Multitude: Drawings by Micke Tong Opening Reception at Hotel Biron Tonight
Those familiar with Bay Area artist Micke Tong's work can immediately identify his signature, richly layered and colorful digital illustration style, which is one of many types of media Tong utilizes. His solo show Multitude at Hotel Biron showcases a whole new stripped-down side of Tong with minimalist yet painstaking, black-and-white line drawings. The opening reception is tonight from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the show runs through October 31.
Learn more about Micke Tong's background after the jump!
'Multitude: Drawings by Micke Tong' | Hotel Biron, 45 Rose Street, San Francisco, CA | (415) 703-0403 | October 1 through 31.
How long have you been doing art?
All my life. I used to draw in my children's books and copy images when I was 3 or 4, as I became older my brother would let me color his home-made comic books. We were big fans of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian and the art of John Buscema. By the time Beat Street was released in the 80's I was obsessed with breaking, popping, graffiti and the street art scene. At the age of 11 and 12, I would be bombing the suburbs of San Jose's finest freeways, creeks, schools and railway walls. I was really short back then so I spent lots of moments on the shoulders of my elder 8th graders.
Burnt out by the burbs after high school, I left to attend the Academy of Art University, San Francisco in 1995. There I met life long friends and artists Paul Allan, Scott Campbell, Sheila Buchanon, Damon Sneed, and Josh Berkowitz, the main founders of Multi Media Art Collective. MMAC survived from 1997-2003. It was an amazing time in my life with a talented pool of creatives which propelled, educated and inspired me to do what I do today.
What types of media do you like to use?
I've been known to do digital illustration, but I was also taught the foundations of traditional drawing as well, taught by the Academy's master Ning Hou. Building art installations and working with lumber are pleasant moments. I like the philosophy of change, as my life changes so does my art. In Multitude all the drawings are black ink on paper. In my last show I featured all digital illustrations mounted on wood shapes. So for now I'm gonna go where my heart takes me.
What's your process like?
It usually starts with an idea then grows organically from there. I usually get right into it, very simple sketches and ideas written on paper. Producing your thoughts is another way to put it. Sometimes I will have ideas for one show and find that I use that image for another years down the line. When making art I usually work on several peices at one time and not always finish something in one sitting. Some of the drawings for Multitude, like "United Country" was done over weeks of time. It was actually quite torturous and redundant, making small marks repetitively over and over again. This show certainly re-introduced me to being disciplined and focused.
Tell us about your influences/motivations/goals, etc.
My goal is to make art and keep making art. It would be nice if I made a living like Banksy or David Choe, but right now I'm content. I'm an Art Director and I make a good living, I'm making strides, I've had the good fortune to own a place and I feel quite blessed considering the alternatives.
For the past few years I've been showing in other cities except San Francisco, the DIY (do it yourself) thing, which has been exciting, but now I'm on the lookout to have a relationship with a professional and supportive gallery here in the bay area. Who knows where the future will lead, but it will be art related thats for certain. And for the record, I just wanted to say I love my girl Tara, she has my back in all my creative endeavors and I wanted to give her a shout out.