GAO HANG

 

b. 1991, Baoding, China

 

Gao Hang is sure that his art process has something to do with his habits and obsessions. He mostly listen to standup comedy while making artworks. He enjoys standup comedy that challenges general beliefs, and political correctness, yet at its core is negotiating between the observations, language, and laughter of a given performance. Then one should realize that it is no paradox, but a good conversation between the performer and the audience. At some point, Gao’s paintings are like standup comedy, they can only do so much about solving real problems. But brutal honesty, absurdity, and humor are very powerful qualities in any type of conversation.

 

Gao’s recent paintings are concerned with image “definition” in digital graphics, especially those from the last 20 years. He understands digital graphics as 21st century “found objects”. He is interested in objects that are bathing in modern technology’s greatness, while exposing a certain rawness, oddity, or awkwardness. Gao was totally shocked when he first encountered 3D modeling and graphic rendering in computer games in the late 20th century. Looking back at the last two decades, he was inspired by the fact that graphical spectaculars could end up becoming the symbols of rawness and the objects of ridicule in the digital image evolution. However, it is that rawness and ridicule that triggers the same creative impulse with what the painting process can offer. The effect is an actual physical feedback during said process: it could be surprise, a shifting attitude, or a more extreme emotion – his hidden impulses as a human being. Gao would like his practice to simulate a modern production method, but with a high fault tolerance.

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His recent solo exhibitions were shown in major galleries in America and Europe, including The Hole Gallery in New York, US; Waluso Gallery in London, UK; Pulpo Gallery in Murnau, Germany, and L21 Gallery in Palma, Spain. Gao’s artworks and articles were covered in global publications such as L’Officiel, Art Forum, The Art News, Art in America, The Hypebeast, and RADII.