Daniel Diaz-Tai
Biography
Born in Venezuela but raised somewhere between Cumana, Shanghai, Hong Kong,
Beijing and San Francisco, Daniel Diaz-Tai has always defined himself as a Latino-Asian
male. His multiple homes have strongly influenced his chosen career as a visual artist.
While he began his career in the arts with my B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the
Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Daniel Diaz-Tai also earned my M.F.A in
Painting from the Academy of Art University of San Francisco. His work developed from
the need for him to find common ground between his journeys. By creating his own
language through painting and calligraphy, he discovered a process that allows him to
express himself. His studio is currently based at Arc Studios in San Francisco. Daniel
Diaz-Tai’s artwork has been shown throughout the United States, Venezuela and Asia.
He is currently represented by Cancio Contemporary in Miami and New York City as well
as by The Marina Cain Gallery in San Francisco.
Artist Statement
My artwork stems both aesthetically and conceptually from a lifetime of living in
Venezuela, China and the United States. My work serves as a continuous dialogue
surpassing the limits of my three native tongues Spanish, Mandarin and English. There
is an abstract interpretation that comes from these three languages and serves as an
expression of its own without the confines of any specific language.
My spontaneous brush strokes come from my subconscious expressing a new voice;
they echo the aesthetic of Chinese Calligraphy as well my obsession with text and
graphics. These brush strokes are intertwined with my own asemic writing to create a
powerful and seductive fluidity. Through a process of writing and washing, my work
speaks of a momentum and unique dialogue layer upon layer. The bold tones of black
and white and my intentionally limited color palette create a clear path through which I
can express my emotions clearly as well as intensely.
