Chihung Yang (Taiwanese, b. 1947). Charcoal and acrylic on canvas titled "White Ground," depicting several geometric and leaf-like abstractions. Signed, titled, and dated 1991-92 along the verso.

Chihung Yang was born in Taiwan in 1947, and attended the National Taiwan College of Art in 1965. Upon graduating in 1968, Yang fell into place within the burgeoning modern painting scene in Taiwan. After some acclaim in Taiwan and China, Yang and his family immigrated to America in 1984, where Yang began to receive prestigious awards and residencies from New York institutions such as MoMA PS1 almost immediately upon arrival. Today, Chihung Yang continues to paint large canvases in his surreal and abstract, but restrained manner, and has work in the permanent collections of many global institutions and collectors.

Chihung Yang's painting practice primarily revolves around nature. Like many artists coming up during mid-century Taiwan and China, Yang gravitated toward the stimuli of nature as a way to commemorate time's passed, as well as indicate change for the future. This use of nature as a key element in concept or figure in art harkens to artists and artists group such as The Fifth Moon Group from China, and the Gutai and Mono-Ha groups from Japan. Yang particularly flocked toward the work of the Fifth Moon Group, whose output and conceptual basis mirrored that of the abstract and pop artists of America of the time, while incorporating traditional Taiwanese and Chinese elements through the brushwork and imagery implemented in painting.

Where Chihung Yang differs from the groups and artists that impacted him is the subdued elements of nature that envelope his canvases. In an application similar to Helen Frankenthaler, Yang's method of painting the background is shown through smokey and scratchy sweeps of light to dark color stemming from the upper left, with an eye catching swatch of ultramarine blue. Along the lower right corner of "White Ground," we see perhaps the only figural component of the painting, a black flower petal lain against an earthen toned area. While calm in nature, this black petal seems to influence the three other abstractions in their composition, color, and feel. Altogether, "White Ground" by Chihung Yang harnesses the beautiful known and unknown movements of nature on a still medium.

Provenance: Corporate collection, Minnesota.
Height: 81 3/4 in x width: 61 3/4 in. Please contact us for a detailed condition report. Please note that the lack of a condition statement does not imply perfect condition. Email condition@revereauctions.comwith any condition questions.