Time-Lapse: Reflecting on Thai Art

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Time-lapse: reflecting on Thai art

Time-lapse: reflecting on Thai art presents Thai artworks in private collections of Thai Art Collector Association. It is a sequel to another exhibition drawing from the same collection. For this part, we aim to present works that many consider old masters, alongside contemporary pieces. Art is a tool for artists to express internal thoughts and creativities about themselves or their surroundings, using whatever is available. It is a reflection of life, and every artist is a contemporary of his or her time.

Works in this exhibition are grouped under three themes, Body and Mind, Changing World, and Elements. By focusing on themes instead of timelines, it shows that there may be less dissimilarity between artists from different generations than what we previously assumed. One of the challenges was selecting themes that would cover the majority of the collection, and group selected works into those themes. Since many works hold multifaceted and complex layers that cannot be easily categorised, what is displayed is what the artwork most strongly captures or best represents as an example of that particular topic.

By presenting artworks from different viewpoints, media, and time periods, we hope to challenge viewers' perception of Thai traditional, modern, and contemporary arts. And eventually, break and eliminate the rigid canons that bind them.

Body and Mind

Body and mind have been a source of inspiration for many artists. They are aspects and symbols that we are most familiar with and most connected. These depictions can be seen in ancient cave paintings of hunters, the religious representation of holy spirits, or more modern forms such as performance art, where the body becomes a tool.

Human bodies are used to emphasise certain ideologies, identities and narratives. Chalood Nimsamer used the female body to portray women's roles and societal expectations. While other female artists use female body parts as self-expression and documentation, such as work by Pinaree Sanpitak, symbolising nature and nurture, and by Imhathai Suwatthanasilp, exploring her role, mental and physical conditions. Nuriya Waji presents an image of Muslim women against a backdrop of conflicts in the South. We find a painting of male nude facing the rainbow in work by Chuang Moolpinit. Kawita Vatanajyankur uses her own body to reflect on social problems. The body can be a source of suffering. Influenced by Buddhism and facing his mother's illness, Chatmongkol Insawang's work presents a body as an outer shell for the soul. Ittipol Tangchalok, who is suffering from Parkinson's, created mixed media on x-ray films.

Portrait, a very popular genre, has become a tool for many artists. Tawan Wattuya and Mue Bon use it to reflect on social and political issues. Work can also help preserve the memory and capture the moment, spiritually, good or bad, as seen in Haritorn Akarapat's work. For some, a self-portrait is a way to express artists' inner condition or surroundings, as in works by Suchao Sisganes and Vasan Sitthiket.

Exploring psychological state, Pasut Kranrattanasuat looks at the idea of time, the human mind and hypnosis. With Buddhist teaching as the primary influence, Pratuang Emjaroen turns to nature as a way to find peace and happiness, while Kamin Lertchaiprasert finds life's unavoidable truth. Set against religion and belief, Vipoo Srivilasa challenges the notion of symbols of worship.

Changing World

The world is constantly changing, and the influx of outer influences always makes an appearance in Thailand. Art and culture here have been through different phases and influences, long before European modern art, art as we now know it, arrived. For instance, Benjarong, an art form from China, which we later adopted, appeared in Siam in the Ayutthaya period. A catholic church in a European style was first built in the 17th century. These changes have affected local art scenes, both directly and indirectly and in different volumes.

Chakrabhand Posayakrit best captures this scenario in his work showing Thai and Chinese plays along with Western audiences. Montien Boonma used everyday traditional Thai objects to represent the transformation from the old to new eras, while Tawee Nandakwang captured Bangkok during this rapid transformation.

Many of the artists find themselves constantly working with or against the flow of these changes. With an influx of Western influence, Fua Haripitak dedicated his life to preserving traditional Thai art, while Angkarn Kalayanapong found a way to link traditional Thai poems into his own more unrestricted and freer style. Hem Vejakorn's book illustrations made Thai classical literature more popular and accessible. Generations later, Pannaphan Yodmanee finds inspiration in traditional mural paintings, mixing with new materials and subjects. Many artists have had a chance to study abroad. Sawat Tantisuk found a new way of expression and brought that knowledge back to Thailand.

Changes open up new opportunities and problems. Artists have been using these socio-political issues as their narrative and inspiration. They draw from global politics, economics, consumerism, power and corruption as seen in work by Vasan Sitthiket, Prayat Pongdam, Busui Ajaw, Tawee Ratchaneekorn, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Thawan Duchanee may have found his spiritual escape amongst the mountaintops. Yet, now the northern part of Thailand faces some of the world's worst pollution, as captured by Jedsada Tangtrakulwong. Not surprisingly, artists are concerned with the current state of the world and uncertainty about the future, as depicted in work by Alex Face.

Elements

Some artworks are non-representational. The focuses are on direct expression, working processes, material, shape, composition, colour and form. These artists find their aesthetic sensibility from the most basic elements and essences of art and its process.

What is as important as Tang Chang's finished work, is his working process, both in the initial meditative state and the final burst of expression directly on the canvas. Somboon Homtientong thoroughly expresses his thoughts and current state through the precision of lines, colours and forms. Mit Jai Inn's work, in contrast to traditional painting, stands out with the use of neon colour and extremely thick coloured texture that transforms the flat canvas into a three-dimensional space. Thaiwijit Puengkasemsomboon assembles recycled materials by focusing on its form and colours to create new meaning. Udomsak Krisanamis also uses everyday objects to create complex patterns and grids. Inson Wongsam finds beauty and inspiration in natural materials, and his sculpture is an emphasis on its features and forms.