MAY 24, 2023 GRACE EBERT

All images © Yau Hoong Tang,

Yau Hoong Tang plays with presence and absence, layering optical illusions, embedded imagery, and other narrative cues within a single work.

In Negative Space, Yau Hoong Tang derives imaginative and expansive storylines from minimal visuals. As its name suggests, the ongoing series plays with the relationship between presence and absence, layering optical illusions, embedded imagery, and other narrative cues within a single work.

The Kuala Lumpur-based illustrator is fond of weaving together several plots. In one work, an ink splatter also becomes wildlife inhabiting the world, with in another, a creature appears as a flying goose or a fox depending on where the viewer focuses. “I love using negative space in my illustrations as it creates more dynamics to an artwork and opens up a visual conversation,” he tells Colossal. “Its thought provoking nature invites viewers to discover the hidden meanings and spark imagination.”

More: Playful Illustrations by Yau Hoong Tang Layer Optical Illusions into Imaginative Stories — Colossal