Artist Statement
Pinchuan (Larry) Huang has long been trained as a representational painter. Hyper-realism works as the most apparent element of his art, as a natural extension of his academic-style experience. Meanwhile, his works also provide the viewers a sense in between understanding and suspecting which stem from his interest in surrealism and magical realism. Exploring the possibilities of realistic representation and the absurdity of the still life as a genre, Larry’s hyper-realism is haunted by a sense of suspecting. In the recent decade, he made works in classical style while also painting with magical, imaginary effect such as a bird cage floating in a pinkish universe. While studying at the University of Washington, Larry has continued to explore realism while increasing the color contrast and strengthening the sense of humor in his painting in order to discover new balances between realism and absurdity.
Committee
- Helen O’Toole, Chair (Painting + Drawing)
- Zhi Lin (Painting + Drawing)
- Philip Govedare (Painting + Drawing)
- Ann Gale (Painting + Drawing)
- David Brody (Painting + Drawing)
Commentary
Read the interview of Larry Huang by James Harris.
Secrets may hide behind the enthralling contemporary vanitas paintings by Pinchuan (Larry) Huang. Large in scale, his paintings depict a toy store and an arcade game in which stuffed animals play larger roles than just cuddly toys. The works convey a message characterized by these objects symbolic of childhood, innocence, desire, and the meaninglessness of worldly pleasures. One work titled What are they doing? depicts the shelves of a store with our stuffed little friends overflowing the bins. Minnie Mouse hangs on an edge of a shelf with her legs dangling open, a yellow duck lays supine on the floor. The animals push and peer at each other. Is the artist commenting on globalism and consumerism, or perhaps the inherent eroticism of these fuzzy creatures? Bright colors and the limp gestures add to this effect. Huang’s other painting shows more restraint through its compositional elements. What are they doing 2 illustrates the arcade game in which the player uses a joystick to control a claw. If successful, the gamer is rewarded with a furry prize. Here the animals are trapped behind glass, trying to get your attention. The entire composition shows the artist’s mastery of reflection. The glinting light does not hide the toys’ cries of “Pick Me.” The phallic shape of the joystick stands at attention in the center hoping the viewer will begin to play.
– James Harris
Education
- Master of Fine Arts, University of Washington, 2020
- Master of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, 2016
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, 2011
