The Revolving World

From Venice to Bangkok

Exhibition period: 19 March – 31 October 2021

Curated by Tawatchai Somkong

Stories, truth and histories are an invented tool dealing with reality. They are all inseparable and indispensable. Story tends to be based on historical events while the truth might be adapted from the stories. Histories are believed to be the truth and approved to be correct.  

Siam has been part of the trade route connecting the mainland with the sea. Trading has brought many beliefs and stories affecting the invention of Thai culture. This happens specifically through the process of cultural selection, appropriation and transculturation of the oriental civilization including India, China and Cambodia. Afterwards, in Rattanakosin era, the western civilization was imported along with the colonization during the reign of King Rama IV and King Rama V. 

The art exhibition presents the stories, truth and histories related to the Kingdom of Thailand. All of them are reorganized through the cultural and social context, national discourse and dynamics of the relationship of Thailand and other countries.

Krit Ngamsom

His artworks were created based on the binary opposition. His well-designed Cabinet of History featured everything with “Thainess” written in the national history along with the symbolic materials of the western world. It represented cultural diffusion during the past century. In addition, the artist also presented another set of mixed-media sculptures which presented two similar while different perspectives. Nevertheless, they intrigue us to reconsider the matter from two different angles unbelievably. 

Krit Ngamsom

Kanthaka the Deva Horse, 2019
Mixed media, 60 × 250 × 60 cm

Krit Ngamsom

Cupids Horse, 2019
Acrylic sheet, steel, LED and resin
70 × 70 × 65 cm

Krit Ngamsom

Cabinet of History, 2019
Mixed media
160 × 50 × 250 cm

Krit Ngamsom

Happy Go Lucky, 2018
Acrylic sheet, steel, LED and resin
30 × 30 × 45 cm (each)

Krit Ngamsom

Revolving Paradiso, 2021
Kinetic sculpture
80 × 80 × 57 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong 

The artist presented stories passed on in Thai society, “Mae Nak Phra Khanong.” It was the tragedy widely believed to be true and happened during the reign of King Rama III. The story was reinterpreted and presented through the abstract painting which was placed in the light box. The artwork also included another collection of the paintings presented by the same artistic practice. They depicted the historical events as inspired by Kanchanaburi war cemetery. Somsak’s artwork was reinterpreted stories and historical events through artistic perspectives. Different tragedies and group of people were related when considering through the perception of Buddhism and truth of life.  

Somsak Chowtadapong

Motherhood, 2019
Oil on canvas and light box
40 × 30 cm (each)

Somsak Chowtadapong

Love Story 1767, 2019
Acrylic on canvas and light box
60 × 80 cm (each)

Somsak Chowtadapong

Love Story 1767, 2019
Acrylic on canvas and light box
100 × 100 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Mother and Child (Mae-Nak), 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Belief, 2019
Oil and acrylic on canvas
30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Ghost Story, 2019
Oil on canvas, 32 × 60 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Ghost Story, 2019
Oil on canvas, 32 × 41 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

The Railway, 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

The Death Railway, 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

The Cemetery, 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Hellfire Pass, 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

The Sleepers, 2019
Oil on canvas, 30 × 40 cm

Somsak Chowtadapong

Peace, 2019
Acrylic on canvas and light box
30 × 40 cm (each)

Somsak Chowtadapong

The Death Sleepers, 2019
Oil on canvas and light box
30 × 40 cm (each)

Somsak Chowtadapong

Story of Thai Modern Art, 2020
Acrylic on canvas and light box
117 × 117 × 240 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

The duplication of Thai traditional paintings from the mural painting of the 200-year-old scripture hall, was used as the main material for Panya to illustrate the context of western colonization that generated two major factors; military power and art and cultural exchange, both played important role in the development of the contemporary culture. In addition, many sculptures in the gallery also address a variety of beliefs in Buddhism, which corresponds with western philosophy.

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Black Buddha and White Lotus, 2016
Oil on canvas, 230 × 810 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Ever Rest in Heaven, 2016
Acrylic sheet, bronze, steel, marble,
wood, cement and lacquer work
100 × 150 × 180 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Inner Mind, 2016
Acrylic sheet, bronze, steel
and lacquer work
63 × 83 × 203 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Wonderful Chair, 2018
Oil on canvas, 180 × 130 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Shared No. 1, 2019
Mixed media, 30 × 130 × 98 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Shared No. 2, 2019
Mixed media, 105 × 120 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

The Power of Dragon Fox, 2019
Fiberglass, bronze and gold leaf
100 × 140 × 125 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Dragon Fox in Gold/Blue/Pink, 2018–19
Woodcut, 93 × 70 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Dragon Fox in Lucky Red, 2018
Oil on canvas, 153 × 175 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Conversion, 2018–19
Woodcut, 85 × 120 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Awareness, 2021
Bronze, steel and acrylic sheet
35 × 35 × 185 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Freedom Gate to Golden Mountain, 2019
Oil on canvas, 153 × 175 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Democracy Monument, 2019
Mixed media, 117 × 90 × 179 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

A Half Past Six, 2019
Mixed media installation
230 × 460 × 280 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Excellency, 2019
Oil on canvas, 153 × 175 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Fear Frontier, 2019
Fiberglass, gold leaf and video projection
70 × 60 × 235 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Auspicious Time, 2018–19
Woodcut, 132 × 167 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Temple of Paradiso or Animism, 2019
Oil on canvas, 200 × 120 cm

Panya Vijinthanasarn

Paradiso, 2019
Fiberglass and gold leaf
44 × 44 × 146 cm

This world is like a large factory that distributes the tales, truths and history constantly everywhere. As long as the world is still revolving around itself, lives are still continuing in our own patterns. And last but not least, the different in the roots of culture, beliefs, food, languages, and many more things will still be the charm of this world.