Rose Tang
Encyclopedia
Rose Tang tʰɑ̌ŋ lwɔ́sɨ is the pseudonym
of an ambiguously-gendered,
semi-fictional artistic personality based on Taiwan
ese-born
architect, biologist and zoologist Zheng Guoyang, under the art direction
of French-born founder of the island6 Arts Center
,
Thomas Charvériat
.
Over a hundred sculpture
s, photograph
s, LED
works, and
videos have been created and exhibited under Rose Tang's name since
his conception in 2006.
Rose Tang is a pillar of the Shanghai
art collective, Liu Dao
.
of fact and fiction
, mostly
based on Zheng Guoyang’s life and career. Like Zheng Guoyang, Rose
Tang was born in Taiwan
. His parents were born in Beijing
but raised him in Taipei
,
putting him through strict schooling and training him as a
scientist
. He graduated from Tunghai University
(zh-tw: 東海大學, Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tang-hái Tāi-ha̍k). However, they could not keep the family’s fulltime
photographer from becoming Tang’s artistic mentor
, and inspiring a
life of courageous innovation in arts that fight to understand how
Chinese family culture and shifting sociological values came
together to shape modern sexual identities
.
Rose
Tang currently lives and produces most of his art in Shanghai
.
People claiming to be Rose Tang have at times appeared at exhibitions containing his work. Often it is a male dressed in women's clothing.
, most of the photographs in his portfolio
are somewhat altered from reality.
Some are completely craft
ed of shapes cut from other photographs,
while some remain close to their original states except with the face
of Rose Tang (Zheng Guoyang) smoothly inserted onto one or more bodies
using Photoshop and other morphologist
software. The works under Rose Tang’s name come from the notion of a
Chinese artist searching for answers to questions of gender
in the
eyes of Chinese tradition, history
, fact
and fantasy
. Rose Tang's 2010 exhibition at YK Art Space, "Roseless", curated by Zane Mellupe
, was inaugurated by Latvia
n President Valdis Zatlers
and attended by the Minister of Culture of Latvia Ints Dālderis
as well as Xuhui District Mayor Guo Jianfei 过剑飞 . Rose Tang is represented by island6 Arts Center
in Shanghai
.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of an ambiguously-gendered,
semi-fictional artistic personality based on Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese-born
architect, biologist and zoologist Zheng Guoyang, under the art direction
of French-born founder of the island6 Arts Center
Island6
is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,...
,
Thomas Charvériat
Thomas Charvériat
Thomas Charvériat is an artist, curator and art director.- Life :Thomas Charvériat was born in Paris and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography in 1998, and pursued graduate coursework at Columbia University, receiving a Master of Fine...
.
Over a hundred sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s, photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
s, LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
works, and
videos have been created and exhibited under Rose Tang's name since
his conception in 2006.
Rose Tang is a pillar of the Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
art collective, Liu Dao
Liu Dao
Liu Dao Liu Dao Liu Dao (a Pinyin phrase meaning "island number 6" - , is an international multidisciplinary art collective based in Shanghai, China. Liu Dao was founded in 2006 by island6 Arts Center under the direction of French curator Thomas Charvériat. Liu Dao is an electronic art group...
.
Biography
Rose Tang’s “biography” is a meshMesh
Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to web or net in that it has many attached or woven strands.-Types of mesh:...
of fact and fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, mostly
based on Zheng Guoyang’s life and career. Like Zheng Guoyang, Rose
Tang was born in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. His parents were born in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
but raised him in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
,
putting him through strict schooling and training him as a
scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
. He graduated from Tunghai University
Tunghai University
Tunghai University was founded by Methodist missionaries in 1955 as a comprehensive university. It is a top-ranked private school and a leading institution in Taiwan. Moreover, Tunghai University was founded as the first private university making it the second oldest university in Taiwan, which...
(zh-tw: 東海大學, Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tang-hái Tāi-ha̍k). However, they could not keep the family’s fulltime
photographer from becoming Tang’s artistic mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
, and inspiring a
life of courageous innovation in arts that fight to understand how
Chinese family culture and shifting sociological values came
together to shape modern sexual identities
Sexual identity
Sexual identity is a term that, like sex, has two distinctively different meanings. One describes an identity roughly based on sexual orientation, the other an identity based on sexual characteristics, which is not socially based but based on biology, a concept related to, but different from,...
.
Rose
Tang currently lives and produces most of his art in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
People claiming to be Rose Tang have at times appeared at exhibitions containing his work. Often it is a male dressed in women's clothing.
Work and Notable Exhibitions
Like his personaPersona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
, most of the photographs in his portfolio
Portfolio
Portfolio literally means "a case for carrying loose papers," ....
are somewhat altered from reality.
Some are completely craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
ed of shapes cut from other photographs,
while some remain close to their original states except with the face
of Rose Tang (Zheng Guoyang) smoothly inserted onto one or more bodies
using Photoshop and other morphologist
software. The works under Rose Tang’s name come from the notion of a
Chinese artist searching for answers to questions of gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
in the
eyes of Chinese tradition, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, fact
Fact
A fact is something that has really occurred or is actually the case. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability, that is whether it can be shown to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
. Rose Tang's 2010 exhibition at YK Art Space, "Roseless", curated by Zane Mellupe
Zane Mellupe
Zane Mellupe is a Latvian artist and independent curator, working and living in Shanghai .-Early life and career:After extending experience and studies about photography in Europe and China, Mellupe dedicated her energy in an artists collective Liu Dao, she co-founded at island6 arts center in...
