1 About People Tang Da Wu. 2 Enduring Understanding Students will understand that artworks serve as visual records of events and as expressions of artists.

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About PeopleTang Da Wu

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Enduring Understanding

Students will understand that artworks

serve as visual records of events and as

expressions of artists’ opinions about the

society they live in.

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5W1H

TangDa Wu

When1943-

WhatEnvionmental Issues

WhereSingapore

HowPerformance

Sculpture

WhyCultural Shock

WhichContemporary

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Essential Questions

Overarching QuestionsWhat is a society ?

How is a society different from the individual?

Topical QuestionsHow is ethnicity different

from society?How does ethnicity

shape society?How can art be an extension

of the environment?

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Biographical Outline1943: Born in Singapore.1970-79: Lived in UK before returning to

Singapore.1974: Studied in Birmingham

Polytechnic School of Fine Art for four years.

19xx: He attended School of Martins.1985: He completed his Masters in Fine

Arts with Goldsmiths College.

1987: Established The Artists Village with some other local artists.

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When (1943 - )

1980s: Chernobyl Accident.

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WhereSingapore The phasing out of villages. The tradition of art as a commodity.UK Art as concepts was fast gaining

recognition.

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WhichContemporary Art that belongs to the same

period of time, as in “current”. Refers to the present time, as in

“now”. Can also refer to being current

with any “specified” time, as in the past.

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WhatSubject Matter The body Animals on the verge of extinction. Anything pertaining to the

environment.

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WhatTheme- Environmental Issues. Animal extinction- chiefly caused by the

Chinese community, due to their demand for animal parts as aphrodisiac and medicine. The lack of rationality in this community as there is no scientific proof that these animal parts have healing properties.

Deforestation- the much deforested landscape due to industrialization changed Singapore into a concrete jungle. This can be seen in his earthworks.

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His Painting

True Story, 1987Oil on canvas, x 122 x 92 cm

The scene narrates a simple story of a dog chasing a cat up a tree.

It is direct and matter-of-fact.

It is painted quickly and intuitively.

The painting is childlike.

12Man Walking his Dog, 1986Oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm

His Painting

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His Drawings

Woman with Snake in a Cage, 1988 Graphite on

paper, 45 x 80

Woman Beating Snake, 1988Ink on paper, 71 x 61 cm

14Australian Legend, 1992Graphite on paper, 112 x 81 cm

Map of South America, 1992Graphite on paper, 110 x 79.5

cm

His Drawings

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His Drawings

Jantung Pisang, 2000Graphite on paper, 103.5 x 69

cm

Moving, 2000Graphite on paper, 103.5 x 69

cm

16Blue Rain, 1993Pencil and wash on paper, 58 x

71 cm

His Mixed Media

17Tiger’s Whip , 1993Performance, 95 x 70

cm

Tiger’s Whip at Keong Siak

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Tiger’s Whip at Keong Siak

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Tiger’s Whip at Keong Siak

20Tiger’s Whip, 1988Iron mesh, 95 x 100 x 115 cm

Tiger’s Whip at National Museum

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Tiger’s Whip at National Museum

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Tiger’s Whip outside National Museum

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His Installation

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His Mixed Media

A Monument to Sueb Nakasatiem, 1991Mixed media, 43 x 69 x 37.5 cm

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His Ready-Made

Just in Case, 1991Found Object, 43 x 69 x 37.5

cm

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His Ready-Made

Untitled, 1993Found objects, 91 x 19.7 x 18 cm

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WhyHis Background His stay in UK has opened another avenue of

understanding in the issue of animal extinction.

He was constantly questioned by people in UK on the irrational need of the Chinese community in consuming animal parts.

This cultural disparity had an extensive impact on him to propel him to create art based on such issue.

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WhyHis Background He is brought up with a Chinese

education where he learnt Chinese calligraphy and painting.

He is the first artist in Singapore to use performance as a medium.

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How

Drawings and Paintings Drawings to him are words to others. They are his thinking process. He vary his techniques in drawings and

paintings. Some examples- calligraphic brushstrokes and quick sketches.

He uses quick sketches to narrate his scenes.

He paints with a child-like candour. His works are direct and blunt.

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How

Installation He recycles materials- something which

he started when he was in UK. It was his first year in Birmingham when

the garbage collectors went on strike. There were abundant items of varying

materials for him to select from. That was when he started collecting

discarded items and sorting them into paper and cardboards, plastic, and so forth.

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How

Performance He uses his body as a medium. His performances can be child-like, like telling a

story. He challenges the public with dialogue and

discussion. He improvises as he advances in his performance

and responds quickly when required. He later uses props and objects to cut down on

the need to improvise. His later performances are choreographed

according to a script, although they may be just rough ideas and outlines.

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Topical QuestionHow is ethnicity different from society?

Society

Ethnicity

CultureMalays

Indian

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Reference Karnadi, K. (Ed.) (2006). Modern

Indonesian Art: From Raden Saleh to the Present Day. Koes Artbooks: Bali.