990-
Influenced By
Ray Bradbury, Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey
Influenced
Contemporary children's book illustrators and graphic novelists

Education

University of Western Australia
Studied Fine Arts, English Literature and History
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Period: 早1990年代–1995年
Year of Graduation: 1995
Country: Australia
Studied arts and humanities; decided to pursue work as an artist during university

Awards

Academy Award (Best Animated Short Film)
2011
Work: The Lost Thing
Category: Best Short Film (Animated)
Organization: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Result: Won
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
2011
Category: キャリア賞（児童文学全般への貢献）
Organization: Swedish Arts Council
Result: Winner
Dromkeen Medal
2010
Organization: State Library Victoria
Result: Awarded
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards (Community Relations Commission Award / Book of the Year)
2007
Work: The Arrival
Category: Book of the Year
Organization: New South Wales Government
Result: Winner
Locus Award for Best Illustrated and Art Book
2008
Work: The Arrival
Organization: Locus
Result: Winner
Children's Book Council of Australia, Picture Book of the Year
1999
Work: The Rabbits
Category: Picture Book of the Year
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)
Result: Winner
Children's Book Council of Australia, Picture Book of the Year
2019
Work: Cicada
Category: Picture Book of the Year
Organization: Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)
Result: Winner
Kate Greenaway Medal
2020
Work: Tales from the Inner City
Organization: CILIP / The Bookseller (UK award administered)
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Lost Thing

2000 Picture book / short story 32 pages

A boy finds a strange creature ('the lost thing') and seeks to find where it belongs. Themes include belonging, bureaucracy and empathy toward the other.

alienationbelongingempathybureaucracy
Adaptations
  • [Animated short film] The Lost Thing / Shaun Tan; Andrew Ruhemann (2010)
  • [Stage play (youth theatre)] The Lost Thing (2006)
Translations
  • Japanese translation available

The Arrival

2006 Graphic novel / wordless novel 128 pages

A largely wordless, illustrated account of an immigrant's experience. The book explores dislocation, hope and the strangeness of arriving in a new country.

immigrationalienationnostalgiacross-cultural encounter
Adaptations
  • [Stage adaptation / projected-image performance] The Arrival / Red Leap Theatre (stage adaptation); Ben Walsh (projection/orchestral project) (2009)
Translations
  • French edition and many other translations available

The Red Tree

2001 Picture book 32 pages

A lyrical picture book about loneliness, sadness and the small signs of hope that can appear in dark times.

lonelinesshopeemotional recovery
Adaptations
  • [Theatre / musical performance] The Red Tree / Queensland Performing Arts Centre commissioning; Michael Yezerski (music) / Richard Tognetti (performance collaborations) (2006)
Translations
  • Japanese translation available

Tales from Outer Suburbia

2008 Short story collection / illustrated stories 160 pages

A collection of illustrated short stories that weave strange events into suburban life, mixing humour, the uncanny and allegory.

fantasy and the everydaysuburban lifeabsurdity

Rules of Summer

2013 Picture book / illustrated collection 48 pages

An illustrated collection of summer rules and small adventures of boys; features visually told, fable-like episodes.

growing upritualmemory

Cicada

2018 Picture book 48 pages

A quiet picture book dealing with unexpected events and loss, portraying life's fragility and everyday warmth.

losskindnesseveryday beauty

Tales from the Inner City

2018 Short story collection / illustrated tales 160 pages

An illustrated collection of urban fables with philosophical and social allegories aimed also at adult readers.

the citylonelinesssocial critique
Adaptations
  • [Site-responsive theatre / installation] Tales from the Inner City / Perth Festival production team (projected/immersive adaptation) (2026)

Bibliography

  • The Playground (1997)
  • The Lost Thing (2000)
  • The Red Tree (2001)
  • The Arrival (2006)
  • Tales from Outer Suburbia (2008)
  • Rules of Summer (2013)
  • Cicada (2018)
  • Tales from the Inner City (2018)
  • Dog (2020)
  • Eric (2020)
  • Creature (2022)

Adaptations

  • The Lost Thing (animated short film, 2010)
  • The Arrival (stage adaptation / projected performance)
  • The Rabbits (opera adaptation, 2015)

Translations of Works

  • The Arrival: French edition and many other translations

Style & Themes

Literary Style
visual storytelling (often sparse text)allegorical and poetic expressiondetailed, collage-like illustration
Recurring Motifs
alienation and belongingstrange creaturessuburban and urban landscapesquiet hope

Legacy

Shaun Tan has blurred the boundaries between children's literature and illustration, expressing universal themes of migration, alienation and empathy through picture books and graphic novels. His works have been widely adapted and internationally acclaimed, earning numerous awards.

Museums

  • Beinart Gallery (Shaun Tan collection) Australia (collection exhibits / holdings)
  • Subiaco Public Library (site of 'The Tea Party' mural) Perth, Subiaco

Archives

  • Beinart Gallery (collection)
  • State Library of Western Australia (holdings)

In Popular Culture

  • Wider recognition from The Lost Thing's Oscar win and film adaptation
  • Crossovers into theatre and music, e.g. The Rabbits opera (2015)

Quotes

  • Of his early writing efforts, Tan says, "I have a small pile of rejection letters as testament to this ambition!"
    Source: Locus (interview) (2001)

Trivia

  • In 1992 he became the first Australian to win the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest.
  • The City of Subiaco sponsors the 'Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists' named after him since 2003.
  • He has described using collage elements and found materials (including dead insects) in some of his illustrations.