Artist Manipulates Reality in Mind-Bending Surrealist Sculptures

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Hong Kong-based artist Johnson Tsang creates porcelain works of art with a twist—oftentimes, literally. He sculpts rubbery and realistic human faces that are distorted in mind-bending ways reminiscent of Surrealist paintings. Looking at each one feels like a view into Tsang's subconscious.

In some of the busts, hands emerge from the head to manipulate the face, such as scraping through the facial features or stretching the skin beyond the skull to reveal empty space within. Others depict faces that have been completely scrambled by a whirlpool or melted into a puddle with the ears, nose, and eyes all misplaced.

Tsang's variety of creative works demonstrates his love for experimentation. However, there are some common features that unite these ivory masks. For instance, he always depicts eyes closed, like the faces are asleep and what is happening to them is a part of a dream. Perhaps this emphasizes the internal aspect of these sculptures. Ultimately, the artist's sculptures are left open to interpretation, though it's hard not to extract a deeper, internal struggle or an emotional element within each piece.

You can purchase Tsang's art via his online store, and see what he's up to next by following the artist on Instagram.

Hong Kong-based artist Johnson Tsang creates mind-bending sculptures.

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

He carves faces into porcelain with a surrealist twist.

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Sometimes that involves a literal twist.

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Each sculpture is a unique and often fantastical reimagining of the human form and reality.

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Tsang's sculptures invite viewers to decipher the pieces for themselves, leaving the emotional and inner struggles open to interpretation.

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Surreal Sculptures by Johnson Tsang

Johnson Tsang: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Behance

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Johnson Tsang.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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