, was inaugurated by Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n President Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers
Valdis Zatlers is a Latvian politician and former physician who served as the seventh president of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. He won the Latvian presidential election of 31 May 2007...
and attended by the Minister of Culture of Latvia Ints Dālderis
Ints Dālderis
Ints Dālderis is a Latvian clarinetist and politician of initially the People's Party, later the New Era Party. He was Minister of Culture of Latvia from 12 March 2009 to 3 November 2010....
as well as Xuhui District Mayor Guo Jianfei 过剑飞 . Rose Tang is represented by island6 Arts Center
Island6
is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,...
in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Exhibitions
| Year | Title | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Roseless" | Yongkang Lu Art | Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010... |
| 2010 | "Raining Stars" | The Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,... Gallery |
Macau Macau Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China... |
| 2010 | "Garden of Autumn Vapours" | Red Gate Gallery | Beijing, China |
| 2010 | "Absolute 0:00" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2010 | "HK Artfair 2010" | Hong Kong Art Fair, curated by Brian Wallace | Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
| 2010 | "Psychic Apparatus" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2010 | "The Light Fantastic" | Louis Vuitton Cultural Space, curated by Jonathan Thomson | Taipei, Taiwan |
| 2010 | "Libido, Mortido" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2010 | "Fakirs" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2009 | "Placebo" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2009 | "30 Degrees" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... and Studio Rouge |
Shanghai, China |
| 2009 | "Synesthesia" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2009 | "The Artist Died Yesterday" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2008 | "Automata" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... and ifa gallery Ifa gallery ifa gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Shanghai, China. The name ifa comes from Chinese 艺 and 法 , meaning methods of art, with the name in English taking a similar pronunciation: .... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2008 | "Urban Lust" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... and ifa gallery Ifa gallery ifa gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Shanghai, China. The name ifa comes from Chinese 艺 and 法 , meaning methods of art, with the name in English taking a similar pronunciation: .... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2008 | "Clouds of Crowds" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2008 | "PlugIT" | Blue Lotus Gallery | Fotan, Hong-Kong |
| 2008 | "Made in Shanghai" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2008 | "Made in China" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2007 | "Eurasia One" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2007 | "Nuit Blanche" (first Asian edition) | Shanghai Exhibition Center | Shanghai, China |
| 2007 | “Remote/Control” curated by Wenny Teo and Ella Liao | Museum of Contemporary Art | Shanghai, China |
| 2007 | "Bits, Bytes and Pixels" | ifa gallery Ifa gallery ifa gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Shanghai, China. The name ifa comes from Chinese 艺 and 法 , meaning methods of art, with the name in English taking a similar pronunciation: .... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2006 | "Forward/Backward and Reloading" | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
| 2006 | "Invisible Layers, Electric Cities” | island6 Arts Center Island6 is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,... |
Shanghai, China |
See also
- Liu DaoLiu DaoLiu Dao Liu Dao Liu Dao (a Pinyin phrase meaning "island number 6" - , is an international multidisciplinary art collective based in Shanghai, China. Liu Dao was founded in 2006 by island6 Arts Center under the direction of French curator Thomas Charvériat. Liu Dao is an electronic art group...
, Shanghai-based art collective including Rose Tang. - island6Island6is a not-for-profit, artist-run space in Shanghai, P.R.C. founded in 2006 by French curator/artist Thomas Charvériat.island6's mission is to provide a forum for contemporary artists whose works explore social, aesthetic,...
, art space that founded and sponsorizes the Liu Dao's collective. - Thomas CharvériatThomas CharvériatThomas Charvériat is an artist, curator and art director.- Life :Thomas Charvériat was born in Paris and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography in 1998, and pursued graduate coursework at Columbia University, receiving a Master of Fine...
, founder of the Liu Dao's art collective. - Cai Duobao, member of the Liu Dao's art collective.
- Wang DongmaWang DongmaWang Dongma is a Shanghai-based multimedia artist originally from Beijing, known for exploring a wide range of new media art forms since 2005. These include interactive mirrors, LED screens, electronic sculptures and large scale as well as miniature video installations that have been exhibited...
, member of the Liu Dao's art collective. - New media artNew media artNew media art is a genre that encompasses artworks created with new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, virtual art, Internet art, interactive art, computer robotics, and art as biotechnology...
- interactive artInteractive artInteractive art is a form of installation-based art that involves the spectator in a way that allows the art to achieve its purpose. Some installations achieve this by letting the observer or visitor "walk" in, on, and around them; Some others ask the artist to become part of the artwork.Works of...
- video artVideo artVideo art is a type of art which relies on moving pictures and comprises video and/or audio data. . Video art came into existence during the 1960s and 1970s, is still widely practiced and has given rise to the widespread use of video installations...
- Electronic artElectronic artElectronic art is a form of art that makes use of electronic media or, more broadly, refers to technology and/or electronic media. It is related to information art, new media art, video art, digital art, interactive art, internet art, and electronic music...
- Digital artDigital artDigital art is a general term for a range of artistic works and practices that use digital technology as an essential part of the creative and/or presentation process...
- LED artLED artLED Art is form of light art constructed from light-emitting diodes. Many artists that use LEDs are guerilla artists, incorporating LEDs to produce temporary pieces in public places. LEDs are very inexpensive to purchase and have become a new way to make street art...