ATTA Gallery, the only gallery in Thailand that specializes in Contemporary Art and Design objects for the body, proudly presents two exhibitions by Taweesak Molsawat in November. Main exhibition: a/part: The existing of the non-existence, with the opening reception on Friday November 3rd, 18:30-20:30 at ATTA Gallery and Off-site exhibition: mis/place: The Endless of The Beginning, with the opening reception on Wednesday November 22 nd19:00-20:30 at Brainwake Thonglor. Artist will be present at opening receptions.
***There will also be a special event by the artist on Saturday November 17 th at ATTA
Gallery as part of the Creative District Gallery Hopping Night. Time to be announced on our website: www.attagallery.com ***
Main Exhibition
the existing of the non-existence
3 November 2017 – 7 January 2018
About the Exhibitions
the existing of the non-existence focuses on shifting cultural context of jewelry. The significance of this body of work is questioning the conceptual existence of jewelry as an absolute object and a separate entity from the body. In this work, I am exploring artist’s or the wearer’s breath as the most significant element of jewelry. It is the replacement between the inner empty space of body and empty space of jewelry, and the formless of breath creating a formless of jewelry into a jewelry form generating a new connection between human body and new visual perception of jewelry. In this work, I am questioning the core concept of jewelry crossed culturally both historical and contemporary issues related to the definition of jewelry and lack of the interplay between jewelry and body in today practices.
Historically, jewelry has played significant roles not only as a part of body adornment but the in/visible connections between jewelry, body, dress and society, however in today mainstream culture; the realm of jewelry has been constrained to mainly physical objects disconnected to body. The deeper conceptual and physical relationship between jewelry and body has been disregarded; therefore this project aims to redefine jewelry as a catalyst by shifting cultural context conceptually both role and definition of jewelry.
In this project, the investigation of human’s breath and formless of jewelry focuses on stimulating senses of ambiguity questioning the prior existing perception of jewelry by deconstructing existing cultural and social contexts and elements of jewelry creating a new visual language of jewelry. a/part: the existing of the non-existence is intended to communicate beyond visual language of jewelry and challenge the existing establishment of jewelry. By using both fragmented visual culture and existed experience of jewelry along with artist’s or wearer’s breath, I generate the condition in which the viewer is compelled to devise a new meaning and new state of jewelry perception in a theoretical and conceptual way in the context and content of today culture. In addition, the exploration of the project is to reconnect the conceptual idea of jewelry back to the body creating both new visual and nonvisual language for general public. The investigation of jewelry and artist’s or wearer’s breath as an experimental abstract narrative is the focal approach of my creative project.
It is my intention that this body of work is to be a catalyst for questioning and provoking interpretations and new ways of critical thinking regarding the core concept of jewelry related to body, culture and society. This work is anticipated to be an open-ended language with the realization of the deconstruction/reconstruction theory in a paradoxical world of jewelry and body both realized and unrealized. This contradictory relationship, exposed by the fusion of formless jewelry and artist’s or wearer’s breath, as well as the spaces that marry them, will create a conceptual empty space to permit fresh interpretations and new experiences of engagement for viewers and wearer alike. October 8, 2017, Bangkok, Thailand Off-Site Exhibition At Brainwake Thonglor (between Soi 19 and 21)
The Endless of The Beginning
22 November 2017 – 7 January 2018
“Art communicates through visual and non visual means; The subject matters of art originate from culture and society, therefore art is an instrument to critically and creatively examined culture and society”.
This exhibition is a revisiting idea of addressing cultural and social issues. It reflects human behaviors in today globalization and capitalism era. This work is intended to mirror the endless environmental problems caused by the ways we live our lives taking advantage of the environment and Mother Nature. We have been over consumed and over produced without taking care of the environment and nature around us.
The exhibition titled “mis/place: The Endless of The Beginning” is the combination works from the work titled “This is Thailand: Thailand from 2006-present” and extended new works. The conceptual idea is derived from the reinterpretation of jewelry as the reflection of the artist regarding social issues. The significance of my work is the process of searching for new roles, functions and definition of jewelry in contemporary context.
In this body of work, my artistic practice has shifted towards a greater awareness of the wider and deeper context of contemporary jewelry, and the necessity for greater community involvement. Using art, design and craft in this case jewelry as an aesthetic, cultural, social, political, and environmental instrument, I am confident that art and design can improve the quality of living together creating a sense of living purpose in a community and healthy environment with shared values, equalities, and environmental sustainability.
Jewelry pieces and their stories especially the entire creative process have become the vehicle for not only the reflection of my conceptual ideas and philosophy but for the wearer to share his or her individual expression through my work. The work acts as the movable media on the body to communicate and raise the awareness of this social issue to the public. In this work, cultural leftovers (trashes) on the beautiful beaches around Thailand have been given the new lives in the context of contemporary cultural signifiers to communicate to the society.
Furthermore, roles and functions of jewelry have been redefined as cultural and social objects that speak about time, culture, environment, and social behaviors including philosophy of the artist in today contexts. The value of the work is emphasized on the idea and issue of the work and the meaning that jewelry communicates not the commercial value of materials.
It is my intention that my work is to be a catalyst for the promotion of questions and provoking new interpretations. I use my work as an open-ended language with the realization of the deconstruction/reconstruction theory and narrative in a paradoxical world of objects both realized and unrealized creating a conceptual empty space to permit fresh interpretations and methods of engagement for viewers and artists alike. 10-18-2017 Please view video “This is Thailand” at https://vimeo.com/108465999
About Artist
Taweesak Molsawat (b. 68, Thailand) called himself a Social and Cultural Critic who expresses his views through design, visual art in the form of contemporary jewelry, performance art, as well as through words.
After receiving his MFA and a teaching assignment in the US, Taweesak returned to Thailand in 2006 to teach at King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Silpakorn University. Recently he has quit his teaching career to concentrate on his art practice. He has been exhibiting in the US, Europe, Australia and Thailand. His works have been included in many international publications. This exhibition will be Taweesak’s 4 thsolo exhibition at ATTA Gallery.
Website: www.attagallery.com
