Tang Chang (Thai: จ่าง แซ่ตั้ง;Chinese: 陈壮;RTGS: Chang Sae-tang; 1 May 1934 – 26 August 1990) was a self-taught artist, poet, writer and philosopher of Sino-Thai heritage.
He was born on 1 May 1934 to a poor, Chinese family in the area of the Somdet Chao Phraya Market, Thonburi, across the river from Bangkok. As a young boy, he studied at the Pitchaya Yatikaram Temple School, until the effects of World War II on his family's financial situation forced him to end his education.
After Chang left school, he developed an interest in artistic expression and used found pieces of charcoal and chalk to draw on the streets and the walls of his home. With funds received from his work as a menial labourer, he bought paper, paint and pencils and with these began drawing portraits of his family members and neighbours. He continued this practice until he was able to open a stall at a local market to undertake portraits professionally. After that, Chang began painting watercolour landscapes of the areas around his house. In 1960, one of these paintings, a landscape featuring the house of Pratuang Emjaoren, a well-known Thai artist and a close friend of Chang’s, became the first of his works to be included in an exhibition.
In the late 1950s, Chang began producing the first of his gestural abstraction paintings for which he is best known. According to the artist, these paintings were the result of a series of experimentations undertaken with the aim of developing a style that reflected Buddhist and Daoist principles, while also offering an alternative to the cubistic and impressionistic works that dominated Thai art circles of the period. These works were exhibited for the first time in 1966 at the Pratumwan art gallery, but were not received favourably by Thai audiences.
In 1968, when the artist was 34 years old, he self-published a book featuring his ‘concrete poems,’ which dealt with social themes as well as more personal meditations on nature and family life. Unlike his paintings, these works garnered interest from Thai literary circles, gaining popularity within counterculture movements that were gaining traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Throughout his career, Chang positioned himself outside of mainstream art circles dominated by Silpakorn University and its National Exhibition of Art. Instead, he preferred to hold exhibitions of his and his student's works at his own home. Similarly, Chang generally refused to sell his works, preferring instead to gain income through other means. Chang died in August 1990 at the age of 56, and was survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters.
Since 2013, Chang's fascination with the international art scene has grown. His works have been showcased in numerous countries including China, Singapore, the USA, and Germany. Additionally, he held a solo exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2023.
“The Thai-Chinese Art Exhibition of Thailand”, Bangkok.
“Contemporary Artists” Invitational Show", the 1st contemporary art exhibition initiated, organized and participated by leading contemporary artists, at Pathumwan Art Gallery, Bangkok.
“Thai Contemporary Art Exhibition”, Singapore.
“Thai Contemporary Art Exhibition”, Malaysia.
“Five Contemporary Artists”, the 3rd contemporary art exhibition, at Pathumwan Art Gallery, Bangkok.
“Tang Chang, his students and children” Art Exhibition, King Kaew Orphanage in Chiengmai province, a benefit show.
“Tang Chang and Children”s Art Exhibition”, Gallery 20, Bangkok.
“Invited Artist”, invited by the School of Art and Crafts (Poh Chang) to participate in its special exhibition of contemporary art, Bangkok.
“Tang Chang and Children”s Art Exhibition”, the 1st of its series ever staged at Tang Chang"s home in Bangkok.
“Tang Chang’s Paintings and Poetries Exhibition”, the 2nd of its series held at Tang Chang"s home, Bangkok.
“Tang Chang: His Art and Poetry”, a collection of his selected drawings, paintings and poetry (covering a full decade of accomplishments from 1960-1970), the 3rd of its series exhibited at Tang Chang"s home, Bangkok.