Lang Ea
Lang Ea | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Education | Victoria University, Wellington |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Awards | R. T Nelson Sculpture Award: Premier Award (2025) |
| Website | https://www.langeaartist.com/ |
Lang Ea (born 1974) is a Cambodian-born multi-media artist who lives in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] She creates installations and sculpture which tend to reflect political and social topics and has exhibited internationally.
Early life
Lang Ea was born in Battambang, Cambodia in 1974.[1] When the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979, Lang's family fled Cambodia and spent the next three years in many different refugee camps in Thailand.[1] In 1982, her family emigrated to New Zealand.[1]
Lang attended and graduated from the Architecture and Design School at Victoria University, Wellington.[2]
Art
Lang's art is a reflection of the trauma of her childhood under the Khmer Rouge regime and places her amongst a generation of South Asian artists dealing with historical trauma and memory.[1] Her works often address social issues.[1] Her focus is on creating sculptures and installations, which are not standalone but spread across and connect to their environment.[2]
A significant and well-awarded sculptural work for Lang is titled Beacon and was created to commemorate the New Zealand Women's suffrage.[3] The sculpture is inspired by the Kate Sheppard quote: "We are tired of having a 'sphere' doled out to us, and of being told that anything outside that sphere is 'unwomanly'".[4] Erected in the Milford Reserve, Auckland in 2020, the circular sculpture is made out of reflective stainless steel.[5] The centre of the sculpture is shaped as a camellia and gives off a violet light, a colour which suffragettes adopted during their movement.[5] The sculpture celebrates the legacy of the suffragettes and the violet light is intended to create hope for the future.[5] The sculpture gained recognition and awards at the 2020 Best Design Awards and the 2021 Taipei International Design Awards.[6]
Exhibitions
Lang has exhibited domestically across New Zealand as well as internationally.[7]
| Year | Artwork | Exhibition | Gallery | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Here We Remain | Legato Art Exhibition | n/a | Cassino, Italy[2] |
| 2015 | Listen II – Remains | Sculpture at Scenic World | n/a | Sydney, Australia[2] |
| 2016 | Broken Toys | Lorne Sculpture Biennale | n/a | Melbourne, Australia[2] |
| 2016 | POP! Bang! KA-BOOM! | Monalto Sculpture Exhibition | n/a | Melbourne, Australia[2] |
| 2016 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | Sculpture at Scenic World | n/a | Sydney, Australia[8] |
| 2016 | POP BANG BOOM! little pop poms always turn into the mother of all POM | Sculpture by the Sea | Sydney, Australia[7] | |
| 2017 | Listen | EMBODIED MEMORY – The memory of war through the matter | Villa Manin, di Passariano | Treviso, Italy[9] |
| 2017 | THE TRANSFIXION OF LIGHT AND DARK | Shadow cannot exist without light | Pah Homestead | Auckland, New Zealand[7][10] |
| 2020 | Darkest Before Dawn: Art in the Time of Uncertainty | Ethan Cohen Gallery KuBe | New York, USA[11] | |
| 2021 | Fresh Legs 2021 | Galleri Heike Ardnt | Denmark[11] | |
| 2022 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | Sculpture on the Gulf | n/a | Waiheke, Auckland, New Zealand[11] |
| 2022 | KA BOOM! (site specific) | B#Side the River Festival | n/a | Gradisca d'Isonzo, Italy[8] |
| 2023 | POP BANG BOOM (site specific) | NZ Sculpture Onshore | n/a | Devonport, Auckland[12] |
Awards and recognition
Awards
- Social Good Award Finalist at the 2020 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards for her work – Beacon.
- Bronze Medalist in Lighting Design at the 2020 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards for her work – Beacon.
- Gold Medalist in Designed Objects at the 2020 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards for her work – Beacon.
- Judges Special Award at the 2021 Taipei International Design Awards for her work – Beacon.
- Premier Award for the R. T Nelson Award for Sculpture 2025 for her work – Negotiation.
Artist residencies
- Red Gate in Beijing (2016).[13]
- Art Omi International Artist Residency in New York (2017).[14]
- Studio at MASS MoCa International Artist Residency (2019).[15]
- Vermont Studio Center Residency.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "I. Lang Ea". Visual Anthropology. 31 (1–2): 152–155. 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Lang Ea | B#Side War". www.bsidewar.org. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ OurAuckland. "8 outdoor artworks in Auckland that celebrate Women's Suffrage". OurAuckland. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "BEACON- Auckland council Commission: award-winning Public Sculpture, Milford Reserve, Auckland, New Zealand". Lang Ea. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Beacon". He Kohinga Toi Auckland Public Art. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Lang Ea | Best Design Awards". bestawards.co.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Lang Ea". Brick Bay. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b "KA BOOM! site-specific installation-600+ hand-made wool pom poms; size: 30 -60m dia.(98 -197ft)". Lang Ea. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "EMBODIED MEMORY – The memory of war through the matter / AMAZING EXHIBITION @ VILLA MANIN | B#Side War". www.bsidewar.org. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "THE TRANSFIXION OF LIGHT AND DARK -site specific – ciment fondu, sand, fiberglass". Lang Ea. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Lang Ea". Sculpture On The Gulf. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "2023 Exhibition". NZ Sculpture OnShore. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Residency – Red Gate Gallery" (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "Alumni Directory". Art Omi. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "The Studios Alumni". Studios at MASS MoCA. Retrieved 21 January 2026.