Congratulations to Billy Tang on his appointment as Artistic Director, YDP, a London-based project space for Asian and Asian diasporic contemporary art. Born as a personal project of arts philanthropist Yan Du, YDP is part of her overarching vision to facilitate transcultural dialogues.
Billy visited Aotearoa New Zealand in July 2025 as a guest of the Creative New Zealand Te Manu Ka Tau international visitor programme. Spending time in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (hosted by Artspace Aotearoa and the Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa) and Ōtautahi Christchurch (hosted by The Physics Room) and with a weekend visit to Ōtepoti Dunedin, their programme included public talks in both Tāmaki and Ōtautahi and a roundtable workshop at the Physics Room (details below), alongside studio and gallery visits, and meetings with curators in each location.
Following his visit, Billy said: "I found profound hope in the inter-generational work of cultural revitalisation I saw here. This vital process is permeated through so many spaces I visited, big and small - evident in the reclamation of language, the renewal of material knowledge the act of gathering, and the sharing of ways of life outside of Western epistemologies - represents a powerful message to communities elsewhere. In many ways, the work i observed here provides a hopeful blueprint for the rest of the world. I can't wait to visit it again and thank you everyone for the warmth and generosity in hosting me throughout my visit."
Until recently, Billy was Executive Director and Curator at Para Site, Hong Kong. He has dedicated his curatorial practice to advancing diversity, cross-cultural dialogue, and amplifying the perspectives of those who have been historically marginalized in the art world, particularly in relation to the distinct art ecosystems across the Asia Pacific region. Before living in Hong Kong, Billy was the Senior Curator at Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai, and Curatorial Director at Magician Space in Beijing. Writing contributions have appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, Leap, Spike Magazine, Terremoto, and Mousse Magazine.
Events
A Lecture by Billy Tang (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
The Physics Room and University of Canterbury, Ilam School of Fine Arts were pleased to host an opportunity to hear Billy introduce his curatorial work. In his lecture Billy explored whether the languages used by institutions—behavioral, procedural, and structural—are large enough to accommodate the marginal and the forging of enduring connections.
Thursday 31 July 2025
5.30pm
University of Canterbury, Ilam School of Fine Arts Seminar Room
Free and open to all
Critical Laundering: a roundtable discussion with Billy Tang (Ōtautahi Christchurch)
Expressions of interest were invited for Critical Laundering, a roundtable discussion with Billy Tang, in response to the Physics Room's current exhibition Bootleg, featuring work by Abigail Aroha Jensen and Tamsen Hopkinson.
This discussion drew on histories of counterfeiting, ideas of censorship and authorship, and parasitic or ad-hoc economics. Participants were invited to be in dialogue with Billy around these topics, thinking about how they might be useful tools for future or recent projects.
This opportunity was for curators, artists and other contemporary arts practitioners based in Ōtautahi.
Friday 1 August 2025
10am - 12pm
The Physics Room, Registry Building, 301 Montreal Street, Ōtautahi Christchurch
By invitation only - see above re expressions of interest.
Question time: a Lecture by Billy Tang (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland)
At a public talk at Artspace Aotearoa, Billy introduced his curatorial work through the lens of the Artspace Aotearoa 2025 annual question “is language large enough?” In his lecture Billy explored whether the languages used by institutions—behavioral, procedural, and structural—are large enough to accommodate the marginal and the forging of enduring connections.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A
Thursday 7 August 2025
6pm - 7pm
Artspace Aotearoa, 292 Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
Free and open to all, information on access
This kaupapa is presented in association with Creative New Zealand, Artspace Aotearoa and The Physics Room. Billy's lecture in Ōtautahi Christchurch is supported by Ilam School of Fine Arts.