OK.
Meaning no disrespect to the artist, but don't waste your time. I wasted mine. I'm not a professional art critic, so I don't have to be politically correct, and I'm not a professional photographer, so I can't be accused of professional jealousy.
Basically I left very unimpressed, to say the least. His NYC fashion portfolio is OK (I'm not a good judge of fashion photography, but I do know they thrive on hyperbole over there).
The exhibition consists of about 4 sets of photos.
The first set is made up of three gigantic prints dominating the left side of the gallery. There's an expressionless short Chinese guy with acne scars posing with a statuesque model. Then they get closer. Then he kisses her. That's it. Supposed to show "loneliness in the heartland". Huh?
Then there's "SARS", which has an expressionless short Chinese guy with acne scars wearing a mask and blue shorts only, and sitting around in various poses, staring expressionlessly at the camera. Supposed to show alienation and what-not during the SARS epidemic.
Then there's "Stray Cat", which are snapshots (probably using a P&S) of a short Chinese guy etc (you get the picture) wearing only a pair of blue shorts crawling around on all fours pretending to be a stray cat in the HDB heartlands. Supposed to show the loneliness of cats being culled during the SARS epidemic. More likely a homoerotic attempt, if you ask me.
And finally, (and ironically) "Asleep" (or was it "Sleeping"? I was catatonic by then) provides a glimmer of entertainment. That same guy is found sleeping in all sorts of places (in front of cars, on an escalator, on some steps) with a pillow below his head, and the passersby are giving him strange looks. Worth a couple of chuckles, maybe.
There's an example of it on the promotional blurb
here
To be fair to him, I took a look at some of his other exhibits online (
www.johnclang.com) and was similarly unimpressed.
"Backs", taken in Tokyo, just shows the backs of various people, superimposed on different backgrounds. Very much like an early (gutless) street photographer's works. We've all taken these pics and deleted them immediately.
"NYC ghost" has got all these snapshots of various places (presumably in NYC) with a stream of water down the middle of the frame. Was there a ghost hovering above him, peeing every time he took a shot or something? I'm non-plussed, to say the least. This is art?
I half suspect he's having everyone on, and laughing all the way to the bank at the pretentiousness of the people who actually think he's artistic. His work is so "La Salle" and sophomoric (or is that sophomoronic?). Oops, did I offend some other people? I can't believe he's actually serious about this.
That said, you must then greatly admire him for his ability to promote and market himself. I suppose that is where his real genius lies. Take a look at the tips he gives on the Kodak website (do a Google for John Clang), and you get a glimpse of how he got where he is.
As for me, sorry, but the emperor is not wearing any clothes.