Flow
Souliya Phoumivong
The artwork depicts handmade clay models of colorful buffaloes and humans walking into the abyss. They also show the stop-animations that were made from these sculptures. Personally, I liked the arrangement of color that the creator used. It actually catches my attention at first and also gives me a mood of energetic. However, the behind meaning of the artwork contrasts to the color and form of sculpture. It shows the foolishness of humans that used to the system and they are not able to overcome this cycle. It seems that this artwork tried to relate the real life scenario to the viewer’s mind.
Souliya performed his artwork through claymation, with the handmade clay model. One of the reasons that he used this media is that he wanted to make this approach for the kids. Also, he focused on the importance of handmade artwork since he was originally from the urban where it is close to nature. His work represents the traditional lifestyle through claymation.
At the Tips of Your Fingertips, 2007
Ana Prvački
The video described how to get a dollar note cleaned by wiping with wet wipes. It also claimed in the video that the money will be fresh enough to use as a face wipe as the actor consequently put the banknote onto her face and smelled it. Her facial expression and ways of acting are odd to me. Since she acts like the money is completely clean and acts like she is in a beauty commercial. Also, I think that the creator might want people to interpret the meaning of the money from their perspective.
Ana used the video to persuade people to buy her beauty-product-wet-wipe while, in fact, the actual value of the money is not about cleaning. Therefore, to convince people to believe the product, the video might be the best medium in terms of showing the user’s feelings towards the product.
Peek!
Charit Pusiri
This artwork was set up in boxes where there are photographic images inside to let the viewer peek through the keyhole. Also, it included the book next to the box to let the viewers interpret the story behind the images. Personally, this is my favorite artwork among the bab exhibition. The creator used our curiosity to look into his artwork by using a small keyhole. It makes me feel like I was a stalker who watches other people’s lives. Furthermore, the images inside the boxes let me question what will be going on after that since it is mostly about sexual issues. I think that most people in real life try to ignore these problems as they feel shameful about it. I also feel that it is awkward as I look through the boxes.
The artist intended to use photography in order to show his artwork as a storytelling medium. It can be seen that photography does not just capture the moment of time but it makes people think about what is beyond the picture. He expressed his idea, imagination, and belief in the picture. Therefore, photography is not only for creating a beautiful image but it can be used as a medium to show the creator’s thought or belief to the viewers.
MinahSon’s Letter
Minah Son
It is an artwork that depicts a barcode-like form of typography that can be read from a certain angle. The pictures also illustrate biblical text which is the story of the evil trinity, the dragon, and two beasts. The first time I looked at this, it reminded me of the braille alphabet which shared some similarity of form and text. In fact, it makes me want to touch them since it performs as a pattern. I also tried to decode them if they were like morse code. However, after knowing the story behind, it is surprising that we can see the alphabet in English from a certain angle.
There are two forms of her artwork: book and picture. Minah created typography that related to the concept of ‘restricted but not absolute’. In my opinion, the way she chose her material with paper and framework because it is the story that is related to religion which mostly is in the form of a book or framework. It created a feeling of worship and faith towards the artworks.
South China Sea Piskun, 2009
Dinh Q. Le
The video shows the scenery of the ocean where the helicopters fell down to the sea countless times. In fact, it is a real event that happened in history when the Vietnam war let hundreds of helicopters crash land and fell into the sea. The artworks recall the memories of this event to those who endured the first helicopter war. Personally, I feel scared and nervous about the noise of the crushing and explosion of helicopters. The sea looks peaceful at first but the explosion of the helicopter really contrasts the mood.
Lê used the technique of large-scale photomontages, videos, and sculptures to the video. He mainly focused on the collective memories that will bring up the memories again. Therefore, bring people into the real event in terms of motion pictures and the sound effect will make the audience receive emotions that people at that time feel.
Law of Journey
Ai Weiwei
The artwork shows a massive sculpture of an all-black inflatable boat carrying faceless refugee figures. It is set up among the documentaries of refugee camps around the world. In my perspective, the size of the artwork makes me feel through the determination of the artist, the power of faith drives him to create enormous sizes of the artwork. However, it also looks like a bounce house that can easily be broken.
