Tang Chang (1934–1990, Bangkok), also known as Chang Sae-tang, was a Sino-Thai artist-poet who pioneered abstract painting in the Thai modern art scene. Born into a Chinese immigrant family, Chang grew up immersed in Taoist and Chan Buddhist teachings, who later incorporated philosophies and meditative practices into his own artistic output. Chang rejected Western modernist conventions by moving intuitively between painting, drawing, and literature, redefining the boundaries between diverse art forms.
A self-trained painter and poet, he moved away from the brush and instead relied on his hands, fingers, and arms to make sprawling, curving lines in 1958, resulting in gestural paintings infused with calligraphic abstractions. In 1967, he experimented on poem-drawings, transforming everyday language into visual imageries constructed from repeated words. This technique led to Chang’s development of “rūpadhamma” poems, also known as “concrete poetry”, deeming Chang a maverick who revolutionized poetry-writing and overturned prevailing conceptions of Thai poetry.
Following the 1973 Thai popular uprising, Chang’s self-portraits and poem-drawings revealed his frustration towards political turmoil and social inequities. During this period, he focused on translating and publishing classical Chinese texts, making their ideas available to a general readership through simplification, commentary, and explanation. Throughout his career, Chang exhibited with galleries and institutions but rejected the commodification of his works. In 1985, Chang opened a small museum “Poet Tang Chang’s Institute of Modern Art” at his residence, where he exhibited his own works, and gathered with like-minded artist friends, poets, students, and art lovers. When the family was forced to demolish the house three years later, he regretfully closed his private museum. Chang passed away in 1990.
Since his death in 1990, Chang’s works have been featured in key presentations including the 10th Shanghai Biennale (2014), “Tang Chang: The Painting that is Painted with Poetry is Profoundly Beautiful” at Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago (2018); “Tang Chang (1934-1990): Non-Forms” at Centre Pompidou, France (2023); and “Tang Chang: Calligraphic Abstractions” at Bangkok Kunsthalle (2025). His works are in the collections of international institutions including the Centre Pompidou, Art Institute of Chicago, and National Gallery Singapore.
