Tang Dixin (唐狄鑫, b. 1982) is a Shanghai-based contemporary artist working mainly with painting and performance art. Tang is one of the "80-hou" artists, a Chinese term for those who were born during the 1980s and are regarded as relatively liberal. Most of his works are related to the "body" which is oppressed in the Chinese society and art world.
Tang's performance works sometimes show radical aspects while also pursuing relations with others. "Act of God" (2010), is a performance where Tang jumped off a platform in the metro station during Expo 2010 Shanghai, and a train passed across his body. He documented the entire process in a video. As this act was reported in the news, it brought about a controversial discussion regarding the thin line between the artist's cynical expression of the contemporary Chinese society and his extreme illegal act. Tang's performances express the condition of the body in a "surveillance society" by challenging the use of body of the self and others in unusual ways. This methodology is not only effective in China but also applicable to the structure of art world as well as the emerging worldwide problems in accelerating globalization.
While Tang's performances dynamically and vigorously deal with society and others, his paintings give rather calm and reflective impressions as if he dived into himself. In his opinion, as he originally received orthodox Western art education in China, the medium of painting embodies the simplest relationship between objects while reflecting the complexity caused by his own reality and emotions. As he says, "I am seeking a part of myself that my body has forgotten"; his paintings express a "powerless body" which pursues mental freedom and emancipation while it accepts its own limits.
Tang's performances and paintings reflect and complement each other through the "body" as their axis. Sometimes his works focus on the external such as the society and others, and sometimes they gaze internally as he explores the methodology of painting expression in reflecting his pure inner self and emotions. Exploring these two polarities, Tang's works reflect on various issues in our contemporary society.
Born in 1982 in Hangzhou, China. Lives and works in Shanghai. Recent solo exhibitions include “Tang Dixin” Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo, Japan (2018), “Tang Dixin” AIKE, Shanghai, China (2017), “Tang Dixin: Dog Bark” Ota Fine Arts, Singapore (2015), “Mr. Hungry” AIKE-DELLARCO, Shanghai, China (2014). Group exhibitions include “Yokohama Triennale - AFTERGLOW” Yokohama, Japan (2020), “Embodied Mirror: Performances in Chinese Video Art” New Century Art Foundation, Beijing,China (2020), “The Force Temple” TANK, Shanghai, China (2019), “Mountain Sites: Views of Laoshan”, Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing, China (2016), “Jing Shen – The act of painting in contemporary China”, PAC Museum of Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy (2015), “Mr Hungry”, Asia Contemporary Art Week (ACAW), New York, U.S.A. (2015).
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Tang DixinRest is the Best Way of RevolutionCommissioned work / Performance, set of plaster castSize variable
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Tang DixinTrash Laughter, 2008Oil on canvas
180 x 130 cm
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Tang DixinI will be back Soon, 2008Video14' 56''edition 1 of 8
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Tang DixinYellow Peril, 2013Oil on canvas
50 x 40 cm -
Tang DixinOn the Lake, 2013Oil on canvas
80 x 80 cm
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Tang DixinRemelting Combustion, 2014Oil on canvas
180 x 130 cm
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Tang DixinViolent Torso, 2015Oil on canvas
200 x 200
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Tang DixinThe Orc, 2015Oil on canvas
150 x 150
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Body
Tomoko Kashiki, Zai Kuning and Tang Dixin 18 Mar - 6 May 2023 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present “Body”, a group exhibition by Tomoko Kashiki, Zai Kuning and Tang Dixin. This exhibition looks at the ways in which these three...Read more -
Gallery Collection
¥ouada, Tetsuya Umeda, Akira The Hustler, BuBu de la Madelaine + Yoshiko Shimada, Zai Kuning, Hiraki Sawa, Cheng Ran, Takao Minami, Tang Dixin, Hilmi Johandi, Masanori Handa 18 Jun - 6 Aug 2022 Tokyo -
Fuse
Rina Banerjee, Chen Wei, Masanori Handa, Takao Minami, Tang Dixin 13 May - 3 Jul 2022 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present “Fuse”, a group exhibition featuring five artists: Rina Banerjee, Chen Wei, Masanori Handa, Takao Minami and Tang Dixin. The exhibition features artworks...Read more -
Habitat
Cheng Ran, Hilmi Johandi, Takao Minami, Guo-Liang Tan, Tang Dixin 7 Aug - 16 Oct 2021 ShanghaiA habitat is simply a home, and can be thought of as a place where living organisms live, eat, breed in, and survive. Encompassing painting, film and photography, “Habitat” explores...Read more -
Works on Paper
