To honour International Women's Day, SAC Gallery have introduced four female emerging artists in "Herspective". The exhibition, on display at the Rosewood Bangkok reflects the converse side of womanhood through the artworks of Thidarat Chantachua, Praiya Ketkool, Thanathorn Suppakijjumnong and Aor Suthiprapha. If "perspective" means "perceptions" to other things in a natural understanding, "Herspective" tells a different "spective" through the talent and uniqueness of four "hers".
Aor Suthiprapha
"Origins"
Aor is a ceramic artist and designer, whose journey inward as a person to better herself is depicted in her artwork, which debuted in 2019. "This was the beginning of a new series and is mostly about the development of my inner self. The pieces show that, when faced with difficult situations, your true behaviour emerges. In this series, I want to go back to the origins of myself. I've used local clay because I am from Thailand and the form becomes the cylinder, which is a symbol. The process of learning about myself is like peeling an onion. The first layers come off and you keep going on and on till you reach the germ. But none of these layers come off without a few tears. That's how you learn about yourself.
I want people to sense the softness of the material, which is actually hard when you touch it. When clay is soft you can manipulate it in many ways, by adding water. You cannot force it. You have to learn and play along. And that's how I learn about life."
Thidarat Chantachua
"Gravity From Your Story"
Also known as Mariam in the art world, Thidarat specialises in using thread to create her drawings showing the harmonious dynamics between Thai culture and her Islamic faith. "Gravity From Your Story" shows the continuous and precisely arranged thread woven into the surface of the work to convey an unseen connection between all Muslims.
In Mariam's imagination, distances are an illusion and religious identity knows no international boundaries. A few of the threads are straight and some are falling down, much like when she is hurt. "The artworks depict my feelings and the connection to the unknown. The first piece speaks about my feelings and hurt and the second shows how I try and find an exit for this hurt, but I don't know which one is the correct door to choose. The second artwork shows the way to the unknown. I hope to convey my feelings about religion, beliefs and hope about Islam."
Thanathorn Suppakijjumnong
"Together"
Thanathorn uses a rare antique typewriter to create her artwork and illustrate her family dynamics. The series "Together" uses the typewriter technique on high-quality Awagami paper from Japan. "Together 1 and 2 establish and represent the Covid-19 pandemic from all around the world, how we unite through this pandemic, how to support each other and how to pass the crisis together. The portrait in each artwork is my face, wearing a mask, coupled with strong determined eyes. I want each audience to have their own personal experience after viewing my art."
Praiya Ketkool
"Wild Wonder"
"Flower Cracker"
"Star On Earth"
Praiya puts on display her thoughts and imagination of the simple truth of nature through her own technic. Thus, these artworks show us the countless grass flowers, a little simple living that infiltrate our daily life without any notice of existence by humans. "I wish everyone to imagine the object in front of the vision. It'll be different depending on the range of inspection, one simple back-step from the art-piece can change the perspective of it. The imagination will reflect your internal subconscious as one flower can hide all of the universe inside it."
Herspective Set
The exhibition has been paired with a special treat from Rosewood Bangkok's executive pastry chef Florian Costeau and Lennons' bar manager Giuseppe Carneli. The "Herspective" treat includes five chocolate bonbons and a cocktail (B450++), and can be experienced between 2.30-5pm at Lakorn European Brasserie until the end of the month.
"The Herspective bonbons are my personal interpretation of the 'Herspective' exhibition," says chef Cousteau. "The bonbons represent woman, with each one being named after the characteristics of a woman: Individual, Sophisticated, Tenacious, Gracious and Kind. I wanted to create flavours that people are not used to, like the rum-raisin. This is not a chocolate that can be kept for a long time, so I make them fresh every couple of days. I use ginger blended with cream and chocolate to get the spice going for another bonbon. Tonka bean is the most interesting as it is not common in Thailand. The yuzu bonbon is something refreshing, much like a woman, visually as well. None of the bonbons have any sugar; all the sweetness comes from the chocolate and the fruit," says chef Cousteau.
The bonbons are paired with the "Jungle Bird", which was first invented in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by an American bartender. "It's a tropical drink and for the exhibition, I put my own twist on it," says Carneli. "The drink itself is originally red, but I have clarified it to create some type of mystery. To me, a woman is mysterious, so the drink is the same, it is not what you see down to the choice of glass and colour of the drink. It is garnished with the colour of passion.
"Herspective" is on display at Art Connection, Rosewood Bangkok Hotel, Phloenchit Road, until May 31 / Call 02-258-5580.
