“I bring my childhood imagination to life – turning imagination into reality.”
– Tang Yau Hoong 邓尧逢
In this week’s classes, Art in Action students looked at Malaysian artist, Tang Yau Hoong. He is an artist, illustrator, a graphic designer who currently lives in Kuala Lumpur. Hoong is a digital artist that creates art that is surreal and fun in a simplistic and unique way. We looked at the meaning of “surrealism” as making realistic images of unrealistic things, or painting things that can only happen in your dreams or in your imagination.
Since 2007, Hoong has worked with various clients globally in advertising, editorial, branding, corporate, marketing, and many other design projects. When he is not doing commercial work he enjoys making art and immerses himself in his personal projects. He states “As an illustrator, I now make my childhood imagination come to life by creating these surreal illustrations. They are fun and playful!” Hoong also states that “creativity has no limits in our boundless imagination.” He is fascinated by light and maintains that being one of the most universal symbols, light often symbolizes life, hope, and intelligence. Hoong likes to explore what he refers to as the other sides of light: one of the most obscure, mysterious and quirky things in nature.
Students this week were inspired by Tang Hau Hoong’s surreal art process and we created a realistic sketch of an umbrella that has unrealistic elements. Students created a blue sky with sun and clouds using watercolour resist techniques. Using detail acrylic brushes and acrylic paint, students then painted in a cityscape that became the handle of the umbrella; or did the umbrella handle become the cityscape? Using chalk pastels students created vertical dashes under the Umbrella, to add even more surrealism to the piece and contrast to the blue sunny sky above. We talked about cohesions, and how we used all the colours that were in the umbrella for our rain to tie the whole piece together. Take a look at some of these fabulous surreal umbrellas…
Great work everyone!