The “Ruins” of war
Artist Pannaphan Yodmanee sets out to bring viewers closer to the cruelty of war through the eyes of those who live within a conflict in her solo show “Ruin” running at the newly opened project space and art gallery 1Projects from today (January 13) through February 7.
Her installation speaks directly to the viewer, stressing the violence and tragic consequences of war through the use of materials as symbols. “Ruin”, says the artist, is not a story of any specific war but a representation of all conflicts in this chaotic world.
Born in Thailand’s south, the 30-year-old artist combines found objects, natural elements such as rocks and minerals, and painted elements that recall traditional Thai art and architecture. Through her abstract works, she explores Buddhist philosophy and cosmology. Utilising a combination of raw, natural materials with found objects of contemporary origin, her works imbue the painted designs and motifs endemic to traditional Thai art with the universal and persistent themes of loss, suffering, devastation, and the karmic cycles of death and rebirth.
Her accolades include top prizes in the Thai Traditional Painting Awards (2013), as well as the Young Thai Artist Awards (2006–2007). In 2015, her works were showcased at the “Thailand Eye” exhibition presented at the Saatchi Gallery, London, at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and at the Singapore Biennale last year at the Singapore Art Museum. In 2016, Pannaphan won the prestigious Benesse Prize.
1Projects is the brainchild of Charuwan Chanthop whose recent work includes Thai and Vietnamese photography exhibitions in Bangkok at MOST Gallery and in Singapore with The Artling, as well as curating the joint installation of Prasert Yodkaew and Richard Streitmatter-Tran at Art Stage Singapore. She has also presented video works by acclaimed Australian female artist Tracy Moffatt at the Ferry Gallery and is now moving to showcasing emerging Thai and international artists at her space in Bangkok.
A former shareholder in and gallery manager of the temporarily closed Whitespace Gallery, she has been involved with Thailand’s art scene for more than 10 years and ventured out on her own with 1Projects two years ago.
“I was mesmerised by the artist’s installation at the Singapore Biennale last year. We will also show Pannaphan’s new works ahead of the artist’s participation at the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale 2018. Our next overseas project will be Pornprasert Yamazaki’s installation at the 2018 Art Stage in Singapore,” she says.
The newly renovated art space occupies 25 sqm on the ground floor of The Most House on Charoen Krung Soi 28 in downtown Bangkok. The art space is only steps from the Royal Orchid Sheraton (Sri Phraya Pier) or a short ride from MRT Hua Lamphong station and from BTS Saphan Taksin station.
For details, visit www.1projects.org.
