Han Acrobatics

In Han Acrobatics, a single figure seems to hurtle across the paper. Can you make him out? Outlined by Tan Oe Pang’s decisive, bold brush lines, the acrobat’s body twists in mid-air. Soft ink smudges trail behind him, while hints of red pull your gaze back to the figure, just before he seems to disappear.

Painted in 1983, this work channels the circus culture of China’s Han dynasty. Yet, Tan’s treatment of the subject is distinctly modern. The loose, expressive style suggests Surrealist influence. Though trained from a young age in classical Chinese ink painting, here he breaks away from tradition, embracing a more experimental, modern approach.

In 1988, the work was exhibited at Beijing International Ink and Wash Painting Exhibition 88, one of China’s first contemporary ink shows after the Cultural Revolution. Tan was one of the few overseas artists invited. Han Acrobatics won the Excellence Award. Why might it have stood out? Perhaps for the way it balances tradition with reinvention. Or for honouring its roots while leaping into something bold and new.