Born in 1946 in Malaysia, self-taught painter and sculptor Thang Kiang How’s talent and community service is variously recognised, including: Singapore’s Public Service Medal (1981), Dr Tan Tsze Chor Award (1982), and Special Award, UOB Painting of the Year competition (1985, 1986 and 1987). Exhibiting nationally and internationally, Thang was also President of the Modern Art Society Singapore (1981-93).Like many of his contemporaries, Thang progressed through a range of techniques (batik, acrylic, collage – his very first painting series ‘Vanishing Landscapes of Singapore’ of the 1970s was done exclusively using the batik technique) and styles (representational, modern, abstract) before hitting his stride with his signature acrylic and airbrush paintings of imaginary nature scenes and landscapes. With his ‘Blue Mountains’ series (early 1980s) Thang showed a gradual shift away from realism, and by the mid-1980s is working fully in the abstract manner, as is evidenced here with ‘Crackling towards July’.
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