John Clang

Skype was first released on 29 August 2003, and will officially shut down today, on 5 May 2025. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ In 2010, I began 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, a family portrait series born out of diaspora, longing, and the desire to be present despite distance. Using Skype’s live projection, I photographed my own family and 40 other families, each image created through real-time activation, captured as it happened. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ As I engaged with this technological intimacy, I found myself drawn to a different form of portraiture - one without a camera. Around the same time, I began researching Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数), an ancient Chinese metaphysical system dated back as early as Song Dynasty. This led to 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩, where portraits are made not with a physical photograph, but through dialogue and a deeper understanding of oneself.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I was first intrigued by how technology shapes our lives, but that curiosity soon led me to reflect on a time before it, when people navigated life through quiet observation and imagination.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Here are some images from 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, some rarely-seen behind-the-scenes photos, ancient drawings of charts, and installation views of 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 1. 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳: Tye family (Paris, Tanglin), 2012 (detail)⁣⁣ 2 – 5: 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 (Family), 2010; Lee Family (Tokyo, Punggol), 2011; Yeo Family (New York, Sengkang), 2010; Leong Family (Hong Kong, Ghim Moh), 2011⁣⁣ 6 – 11: Behind the scenes (📷 by Ray & Roy Lew)⁣⁣ 12: Zi Wei Dou Shu charts, source: 《十八飞星策天紫微斗数全集》 陈希夷 著 集文书局 印行 ⁣⁣ 13 – 15: Installation views, 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵, Sharjah Biennial 16, Sharjah, 2025 ⁣⁣(📷 @elintew ) 16 – 18: Installation views, 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵, activated in conjunction with 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore, 2025 (📷 @lavchang )⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #JohnClang #BeingTogether #Skype #FamilyPortraits #ReadingByAnArtist #ZiWeiDouShu #MetaphysicalPortrait #紫微斗数 #SharjahBiennial #SharjahBiennial16 #SharjahArtFoundation #PerformanceArt #NationalGallerySingapore #FiguringAScene

While in Sharjah performing 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 at the Biennial, I also found time to work on an ongoing new series: 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩. In the same spirit as the reading, and earlier ones like 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, and 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦, it continues the participatory nature of my practice, shaped by the people I meet and the places we move through together. And yes, these look better a little bigger on my website and on your non-handheld. 😊 Link in bio. #johnclang #ridingtheearth #photography #contemporaryart #performativephotography

Hi Gwangju, see you in a few days! 😃 ⁣ I’ll be at the National Asian Culture Center performing 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵. If you’re around, come spend some time with us, or sign up for a session. ⁣Grateful to @asianculturecenter and the curatorial team for the invitation to share my work in this exhibition. ⁣🙏🏼 ⁣ Installation view: Live performance, activated in conjunction with 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦, National Gallery Singapore - photo by @lavchang ⁣ ⁣ #JohnClang #ReadingByAnArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu #NationalAsianCultureCenter

I first met @huaic and @ning.chong over tea to talk about art, while Elin was having surgery nearby. That was many years ago. It was a surprisingly calming session. Ever since, their family has been a part of my life. ⁣⁣⁣ #JohnClang #TheTestimonialSeries #ReadingbyanArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu

Join us Join us March 25 at 6 PM for an unforgettable evening with internationally acclaimed artist John Clang, joining us live virtually from Singapore for a rare and intimate conversation you won’t experience anywhere else.⁣ ⁣ Blending art, history, and mysticism, Clang will present Reading by an Artist and perform a live “reading” of the museum using the ancient Chinese practice of zi wei dou shu. This is your chance to witness his creative process unfold in real time, something audiences rarely get to see.⁣ ⁣ In conversation with Dr. Alex Rich and Dr. Tushara Bindu Gude, this promises to be a thought-provoking, mind-expanding dialogue that goes far beyond a typical artist talk.⁣ Unique. Immersive. Unmissable.⁣ ⁣ Spots are limited. Secure your tickets now at the link in bio before they’re gone. ⁣ ⁣ #GibbesMuseum #ArtistTalk #ContemporaryArt #LiveArtExperience #artevent

