or Plato, a philosophical debate could be compared to an intellectual wrestle, where one may “toy with and trip up an opponent in whatever way one , New York artist Gian Galang, who works with acrylic and spray paint, uses dynamic figures to express energy and movement. “Martial arts is an agreement between both parties to challenge themselves physically and mentally,” he says. Gian, who lived in Hong Kong as a child before moving to New York, sees fighting – including boxing, wrestling, and other forms of martial arts – as the ultimate subject matter for figure drawing. He practises Muay Thai, otherwise known as Thai boxing, having learnt karate as a child. Muay Thai fighters use fists, elbows, knees and feet to strike their opponent, only scoring a point if the strike isn’t blocked. “Getting humbled or beat up by someone bigger or more skilled than you… brings a greater empathy and calmness in everyday life,” Galang says, adding: “I think the benefits gained from training for a fight can be very rewarding... It can be viewed as an ‘ultimate challenge’ that makes other things outside of fighting seem easy, and can push people to become the best versions of themselves.”
