When three Thai artists bring their works under one roof, the group exhibition can be nothing short of awe-inspiring for the audience, much like what we get to experience at Uttaporn Nimmalaikaew, Narakorn Sittites and Attasit Pokpong's latest exhibition "Man's Phases" now on view at the La Lanta Fine Art gallery until March 3.
They have come in unison to present their mastery with figurative paintings, investigating the laws of nature by drawing a metaphorical observation between human life and the nature of the Moon. Why the Moon you might ask? Well simply because humans seek light to illuminate themselves and so does the Moon.
A common theme the artists share is the element of soul searching. Reflecting on why we put importance on how others define us, coupled with the realisation that humans owe it to themselves to find the true meaning of inner peace.
Uttaporn Nimmalaikaew's Monsoon Life.
The artworks in each of their presentations shine a light on the trials and tribulations people face during life's journey. For instance, Uttaporn chooses to discuss the fragility of hope, while Narakorn attempts to explain the meaning of life, and Attasit opts to showcase his understanding of idealistic beauty.
The artists have effortlessly managed to operate within their own rotational sphere while gravitating towards one another to achieve their expected goal.
Uttaporn, Narakorn and Attasit are in their early 40s and have a string of achievements to their name, both in Thailand and abroad.
While their life experiences have greatly impacted the manner in which they present their art, there is a common bond each share in their belief that it is up to a person to make the most with what they are given in life.
Each artist brings a unique manner in how they approach their subject matter. Uttaporn for instance said his artwork reflects his personal experience with the people around him and how he, in turn, relates to their vulnerabilities, so he picked colours and tones that emoted dark and melancholic moods.
The 41-year-old remarked that the most obvious hurdle for him was to create a three-dimensional painting in a manner that was technically sound so that the audience would not mistake his work as printed, but an actual oil painting where a set of skills is used in a mixed media presentation.
"This is a portrait of my son," Uttaporn said of his artwork Monsoon Life. "The artwork depicts an innocent boy with a flimsy raincoat. The painting symbolises my concerns for him during the pandemic and how to shield him from the possible danger of the disease, of course, and an unavoidably uncertain future as well.
"As for my work In Deep Feeling, I showcase my teenage niece who had to go through a stressful time in her studies because of our society's expectations of prerequisite steps to be a successful person. The message I hope to deliver through my work here focuses on the plight of the Thai child. The student protests have been a result of their inability to voice their grievances.
Narakorn Sittites' The Composer.
"This is why it should not come as a surprise that the characters in my work include my niece, who at the time I painted her was in 12th grade and waiting to enter university. When I saw her struggle I asked myself, 'Why do students need to go through so much heartache to enter a good Thai university only because that is what society tells us brings a promising future?'. I saw the cut-throat competition they have to endure to enable themselves a chance at life. Today almost all Thai students need to attend tutorials to stand a chance at being picked by a recognised university. During this period they lose out on a part of their teenage years that they will never get to experience, all in the pursuit of an education that in this day and age doesn't necessarily promise a good future."
Narakorn, whose idol is the acclaimed Thai artist Chatchai Puipia, finds purpose in seeking meaning from his personal memories and life experiences. He sets himself apart from the rest by making his artwork a narrative that offers characters that one might find in short stories.
For the oil paintings here, the 41-year-old uses red and black colour tones to offer a thought-provoking subdued ambience.
He predominantly paints self-portraits but experimented with other angles and parts of his body, such as feet and back. His paintings pose the question, what is the truth in life? He felt the need to address this because, at times, people get into conflict with each other because they find that one person's belief of what is true in life is different from theirs.
He said the painting The Criterion refers to an attempt he made to seek an equilibrium to be able to live our lives with balance amid this paradox.
"The narrative to my paintings ponders how humans can better themselves. What I am trying to do is analyse the thinking pattern of people as we grow into adulthood. As Thais and followers of Buddha, much of how we think centres on our belief system. My inspiration comes from the various experiences I have encountered and how I have dealt with them. As I grow older I find myself searching for the meaning of what it is to be human.
"The colour combination I have chosen is open to interpretation but draws the attention of the viewer to my work. For instance, red impacts people's emotions in different ways. As an artist, I am sharing my life experiences via my work on canvas, so I leave it up to the viewer to make their own decision on how it impacts them."
Attasit Pokpong's Admiring The Other Lady.
Attasit, whose skills are showcased in both watercolour and oil paintings, also brings an interesting vibe to his line-up with his signature style of thick pouting lips in red lipstick taking centrestage. Embedded in his paintings here are political and social messages, a rich artistic presentation, full of nuance.
"I usually travel extensively to work in studios abroad over a period of time. When I work in different environments, my artwork absorbs the energy around me. Throughout the year 2020 with the travel restrictions, I found that I became more attentive to my painting because I don't get to move around so much," remarked the 43-year-old.
"My new series of paintings has a more elaborately designed frame or interesting corner of the canvas. I discuss the ideal beauty of a woman by using my wife as a subject. Her face with bold red lips has always been my signature. The paintings in this exhibition have elements of social critique, for example racism, peace and freedom. I communicate these ideas through the use of the portrait's skin colour and accessories."
Attasit continued: "Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder, here I have let my imagination loose, using a combination of both loud and sunny colours to express what I define as beautiful.
"It is entirely up to the audience to determine whether they find it tasteful. For me it is not so much about wanting the viewer to think like me, I prefer them to emote the feelings they have towards my artwork without any interference. That is where my work as an artist is complete."
For more information, call 02-050-7882 or email info@lalanta.com. The exhibition can also be viewed at lalanta.com.