I’m very grateful to be invited by Dr. Alex Rich, President & CEO of the Gibbes Museum of Art, to perform 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 in the ethereal and sacred Campbell Rotunda. Special thanks to Tyler Rollins, Leeza Ahmady and Dr. Tushara Bindu Gude of the Foundation for Spirituality & the Arts for making this possible. During the Artist Conversation on Mar 25 at 6pm, I’ll perform a reading of the museum, a space that has stood since 1905. Link in bio. Booking info for the metaphysical portrait sessions from Mar 25 to Apr 10 will also be available soon. In our hyper-connected world, presence is both near and far. For 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵, I perform virtually while you inhabit the museum in person. Two realities converging in one shared moment. It feels like 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, Part II. It is a meditation on attention, on the rhythms of modern life, and on how art, alongside technology, can bridge distance, time, and perception. Installation views of 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 1. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘫𝘢𝘩 𝘉𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭 16: 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺, Sharjah – Photo: John Clang 2. Live performance, activated in conjunction with 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈 𝘚𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore - Photo: @lavchang 3. 𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦, FOST Gallery, Singapore - Photo: @lavchang 4. 𝘞𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘪 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭: 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵, Singapore - Photo: Photo: @minmon.n_ 5. 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴, Galerie Lelong, New York – Photo: John Clang 6. Objectifs, Singapore – Photo: John Clang 7. 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵2568: 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘞𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦, Jim Thompson Art Center, Bangkok – Photo: John Clang #JohnClang #GibbesMuseum #ReadingByAnArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu

If you know what I’m seeing, you’ll know this is no prophecy.⁣ ⁣⁣ #JohnClang #TheTestimonialSeries #ReadingbyanArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu 紫微斗数

@stpi_singapore & @stephanie_waiyi_bailey invited me to initiate 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 for print_screen, where figures from the arts share the habits and rituals that sustain their creative lives. I developed the questions, and to kick things off, I’m answering them first. See them at link in bio. ⁣ ⁣ #JohnClang #ReadingbyanArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu #紫微斗数 #stpi #dailypractice

Mirrorball: Reflections on Portraiture Artist Focus: John Clang F the violence is an installation composed of eleven photographic portraits, with the structure intended to expand toward ninety-nine images. Each photograph depicts an individual facing the camera, performing two simultaneous gestures: a raised middle finger and a hand shaped like a gun, pointed back at themselves. From the base of each framed photograph, red threads stream downward toward the floor. From a distance, they read as blood flowing; up close, they remain visibly textile and constructed. The threads extend the image beyond the frame, allowing the presence of violence to enter shared space. The gestures are deliberately paradoxical. The weapon is turned inward, disrupting the familiar direction of harm, while the raised finger operates as a bodily refusal. Repeated across the installation, these gestures form a collective repulse response to the normalisation of violence. @johnclang View this work in our current exhibition, Mirrorball: Reflections on Portraiture, running until 14 March 2026. F the violence 2025 – ongoing Fine art archival print and red thread Edition of 5 + 1 Artist's Proof H25.4 x W16.9 cm (each image; set of 11) Images by @lavchang #johnclang #mirrorballreflectionsonportraiture #contemporaryart #singapore #fostgallery

We met for the first time on Wednesday. These are the moments that show portraiture is not merely an image of someone, but a space through which something deeper emerges. #JohnClang #TheTestimonialSeries #ReadingbyanArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu #紫微斗数 #ARTSG2026 #SingaporeArtWeek

《风华》 邀请读者“艺”起看展！本地视觉艺术家 @johnclang 在 @art.sg 呈现一场别开生面的艺术体验，邀请现场观众一起参与。 @yulijewellery 创办人兼珠宝设计师 @jessieyulifoo 参与了这场有趣的互动。 想知道有多有趣 ➡️ 看视频！ 艺术家从九个不同的家庭借来九张椅子，并以玄空九运方位排列，每张椅子代表一个元素，如：工作、突破、真爱等；每小时更换方向，观众可凭直觉“对号入座”，吸收能量。 ICON为新加坡艺博会官方合作媒体。 #ICONinvtes #artsg #artfair #seafocus

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮 - Artist Talk: John Clang in conversation with Alfonse Chiu, Editor at Rockbund Art Museum John Clang discusses his metaphysical portraiture practice, where photography becomes a site of inquiry into belief systems, identity, and the unseen structures that shape human experience. Drawing from ancient astrology as a conceptual framework, his work interrogates myths and superstitions, not to affirm them, but to examine how they persist, evolve, and impact contemporary life. Join this intimate session to ask questions, clear doubts, and engage in an open conversation. 📅 25 Jan (Sun) 🕦 11:30am - 12:30pm 📍Wan Hai Hotel 320 Havelock Road, Singapore 169628 Photos 3: Installation view of 𝘕𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 from 𝙒𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙞 𝙃𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙡: 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 Photo credit: © John Clang #JohnClang #NineChairs #ReadingbyanArtist #MetaphysicalPortrait #ZiWeiDouShu #紫微斗数 #ARTSG2026 #SingaporeArtWeek