Tang Da Wu
Tang Da Wu shows his concern for nature through his installation art entitled "Tiger's Whip," which was performed in Chinatown
of Singapore where aphrodisiacs are sold. The work consists of ten life-size tigers, made from wire-mesh covered with white paper
mache, moving toward an ornately decorated bed. One tiger stands behind a rocking chair, which resembles and portrays the spirit of a
tiger. A tiger's penis and rhino horns are such parts hunted by humans for their value as aphrodisiacs in Asia, which often lead to specie
extinction. Tigers and rhinos are a couple of the world"s endangered species. The tiger spirit in the installation piece illustrates how the
tigers have and will return to haunt the aphrodisiac hunters who have killed them.
Da Wu recognizes the harsh effects of aphrodisiac hunting on particular species. He became more aware of his heritage and
culture after having lived in England, and he has come to be ashamed of this one aspect of his heritage Ð the lack of concern for
nature and those animals who depend on it. Da Wu comments,
"My rhinoceros and tiger works are a response and can only be fully understood in an Asian context. The
message would be totally lost to a Western audience. Asian and third world countries' arts, especially dance,
music and theatre have increasingly found appreciative audiences everywhere, especially in the West. This,
however, is not true of the visual arts. Hopefully the visual arts will, in the near future have a greater presence in
the international art arena. I work, I say, I respond to things not knowing if they are High Art. I do not worry if my
works do not fit into the Western art arena."
Confucian and Asian values, and being appreciative of its multicultural heritage are seen as beneficent factors in the success of
Singapore as one of AsiaÕs "Tiger economies." However, Da Wu criticizes an aspect of his Asian culture to address a concern that is
more directed toward Western nations, which was enabled through the rise of technology and globalization. This new mobility and
access means that artists must also consider an audience outside of his/her country.
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"Tiger's Whip"
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