Artist of the month: Sangna Take

本月藝術家：Sangna Take

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In an era obsessed with perfection, contemporary artist Sangna Take (桑拿大可) masters the art of effortless relaxation to soothe urban anxiety.

A favorite within fashion and pop-culture circles, Sangna Take brings an organic, self-generated momentum fueled by his signature "disillusioned boy" motif and unpretentious personal charm.

Returning to Eslite Gallery with his latest solo exhibition, “A Pair of Underwear, A Pair of Socks,” the artist presents urban dwellers with a soul-soothing invitation to slow down and embrace vulnerability.

Sangna Take’s appeal lies in his humor and willingness to embrace mistakes, coupled with a striking chromatic palette.

His use of color feels effortlessly intuitive, pairing saturated, contrasting hues, such as rich cobalt blue clashing against deep reddish-brown backgrounds, accented by golden hair and vibrant crimson hearts.

His layered brushwork creates a blurred, raw aesthetic suspended between figurative storytelling and abstraction. With a background in visual communication design, the artist candidly admits that "heartbreak is the best nutrient for creation."

Reflecting on his evolution over the past two years, he said "I have always wanted my work to feel more relaxed. As I grow older, I want the lines to be less sharp, gradually letting go to retain more traces of wiping and raw brushstrokes."

This approach echoes Pablo Picasso’s lifelong quest to "paint like a child."

True artistic maturity often means shedding rigid constraints rather than stacking techniques. By loosening his linework, Sangna Take strips away design precision to reclaim a pure and spontaneous freedom.

During the creation of his key visual piece, feeling unable to achieve his vision, he took a cloth and wiped the canvas clean. The resulting chaos and unpredictability yielded a surprising texture that far surpassed his original sketch.

"I was born wanting to rest and lie flat," he said, using humor and aesthetics to transform flaws into a singular artistic signature.

During his first solo show at Eslite Gallery two years ago, Sangna Take joked that his mind was "full of erotic thoughts." Meeting him again, he admited, "I still am!" Yet his visual language has matured into something richer and more layered.

The exhibition title, “A Pair of Underwear, A Pair of Socks,” evokes the uninhibited state of returning home and shedding societal identities.

Among the 34 new paintings and six ceramic sculptures on display, he integrates a long-standing fascination with Black figures. In his work, their deep skin tones and facial contours hold an intense visual allure, evoking a captivating, chocolate-sweet richness.

Meanwhile, socks subtly reference coded signals within queer and contemporary subcultures.

In his key series, “Lucky to Be Stepped On,” the lens zooms in on feet of diverse skin tones wearing various socks.

Through an intimate lens, erotic reverie and physical sensation are transformed into gentle and humorous visual symbols that capture the quiet moods of contemporary youth culture.

Sangna Take’s creative influence first bloomed on social media, reflecting a sharp intuition for pop culture. His moniker, "Sangna Take," stems from a playful Mandarin homophone of his passport name, "Sun Take."

Now based in Kaohsiung, his work is deeply shaped by southern Taiwan’s sunny climate and relaxed pace, offering viewers a comforting, sauna-like respite from daily anxiety.

A key highlight, “Fickle Flower,” originated as a casual Instagram story doodle drawn with a phone brush tool, which he then translated onto physical canvas while preserving its digital granularity.

The exhibition also unveils his very first self-portrait, capturing his early days as a painter — a complex mix of uncertainty, fear, and persistence. Moving away from the cool, detached faces rendered for fashion collaborations, this self-portrait delivers an authentic moment of self-gaze.

Everyday ephemera abound throughout the gallery, ranging from paintings executed on convenience store microwave heat-insulating cardboard to subtle homages to Nara Yoshitomo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Umi Kumnano.

Exhibition Information

Dates: Aug. 15 – Oct. 10

Venue: Eslite Gallery (B1, Eslite Spectrum Songyan, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Xinyi District, Taipei)

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday)

Admission: Free