Manga Ormolu 4.0h Item Number: 3386/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
A mixed media sculpture consisting of a Chinese-style blue and white ceramic plate with robotic prosthetics along the top and bottom edges. Plate has a concentric diamond pattern along border, with fruits designs inside curvilinear motifs throughout; cheek is undecorated. In the well, two robed figures are depicted standing on a terrace; sun, building and vegetation are in the background. Top edge of plate is partly squished by a triangular attachment from the top robotic prosthetic; attached to the main body with black cables. Both prosthetics are yellow with white stripes and grey panels. Top prosthetic has two silver-coloured jacks and two white, grey, and black blades extending from the left side. Bottom prosthetic has a black grill with two silver-coloured vents. Edition number painted on front of bottom prosthetic; artist signature and date made on back.
Manga Ormolu is a series of works Tang has been developing for fifteen years. Each work employs mainly blue-and-white Chinese ceramics as metaphors of a culture or identity that doesn't belong to him — he views them as lost family members.