Maria Farrar, Masanori Handa, Tsuyoshi Hisakado, Tang Dixin 23 Jan - 6 Mar 2021 ShanghaiOta Fine Arts Shanghai is delighted to present 'Works on Paper', an exhibition where paper is used as a common medium among four artists including Maria Farrar, Masanori Handa, Tsuyoshi...Read more -
islands
Akira the Hustler, Nobuaki Takekawa, Tang Dixin, Masanori Handa, Hiraki Sawa, Tomoko Kashiki, Yuken Teruya 9 Jan - 13 Feb 2021 TokyoOta Fine Arts is delighted to present a group exhibition 'islands', focusing on small works on paper. The title of the exhibition suggests the Asian archipelago which is close in...Read more -
Float
Cheng Ran, Masanori Handa, Jason Lim, Nobuaki Takekawa, Tang Dixin 28 Nov - 30 Dec 2020 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Float', a group exhibition featuring five artists from China, Japan and Singapore: Cheng Ran, Masanori Handa, Jason Lim, Nobuaki Takekawa and Tang...Read more -
Straits
Nobuaki Takekawa & Tang Dixin 15 Jan - 29 Feb 2020 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Straits', a duo exhibition featuring Nobuaki Takekawa (b. 1977, Japan) and Tang Dixin (b. 1982, China). This exhibition explores the two artists'...Read more -
Habitat
Chen Wei, Li Qing, Takao Minami, Tang Dixin, Zai Kuning 27 Apr - 16 Jun 2019 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Habitat', which celebrates the fluid yet grounded relationship between man and nature. This exhibition features Paris-based Japanese video artist Takao Minami's Puppet...Read more -
Present Progressive
Nobuaki Takekawa, Yoshiko Shimada, Akira the Hustler, Bubu de la Madeleine, Hiraki Sawa, Tang Dixin, Maria Farrar, Andy Warhol, Nam June Paik, Wang Zhibo, other 19 Mar - 20 Apr 2019 TokyoExhibited artists: Nobuaki Takekawa Yoshiko Shimada Akira the Hustler Bubu de la Madeleine Hiraki Sawa Tang Dixin Maria Farrar Andy Warhol Nam June Paik Wang Zhibo otherRead more -
Tang Dixin
Tang Dixin 30 Nov 2018 - 19 Jan 2019 TokyoOta Fine Arts is delighted to present a second solo exhibition by Tang Dixin in Tokyo. Tang is a Shanghai-based artist who belongs to one of the '80-hou' generation, a...Read more -
Crossroads
Akira the Hustler, Chen Wei, Cheng Ran, Masanori Handa, Zai Kuning, Yayoi Kusama, Hiraki Sawa, Guo-Liang Tan, Tang Dixin 21 Sep - 3 Nov 2018 SingaporeCoinciding with Gillman Barracks Art After Dark x 6th Anniversary Celebrations, 21 September 2018, 7pm till late Ota Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Crossroads', a group exhibition by...Read more -
HEAT
Gallery\'s collection exhibition 13 May - 24 Jun 2017 TokyoIn this collection show, we introduce Asian artists who are gaining increasing attention in recent years. With bold imaginative motifs and intensive use of color, these works strike the viewers...Read more -
Distance
Geraldine Kang, Tomoko Kashiki, Tang Dixin, Bo Wang 15 Apr - 27 May 2017 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Distance', a group exhibition by 4 artists from Asia: Geraldine Kang (Singapore), Tomoko Kashiki (Japan), Tang Dixin (China) and Bo Wang (China/USA)....Read more -
MOTIONS
6 Aug - 17 Sep 2016 TokyoChen Wei Victor Gui Hiraki Sawa Betty Susiarjo Tang Dixin Samson Young Ota Fine Arts is delighted to present 'Motions', a group exhibition by 6 artists from different parts of...Read more -
Motions
Chen Wei, Victor Gui, Hiraki Sawa, Betty Susiarjo, Tang Dixin, Yeesookyung, Samson Young 2 Apr - 19 May 2016 SingaporeTea Reception in the presence of Betty Susiarjo & Victor Gui: Saturday, 30 April 2016, 1-3 PM Ota Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Motions', a group exhibition by...Read more -
Tang Dixin: Dog Bark
Tang Dixin 24 Oct - 5 Dec 2015 SingaporeOta Fine Arts Singapore is delighted to present 'Dog Bark', a solo exhibition by Shanghai-based artist Tang Dixin (b. 1982). He is known for his works which ironically criticize the...Read more -
Tang Dixin
5 Jul - 9 Aug 2014 TokyoOta Fine Arts is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of Tang Dixin (born in 1982), a Shanghai-based contemporary artist. He participated in 'REVEL - Celebrating MoCA's 8 year in...Read more
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Tang Dixin and Nobuaki Takekawa
"Pixel Row Vol. 2" 6 Jan 2023Tang Dixin and Nobuaki Takekawa's video work, Pure Voice, is on view in project 'Pixel Row Vol. 2' at West Bund Museum, Shanghai from 7th...Read more -
Art Basel Hong Kong 2022
Booth: 1D18 19 May 2022Ota Fine Arts will participate in Art Basel Art Basel Hong Kong 2022, from 25th to 29st May 2022. Ota Fine Arts will be located...Read more -
Tang Dixin
"In the Labyrinth" Edouard Malingue Gallery, Shanghai 2 Jul 2021Tang Dixin participates in the group exhibition 'In the Labyrinth' held by Edouard Malingue Gallery in Shanghai, from 2nd July to 18th July 2021. Title:...Read more -
Nobuaki Takekawa, Tang Dixin, Akira the Hustler, BuBu de la Madeleine, Jong Yugyong "Yokohama Triennale - AFTERGLOW" Yokohama, Japan
15 Jul 2020Nobuaki Takekawa, Tang Dixin, Akira the Hustler, BuBu de la Madeleine, and Jong Yugyong will participate in 'Yokohama Triennale 2020 'Afterglow'' as a member of...Read more