Lang Ea | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Education | Victoria University, Wellington |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Awards | R. T Nelson Sculpture Award: Premier Award (2025) |
| Website | https://www.langeaartist.com/ |
Lang Ea (born 1974) is a Cambodian-born multi-media artist who lives in Auckland, New Zealand. [1] She creates installations and sculpture which tend to reflect political and social topics and has exhibited internationally.
Lang Ea was born in Battambang, Cambodia in 1974. [1] When the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979, Lang's family fled Cambodia and spent the next three years in many different refugee camps in Thailand. [1] In 1982, her family emigrated to New Zealand. [1]
Lang attended and graduated from the Architecture and Design School at Victoria University, Wellington. [2]
Lang's art is a reflection of the trauma of her childhood under the Khmer Rouge regime and places her amongst a generation of South Asian artists dealing with historical trauma and memory. [1] Her works often address social issues. [1] Her focus is on creating sculptures and installations, which are not standalone but spread across and connect to their environment. [2]
A significant and well-awarded sculptural work for Lang is titled Beacon and was created to commemorate the New Zealand Women's suffrage. [3] The sculpture is inspired by the Kate Sheppard quote: "We are tired of having a 'sphere' doled out to us, and of being told that anything outside that sphere is 'unwomanly'". [4] Erected in the Milford Reserve, Auckland in 2020, the circular sculpture is made out of reflective stainless steel. [5] The centre of the sculpture is shaped as a camellia and gives off a violet light, a colour which suffragettes adopted during their movement. [5] The sculpture celebrates the legacy of the suffragettes and the violet light is intended to create hope for the future. [5] The sculpture gained recognition and awards at the 2020 Best Design Awards and the 2021 Taipei International Design Awards. [6]
Lang has exhibited domestically across New Zealand as well as internationally. [7]
| Year | Artwork | Exhibition | Gallery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Here We Remain | Legato Art Exhibition | n/a | Cassino, Italy [2] |
| 2015 | Listen II – Remains | Sculpture at Scenic World | n/a | Sydney, Australia [2] |
| 2016 | Broken Toys | Lorne Sculpture Biennale | n/a | Melbourne, Australia [2] |
| 2016 | POP! Bang! KA-BOOM! | Monalto Sculpture Exhibition | n/a | Melbourne, Australia [2] |
| 2016 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | Sculpture at Scenic World | n/a | Sydney, Australia [8] |
| 2016 | POP BANG BOOM! little pop poms always turn into the mother of all POM | Sculpture by the Sea | Sydney, Australia [7] | |
| 2017 | Listen | EMBODIED MEMORY – The memory of war through the matter | Villa Manin, di Passariano | Treviso, Italy [9] |
| 2017 | THE TRANSFIXION OF LIGHT AND DARK | Shadow cannot exist without light | Pah Homestead | Auckland, New Zealand [7] [10] |
| 2020 | Darkest Before Dawn: Art in the Time of Uncertainty | Ethan Cohen Gallery KuBe | New York, USA [11] | |
| 2021 | Fresh Legs 2021 | Galleri Heike Ardnt | Denmark [11] | |
| 2022 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | Sculpture on the Gulf | n/a | Waiheke, Auckland, New Zealand [11] |
| 2022 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | B#Side the River Festival | n/a | Gradisca d'Isonzo, Italy [8] |
| 2023 | POP BANG BOOM (site specific) | NZ Sculpture Onshore | n/a | Devonport, Auckland [12] |