Exploring Self-Portraits Through the Eyes of Chinese Astrology

In a world where traditional tools of art often determine how we see ourselves, John Clang presents a revolutionary approach that transcends the physical and ventures into the ethereal, rendering an introspective portrait sans the brush or lens. Upon delving into my ziwei doushu chart, he not only mapped my stars but painted an internal portrait that echoed my life’s journey.

Yin and Yang of Diasporic Connections

When I first encountered Clang’s work in 2010, his Being Together series struck a chord. By merging diasporic families on virtual canvases via Skype, he captured the essence of fractured yet whole existences. His approach asked a vital question: what if portraiture wasn’t confined to moments but spanned entire lifetimes?

The Art of Divining Destiny

With the ongoing performance series Reading by an Artist, Clang breathes new life into the ancient ziwei doushu, an astrological system devised to unravel the intricacies of royal destinies. He conducts readings in places like the National Gallery Singapore and the upcoming Ghost 2568 in Bangkok. Each reading is a personal odyssey, unveiling layers of one’s existence in a choreography of stars and palaces.

The Dialogue of Stars

A reading with Clang at Galerie Lelong proved transformative. As he drew connections between my Life, Career, and Travel palaces, reflections of my journey surfaced. It was more than recounting; it was a dance of symbiosis, resonating with inner truths and shared experiences. Some skeptics might see predictability, yet skepticism fades as Clang’s method reveals its true intent—empowerment through awareness.

A Portrait Unbound by Canvas

Clang mused on his path to astrology. With no camera, he envisioned a narrative without confines—a conceptual journey inward. His study of ziwei doushu became a tapestry weaving personal history and cosmic art into a seamless fabric of possibility. This portraiture divorces itself from the past’s critiques, urging participants to embrace destiny’s inertia and reforge it with newfound autonomy.

Unlike a fixed portrait, my chart—a constellation guide—predicts continual growth and the welcome of future friendships. This reiteration combats the solitude of today’s generational zeitgeist. Encouraged to remain open, I found friendship around every corner, part of my self-portrait evolving beyond constraints. According to Hyperallergic, this transformation is just beginning, promising a portrait never stagnant.

Merging the Universal and Personal

The colorful abstraction of Clang’s installations serves as both a critique and a tribute—against digital surveillance and for individual sovereignty. Through these squares emerge testaments of lives re-imagined and destinies shaped anew. In these readings, past, present, and future conjoin—an undivided line where art and fate fuse to inspire.

Embrace the Journey

Portraiture in John Clang’s hands is not mere visualization but an initiation into unseen potential. It transforms skepticism into creative introspection, reminding us that somewhere within the celestial coordinates, our truest selves wait to be painted, not on canvases or paper, but woven deep within our life stories.