Sublime | Abstract Painting | Abstract Expressionism | Sculpture
Overwhelmed, 2024
Acrylic on canvas (36 x 48 inches each, 6 pieces); spray foam, chicken wire, spray paint (4 pieces)
The pursuit of an authentic expression of humanity—uncertainty and complexity—elevates my work beyond mere symbols or representations (Bell, 2013). The essence of human nature can never be fully conveyed by a single painting, symbol, character, or any concrete representation. Drawing from the concept of the sublime, I aim to capture not just the observable facets of humanity but the overwhelming and ineffable experiences that challenge our perceptions of beauty and existence. In such expression, I seek not answers but to create a space for experiencing and reflecting.
Overwhelmed offers a deeply personal and introspective experience, creating spaces where words and interpretations are fully liberated. Tang explores the ineffable nature of the human experience from an objective perspective. Instead of assigning specific colours or symbols to emotions and events, he embraces this indefinability, drawing inspiration from Anselm Kiefer’s assertion: “Critics say that I am an artist who always wants to overwhelm people. But, no, it is I who am overwhelmed. And, if I am not, something is wrong.” (Guardian, 2019). These overwhelming sensations serve as a key for viewers to enter a reflective space, eliciting shock, astonishment, and profound emotions.
Conversely, on the left side, Tang showcases four sculptural paintings created with acrylic paints and spray foam. In these works, he seeks to transcend the traditional frame of painting, emphasizing the artwork’s own presence and autonomy. The spray foam extends beyond the canvas, allowing the materials to bleed out and interact with the surrounding space. This breakthrough technique embodies the concept of transcendence within the sublime, giving each piece a vivid life of its own. These sculptural paintings portray the raw, visceral aspects of the human body while seamlessly integrating the aesthetic established by the initial six works.
DE TANG 