TANYA BLONG
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Auckland-based artist Tanya Blong creates figurative works that capture fleeting moments, presenting a multitude of characters and scenes unanchored by specific time or place. Her paintings exist in an ethereal dream-state—where figures are both watched and watching—suspended in acts of leisure. These "idols of free time" subtly comment on the luxury of being in contrast to the constant drive to do.
Blong examines time as a precious modern commodity, using nature as a soothing counterpoint to the pace of a commercially driven world. Her work also explores the concept of place, particularly within exotic tropical settings, evoking the tension between belonging and exclusion. These environments, at first idyllic and intoxicating, reveal deeper undercurrents of mystery the longer one engages with them. In recent works, her figures stretch toward abstraction, shifting focus from the external to the internal. Each figure symbolizes an interior landscape, with Blong’s masterful interplay of light, color, form, and pattern reflecting the emotional and somatic rhythms of human experience. Her paintings serve as visual tapestries that capture the complex layers of our inner worlds. Raised in Taranaki, Blong’s extensive travel and years spent abroad have enriched her practice, lending a global perspective to her art. After graduating from Hungry Creek Art School in 2006 with a focus on painting and sculpture, she pursued sculpture as her primary medium for many years, working as a studio technician for renowned New Zealand sculptor Terry Stringer. Over the past decade, however, painting has become her central focus. Blong has exhibited extensively across New Zealand and Western Australia, with works held in collections such as the Arts House Trust. Her practice continues to navigate the intricate interplay of place, identity, and the universal longing for connection, revealing the layers of experience beneath the surface of the everyday. |
Tanya Blong's figurative works capture fleeting moments in time, set against exotic backdrops that evoke society at leisure—languid, idle, and unhurried. These serene scenes stand in striking contrast to the fast-paced demands of the modern world. |
AVAILABLE WORKS
Tanya Blong
Idyllic Undercurrents Acrylic on Canvas Framed in Black Pine 1280 x 1090mm 2024 $5500 Available |
Tanya Blong
Gently Meld Acrylic on Canvas Framed in Black Pine 1170 x 920mm 2024 $4800 Available |
Tanya Blong
Trace of Time Acrylic on Canvas 500 x 600mm 2024 $1900 Available |
PAST WORKS
TANYA BLONG ARTWORKS IN SITU
