7 art exhibitions in Bangkok not to miss this month
An Instinct for Surprise
March 10 – April 28
Kathmandu Photo Gallery
87 Soi Pan (Silom Rd.)
Viewing hours: Tue-Sat, 11am-6pm
Tel: 02 234 6700 | www.kathmanduphotobkk.com
Thai-German artist Jakrin Von Bueren immerses himself in his photography, doing to his negatives what he does with his own soul. In his upcoming debut exhibit—the full title of which is AN INSTINCT FOR SURPRISE (DON’T KNOW THE REASON, I JUST LIKE IT)—this dynamic Bangkok born and bred 20-year old absorbs the pageantry of life like a porous leaf in sunshine, transmitting to viewers sublimely instinctive images that transcend their initial impulse. In a field worn out by imitation and cross-imitation, it is rare to discover a hatchling self-identified fashion photographer with a totally fresh eye, becoming himself the source of creativity and inspiration.
Jakrin studied fashion photography at the London College of Fashion (LCF), University of the Arts, London, but his outlook on fashion is somewhat at odds with the usual public views on this subject. As his press release states: “One catches fashion like a disease, through sensory contact. Like the other arts, but on the literally superficial level—the dimension of appearances—fashion reflects the emanations of the world at a given moment. Originators of designs, and looks that others copy, send out their feelers to be seduced by the sensory conversation. As with Shakespearean synesthesia, they can hear colours and see sounds, taste good and evil, and sniff out fake memes from the real.”
The artist also rejects digital photography, stating: “I like not being able to see the images immediately. I like the surprise when I see my work later. For the rotten effects, the vinegar and rusting wire wool, the bleaching, the words of peace from the Bible—‘He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire’ (Psalm 46/9). I don’t know the reason, I just like it.”
Molten Love Melt Into Happiness
March 3-24
Number1 Gallery
19 Silom Rd, Soi 21
Viewing hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm
Tel: 02 630 2523 | www.number1gallery.com
This upcoming show is a re-collaboration with Number1 Gallery, after Chaiporn Panichrutiwong’s exhibition “Happiness” in 2016. These new paintings are acrylic on canvas, and show love and happiness in both living and non-living things. Our happiness emanates from our own individual preferences, depending on our individual experiences growing up. Thus, some are unable to disregard their intense affection toward certain things like toys, cartoon characters, pets, and/or movies. Such emotions can be deeply intense and can irrevocably be “molten” into individual aesthetic reveries.
Three Artists
March 7-April 25
Tang Contemporary Art
3F, Golden Place Plaza, 153 Rajdamri Rd.
Viewing hours: Tue-Sat, 11am-7pm
Tel: 02 652 2732 | www.tangcontemporary.com
The concept here revolves around putting into dialogue three very different artists, namely Rodel Tapaya (The Philippines), Heri Dono (Indonesia), and Pannaphan Yodmanee (Thailand). All of them are very representative of the Southeast Asian contemporary art scene, and all are still based in SEA countries, even if it is immediately evident that their artistic language is absolutely international and they do not use a local language for expressing their art. Which raises the question: does it still even make sense to talk about artists coming from Thailand, Indonesia, or The Philippines? Perhaps great art speaks an international language instead.
Zero Decibel
Until April 7
Yelo House
20/2 Soi Kasemsan 1, Rama I Rd.
Viewing hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-8pm
Tel: 089 777 2322 | www.yelohouse.com
This, the first solo exhibition by the artist known only as Suntur, attempts to express thoughts and stories through ‘silence’. The concept was developed when the artist arrived in New York City and felt depressed about himself. He tried to solve the problem by finding something to do, like painting, and the activity helped unlock feelings that were hiding inside himself. After many paintings Suntur realized that if his paintings were a person, this person must be “quiet, polite, and lonely”. By personalizing his own paintings he was led to the concept for his current show.
Meet the Celebrities
Until April 13
Duke Contemporary Art Space
1F, Gaysorn Village, 999 Phloen Chit Rd.
Viewing hours: Daily, 11am-midnight
Tel: 094 647 8888 | www.facebook.com/duke.gaysorn
This solo art exhibition by Sarawut Yasamut is inspired by clothing from the Baroque and Rococo periods, which reflect on the extravagance and lavishness of wealthy people in these two historic periods. This, in turn, implies that the outer appearance does not indicate the intrinsic value—from the past till the present, it remains the same. People are mainly focused on only their appearance, personality, and social status, not realizing the value inside. The artist wants to remind people in this present age to not just become fascinated by power or prestige. Don’t judge the book by its cover.
I-solated Beings
March 17-April 22
Subhashok the Arts Centre
Soi Phrom Chit, Sukhumvit Soi 39
Viewing hours: Tue-Sat, 10am-5:30pm, Sun, 12pm-6pm
Tel: 02 662 0299 | www.facebook.com/sacbangkok
In this collaborative effort, Thai artist Torlarp Larpjaroensook and Danish artist Andreas Schulenburg (with the support of the Danish Arts Foundation) lead a visual discourse on the relationship between the individual and society. Danish and Thai cultures, though seemingly quite different in regards to climate and social norms, share a very similar social attribute in their valuing of comfort and joy in everyday life. The Danish concept of “hygge” and the Thai concept of “sanuk” are two examples of words that represent a conscious effort within each respective culture to connect the individual experience happily into the greater society.
@Dawn
March 20-April 28
Ardel’s Third Place Gallery
Thonglor Soi 10, Sukhumvit Soi 55
Viewing hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm
Tel: 02 714 7929 | www.thirdplacebangkok.com/gallery
In this group exhibition four young Thai artists demonstrate their specialties in painting, drawing, and mixed-media art. Supaporn Chulaka’s paintings are inspired by the different forms of objects found in everyday life. Ponpassapon Bunyarritthanone uses lines and colours to create semi-surrealistic objects in her works. Meanwhile, Tan Kositpipat borrows figures of animals to symbolize human beings’ attempts to control everything on earth. Finally, Terdtanwa Kanama has assembled a mixed-media series showing Thai patterns and scratches on iron plates to represent a contradiction in technological development.