Most of Weiwei’s artworks used a large scale to express his idea. The material that was used at this time is the black inflatable sculpture. I think he wanted to emphasize the inflatable boats that were used for the refugee in real life. The boat became a symbol for the refugees who have been neglected by their countries and have to experience wars and fight.
Eins und Eins (One and One)
Melati Suryodarmo
This artwork was performed in Live performance which shows the human behavior in primitive movement. In this work, she represented her body as a country where it had suffered from oppression and kept silent all the time. She wanted to express people who have their rights restricted, consequently, they created rebellion and revolution for the country. The performance exposed a woman who acted aggressively and vomited black color. In my perspective without knowing the story, I feel scared and nervous about the performance since she was covered with black color and her facial expression was like a wild animal. In other words, she does not seem like a human anymore, she keeps aggressively spitting black vomit everywhere.
Melati used her live performance as the medium to send a message of being suffered from aggression. This is also known as Performance art which is mainly involved with four basic elements: time, space, body, and presence of the artist. It can take place in the street or any kind of setting space. The goal of the performance is to create a sense of aesthetic, generate a reaction from the viewers. Artists commonly connected their life experiences or social criticism of their performance.
Untitled, 2020
Peerachai (Samer) Patanapornchai
These drawings were made as ‘devious plans’ for escaping the disruption of Bangkok city. Samer forecasted that secret groups were going to disrupt the city. He used words, pictograms, codes, and symbols to instruct ways to escape from a looming disaster. In fact, his drawing is recognized as outsider art. In my view, these drawings seem like a map where they cannot be read and do not make any sense. It gives me a feeling of confusion and mystery within the works. Since Samer is the only one who understands it. Also, I have seen these drawings countless times on the walls and public space but I do not know what it is for and Who the creator is. The behind story made me realize that his forecast might be true someday but now it is still considered as fantasy, surreal things that would not happen.
The medium that Samer used is cardboard while he used to draw on the wall and pavement before. I think that the creator intended to scribble on the wall because he wanted to announce his plan to everyone to be safe if this scenario happens. He used to paint sideways where belongs to the government. However, his intention is clearly seen that he wants to expose his plan rather than keeping the plan with himself.
It’s What Inside That Counts, 2016
Rachel Maclean
The artworks of Racheal show on the single screen projection and it is also printed on dye sublimation. The pictures depicted a human that was covered in yellow color while he was sitting on a throne. Also, there are some kind of disciples around him. Personally, it reminds me of an Indian god picture that always has a god placed in the center and floats in the sky. I feel that her artworks are strange and confusing as the theme and characters are combined together. Although the creator tried to convey that it is about commodification and sexualization of youth through advertisement, I did not see any connection between them at all. It gives me a feeling of revulsion, bewilderment, and nauseating.
Rachel used green-screen technology and computer animation to express her idea. She also plays multiple characters. I think that she wants to bring a fantasy world to the audience and the video can make people feel engaged more than just paintings. Also, she may want to express the spirit of the characters by herself as she truly understands the character’s identity and behavior.
#FANTASY
Ga Ram Kim
This artwork aims to indicate a variety of social engagements, focusing on issues between morality and entertainment. The artworks also encourage people to participate with the question on the wall. The questions are about the type of museum visitors and then it will give you a QR code which links you to see the imaginary boyfriend. What I like about her artworks is the theme of unicorn color that gives a feeling of a dreamy and fantasy world. Also, makeup palettes within the typography boxes really catch my attention for the first time. Her artwork makes me dream of having many cosmetics in my collection.
Her artworks were based on participant interaction. She also encourages people to consider her artwork as a selfie station so that people have the confidence to upload pictures on social media. Therefore, her artwork is considered as Interactive art that allows the audience to achieve its purpose or become part of the artwork. This also left the impression for people to think of the creator’s attention more than other types of artwork.
