On 23 March 2026, MATDOT Art Center hosted a special screening, artist talk, and guided tour for a postgraduate cohort from Mahidol University, bringing together participants from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. The group included MA students in ASEAN Studies for Sustainable Development and PhD candidates in Multicultural Studies, representing China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Japan. The visit formed part of an experiential learning programme designed to deepen engagement with cultural diversity through direct encounters.
The event commenced with a screening of Winterover, a documentary film by established Australian artist Stephen Eastaugh. Known for his extensive travels across more than 100 countries, Eastaugh’s practice is shaped by geography, displacement, and sustained on-site research. The film documents his eleven-month residency at Mawson Station in East Antarctica in 2009, undertaken through the Australian Antarctic Division. Capturing the stark realities of life in one of the world’s most remote environments, Winterover presents scenes of mid-winter expeditions, severe blizzards, and the ethereal Aurora Australis, alongside the challenges of maintaining an artistic practice under extreme conditions.
Following the screening, students and lecturers engaged in an animated discussion with the artist. Eastaugh elaborated on the physical and psychological demands of Antarctic residency, offering reflections on endurance, isolation, and creative resilience.
The programme continued with a guided tour of the MATDOT complex, led by curator Sarana Wiriyaprasit. Participants explored exhibition spaces and artist studios, gaining first-hand insight into contemporary artistic processes. Visits included Eastaugh’s studio, where discussions extended to his current body of work and ongoing writing, as well as sessions with artist-in-residence Adisak Somkong, who shared developments in his mixed-media series 15 Years Later. The tour concluded at Tawatchai Somkong’s studio, where students encountered the expansive Soulscape series and engaged in thoughtful dialogue.
MATDOT extends its appreciation to all participants for contributing to a meaningful and inspiring afternoon, reaffirming its commitment to supporting educational exchange and emerging voices.
