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.

Spectators, young and old and of all colors of the rainbow, lined the canals in the Dutch capital to watch the colorful spectacle of the Pride Canal Parade return for the 25th edition after the last two events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, August 6, 2022. (Photo by Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

Tourists visit an art installation of colorful umbrellas on November 10, 2022 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Indian girls apply colored powder on each other as they wear protective masks as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, during Holi festival celebrations in Bhopal, India, 26 March 2021. Holi marks the beginning of the spring season. Holi will be celebrated as the Hindu spring festival of colors across the country on 29 March. (Photo by Sanjeev Gupta/EPA/EFE)

Bangladeshi children from Khan Tea garden posing for photos on March 23, 2022 with their faces painted after adorning with colors like Rainbows on the celebration of the annual Hindu festival of colors, known as Holi festival marking the onset of spring. (Photo by Md Rafayat Haque Khan/Eyepix Group/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

People take part in the Festival of Colors at Asanbai Park in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 27 May 2023. The festival brings together young people sprinkling each other with colored powder to pay homage to India's traditional Holi festival. (Photo by Igor Kovalenko/EPA/EFE)