Artist Bio
Tsang Tseng Tseng:
Tsang Tseng Tseng (曾貞貞), artist name Three Zan (三真), has an MFA focused in traditional scholar painting of the Yangtze River Delta. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the China Academy of Art.
Ms. Tsang has practiced ink and brush painting for two decades. In 2008, she was selected as the winner of the New Talent Prize in “The 24th Collective Exhibition of Macao Artists” by the Macau government Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. Her first solo exhibition in Idaho, “Leaves Falling in The Ocean of Space,” was in 2012 at the Sandpoint Redtail Gallery. Tsang’s piece “Foguang Temple” was shown at the 2014 five-yearly national exhibition of China, “The Twelfth National Exhibition of Fine Arts in the Liaohe Art Museum” of Liaoning, China. In 2014, she was one of two students admitted to the CAA graduate program of Professor Lin Hai Zhong, who is recognized throughout Asia as a key representative of traditional scholarly painting. The CAA is known in Asia as the leader of authentic ink and brushwork arts. Ms. Tsang is recognized for her powerful brush stroke in the traditional fine art community of China. In 2021, she recently lectured as a guest speaker in the seminar The Space of Ink and Brush Landscape Painting, held at the Stanley Ho East Asia College and Cheong Kun Lun College, University of Macau. In 2022，she is currently a lecturer of the City University of Macau.
Artist Statement
Tsang Tseng Tseng (曾貞貞) is a classy artist from the vibrant city of Macau. Her character and personality were formed through experiences in different places. During her art studies at The China Academy of Arts in China, she embedded her knowledge with the Chinese philosophy; while working in her art studios in the USA and Zurich (Switzerland), she formed her open and international perception of art. Being native from the world’s greatest gambling hub, namely, Macau, Ms. Tsang has a very open way of thinking and visualizing art, which makes her have the special ability of expressing the classic Chinese art in a very bold and interesting way.
The term in Chinese language that is used to explain the atmosphere of Ms. Tsang’s painting is xiāosàn sàndàn (蕭散散淡). In this scenario, xiāosàn (蕭散) means uninhibited and carefree, while sàndàn (散淡) means easygoing and light. Xiāosàn sàndàn implies an atmospheric breath (qìxī 氣息), which is shown through the work. This breath is an attitude of someone that is not chasing or trying to force something into existence, but letting inner feelings and character to be shown through the work.
Three Zan (三真) creates landscape paintings in a variety of sizes, ranging from large to small works. Her style is spontaneous and natural, blending elements of ancient tradition with a modern sensibility. Her creations are deeply influenced by the Song and Yuan dynasties, while also engaging with the legacy of painters from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, such as Shen Zhou, Gong Xian, and Wu Li, etc. Three Zan pays close attention to the aesthetics of Song Dynasty brush painting, as well as the composition of each piece, preserving the tradition of Chinese painting.
Ms. Tsang studied under the supervision of the famous ink and brush artist, Professor Lin Hai Zhong (林海鐘) at the China Academy of Art, for eight years. Studied the history, theory and practice of traditional Chinese painting. This study included participation in the operations of Lin Hai Zhong’s artist studio in Hangzhou, China. As a member of a small group of scholars studying under Professor Lin, Ms. Tsang traveled throughout China to learn firsthand from nature how the ancient artists viewed the landscape and represented the space of the landscape in traditional painting. She spent many years emulating the master works of artists of the Northern Song, Southern Song, Yuen, Ming and Qing dynasties. This hands-on study experience cultivated her ability to wield brush work techniques and construct space (章法) in painting and calligraphy that embody the history of different time periods, the theories of ancient art and avenues of individual self-expression of the artist.
Três Zan (三真) cria pinturas de paisagens de vários tamanhos, incluindo obras grandes e pequenas. O estilo dela é espontâneo e natural, harmonizando elementos da tradição antiga com uma sensibilidade moderna. As suas criações são profundamente influenciadas pelas dinastias Song e Yuan, ao mesmo tempo que dialogam com o legado dos pintores do final da dinastia Ming e início da dinastia Qing, como Shen Zhou, Gong Xian e Wu Li. Três Zan dedica uma atenção à técnica do pincel e ao uso da tinta, além da composição de um quadro, preservando a tradição da pintura chinesa.
