Telescope presents Deng Tai’s second solo exhibition, Shadow, photos and video from his performance works. Deng takes to the streets of Beijing by night, wrapped in a flowing river of red satin and a ghostly face, disrupting public environments with his unearthly and compelling presence.
Deng Tai’s life and ambition is a lesson for us all and any young aspiring artist who thinks they cannot make it or do not have the finances to attend one the prominent art schools in China or abroad. Taitai was one of those young artists. From a marketing student in a small Chengdu university to realizing his dream on the stage of Beijing, he struggled to find a place for himself in the fast paced Chinese contemporary art world. By constantly observing his surroundings, trying every idea and creative avenue he could find, he finally realized through the camera that he was his art. Life was a performance for Deng Tai. Wherever he went and whatever he did held the possibility of transcendence and dream. He was fearless in his actions, forever pushing limits to discover and express his innermost longings, fears, and joys. Always a child and always a teacher he naturally instructed those around him in how to live life honestly and with abandon.
His untimely death, 2012 July 5, is still a shock to all who knew him. His loss is great even at the young age of 24. It is with special gratitude to his life and honor for us that Telescope is able to exhibit for the first time the photos of a very deserving artist, Deng Tai.
