Tang Zhigang

Dr. Julia R. Myers, curator of the Mulvane Art Museum, reflects on Chinese artist Tang Zhigang's serial works depicting car accidents, initially perceived as abstract but revealing deeper truths upon examination. In "Embrace in the Night," Tang portrays a car crash scene with two women embracing, resembling the styles of Abstract Expressionists like De Kooning and Franz Kline. Yet, the work also evokes traditional Chinese landscape painting techniques, employing "Accumulated Perspective" to create a distant viewpoint. Similar to Andy Warhol's car wreck images, Tang's art highlights society's detachment from tragedy. These works underscore the inherent difficulty in truly understanding others' suffering.