Ting Tong Chang is an original and challenging artist. His work expresses his fascination with machines, which arose early in his life. Born in Taiwan, he says that despite coming from a traditional family, “It’s almost as if my childhood was like the beginning of the industrialization of nature, people and machines… [because] in the 90s, my father bought me my first PC and it was one of the first to be introduced into a Taiwanese household.”
It was his work with crows, known as ‘P’eng’s Journey to the Southern Darkness’, for which he was awarded the 2016 VIA Arts Prize. But some of his work has a more direct political angle. In ‘POR AHORA’, Chang used a combination of 5 pieces of automatons (kinetic sculptures), videos of Hugo Chavez, explosions, light and smoke to evoke feelings of magic, miracle & resurrection. This work was inspired by Chavez’s failed coup d’état in 1992 (aka Operation Zamora), which took place when Chavez, provoked by the implementation of neo-liberal reforms by President Carlos Andrés Pérez launched an attempted coup in order to overwhelm military and communications installations. Chavez and his forces were cornered and forced to surrender in front of numerous national TV channels. The title refers to Chávez invoking Bolívar and insisting that he had failed, but only ‘For Now’, (‘Por Ahora’).
Another interesting subject he has worked with, is the way we are involuntarily involved with machines in our bureaucratic system, one example being ‘Rejection letters’: -
“The Rejection letter is part of an artist’s life in the 21st Century. To be an artist you have to learn to deal with rejection, so you deal with the system and a lot of bureaucracy., I think it’s interesting because all these letters are from a ‘format’, or from a ‘template’- they are just ‘copy & paste’, so it’s like you’re communicating with artificial intelligence.”
Chang thus observes society, using the absurd and the illogical, and questioning consumerism and how we rub shoulders with politics and machines. Just reading through some of the titles he has chosen to give his exhibitions reveals how he challenges all views on these subjects: Machines under the Similitude of Men / Gongye Chang Could Understand Birds/ Whence Do you know the happiness of Fish and Politics of Machines.
He has decided to base himself in London although he does not rule out returning to Taiwan. At the moment, he travels to and fro, once or twice a year: -
“I now have a second life in Taiwan and it has a lot to do with my identity. The art scene in many Asian countries is still quite enclosed… but the thing about Art in Asia is that it’s still growing, whereas here, in theory, it’s decreasing. Even though it’s not so open, there’s more money going around [in Asia].”
His family lives in Taipei and he worries that they are not getting any younger. They are quite traditional and were not happy with his choice of career despite his hopes: -
“I always wanted to be an artist. I also hope that this society becomes a little fairer and not so restrained… with less poverty. If you are poor and disadvantaged, there is almost no way you can get out of the circle.”
P'eng's Journey into the Southern Darkness-
Now Chang sits as juror on the VIA arts prize, run by ACALASP, the cultural attaches of Latin America. The award is not only prestigious but very generous, with the 1st & 2nd prizes being awarded £5000 and £2000 respectively.: -
“…At least in London, most of the institutions are broke and I don’t think any other art prize can offer such big prize money. Also, there is the [bonus] of the exhibition at that location, because other than being at a big international art gallery, you could never be in such a prime location in a city centre… especially a city like London.”
The best 30 works will then be exhibited in the stunning Grade II listed ’Sala Brasil Gallery’ in the Brazilian Embassy situated just off Trafalgar Square. After that, the works will go ‘on tour’ at Maddox Arts in Mayfair as part of the Maddox Arts Winter Show where the previous winners’ works can also be viewed on a slideshow.
In its brief life, this Prize has attracted work of an exceptionally high standard and it stands out as special because, despite originating from Latin America with Hispanic and Portuguese connections, works are accepted from artists from all over the world, the only requirement is that they be based in the UK.
The 6-person jury is composed of an impressive selection of talented and well-known personalities from the Arts World. This year they are proud to announce that the Goldsmiths Arts alumni, TING TONG CHANG, who won the prize in 2016, has agreed to participate in the jury that also includes Frances Reynolds, a Brazilian Collector and patron and James Nicholls, the managing Director and Curator of the Maddox Gallery.
This year, the theme of The VIA (Visual Ibero-American) Art Prize is ‘Dialogues’, “to emphasize its role in unity and conciliation, of nations coming together as one through art and expression.” Work can be submitted until Monday October 22nd 2018.
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