Who is the next big thing? We ask bon vivant and collector David Tang to give us his picks of artists emerging from the scene
If you’re looking for a new artist to add to your art collection, or if you’re in need of some direction when meandering through the plethora of artworks exhibiting in Art HK 2011, we’ve got something for you. We’ve asked David Tang, founder of Shanghai Tang and the China Club, who is also a patron of Art HK, to give us his suggestions on which emerging artists to look out for.
The expert Tang, who is an avid collector of Chinese contemporary art, as well as a trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts and chairman of the Asia-Pacific Acquisition Committee of the Tate Modern, shares his diverse list of serious talent in Chinese contemporary art below.
Li Songsong (b. 1972, China)
Li Songsong paints large-scale canvases of modern Chinese history recreated from media images. I have always admired Gu Wenda and Li Songsong. Both of them are, of course, already fairly established but I don’t believe they are as popular and important as they ought to be. I certainly hope that their stature will rise significantly and exponentially.
Liu Xiaodong (b. 1963, China)
Liu Xiaodong is regarded as one of China’s finest figurative painters coming to prominence after being included in the landmark 1989 China: Avant Garde exhibition at the National Gallery in Beijing. Painting portraits and scenes from candid snapshots of friends, family and ordinary people, his vivid and vibrantly painted works have earned him accolades and collectors internationally.
Gu Wenda (b. 1955, China)
New York-based Gu Wenda explores themes of human identity and unity through his calligraphic and installation works which often incorporate human hair. His “United Nations Project”, an ongoing venture since 1993, will utilise donated hair from more than two million people to create a giant wall, symbolising a unification of mankind “that will probably never exist in our time.”
Duon Jian (b. 1970, China)
Another relatively little-known name, but someone I particularly like, is Duan Jian Yu. Her style reminds me of American artist Cy Twombly. I do hope she gains greater prominence as there are not enough female artists in Chinese contemporary art.
This article is adapted from Hong Kong Tatler’s May issue.