Synopsis:

ShanghART Singapore is pleased to present a solo exhibition by our artist-in-residence, Tang Maohong, from 4 May to 14 July 2019. Taking inspiration from Paul Gauguin's famed but controversial residency in Tahiti, the exhibition title borrows from Gauguin's travelogue 'Noa Noa: The Tahitian Journal'. Such a reference reflects the artist's initial impression of Southeast Asian landscapes; the 'other place' thus presents the artist with not just a geographical shift, but also a flight of fantasy.

Tang's residency projects consciously avoid overtly cultural-specific visuals and romantic ideals; adopting a disinterested eye towards the novelty of his environment and focusing on the reality of his identity in relation to larger political entities such as countries. Combining factors of human migration, colonial histories, and self-identity, Tang again borrows from Gauguin the questions "Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?" as an entry point in his exploration of the concepts of 'countries' and 'places'.

About the Artist
Tang Maohong (b. 1975, Guangxi province, China) graduated from China National Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou and divides his time between Beijing and Seoul. He simultaneously references and undermines art history and popular culture. He has integrated a variety of visual elements and subject matters, producing works that inhabit the ever-blurred border between elegant art and popular illustration.

ShanghART Singapore
9 Lock Road, #02-22
Gillman Barracks
Singapore 108937