Ronald Fong Sang( Chinese name: 方勵涵 ） (11 July 1938 – 11 June 2021) was a New Zealand architect, art collector, art exhibitor and publisher of New Zealand art books.Carroll du Chateau, "It is all about the pictures", NZ Herald, 22 November 2008 (Retrieved 22 January 2014)
Early life Sang was born in Fiji in 1938 to parents who had migrated from southern China. He received his secondary education at Marist Brothers High School, Fiji, and, having arrived in Auckland in 1957, at St Peter's College, Grafton. He studied architecture at Auckland University College from 1958 to 1961.New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001, p. 777. He became a registered architect in New Zealand in 1965. He joined an architectural practice which became Fairhead Sang and Carnachan Architects. In 1968, Sang set up his own practice.Colleen Hawkes, "Designer of historic Brake House also had a keen eye for emerging artists", The Dominion Post, 17 June 2021, p. 26. (retrieved 17 June 2021)
Architecture As an architect, Sang engaged in both commercial and domestic architecture. He is noted for his design of a house for the photographer Brian Brake in Titirangi, West Auckland. The house has a Category 1 rating from Heritage New Zealand.
Sang had a special interest in using New Zealand artworks in domestic and commercial interiors. He was a committee member of the Aotea Centre Works of Art Committee from 1988. He developed a New Zealand art collection including paintings, prints, sculpture, pottery, and weaving.Sang Architects and Company (Retrieved 12 February 2013) This collection included significant New Zealand artists such as Colin McCahon and Bill Hammond.Ron Sang's Own House, Kelland's (Retrieved 12 February 2013) Sang published books on New Zealand artists.Ron Sang Publications(Retrieved 12 February 2013) In 2013, Sang was co-chairman of the Auckland Chinese Garden steering committee.Lynley Bilby, "Chuang pays price for affair", NZ Herald, 22 December 2013 (Retrieved 22 January 2014)
In the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sang was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture and the arts.
Later life and death In March 2015, Sang auctioned off much of his personal art collection to fund his retirement, raising over $1.9 million.Sunday, TV One, 12 April 2015 Sang died at his home in Auckland on 11 June 2021.
Gallery
References
Further reading Ron Sang and Mei Ling Lee. Ron Sang architect (2017) Auckland: Ron Sang Publications.