Chinese Karl Bang's paintings are unique because he combines totally different styles of painting within the same format. It is very difficult to design a balanced

composition with realistic elements that are juxtaposed with flat colors and patterns.

The faces of his subjects are painted realistically in the Western tradition with subtle gradations of color; while,

his figures and costumes vignette into abstracted shapes, lines, flat colors and patterns that reflect Karl's background in China. It is as though there are different

visual languages being spoken within his paintings.