Thai Contemporary Art in brief:

Thai Contemporary Art surrounds some of the most versatile and diverse art. Modern Thai mural painting started when Thai monks had been slowly exposed to western elements. One of the early pioneers of modern Thai art includes Prof. Silpa Bhirasri and his establishment of Silpakorn University Art Gallery is one of the most renowned galleries in Thailand.

Modern Thai artists are socially aware about current issues happening in the world such as politics and environmental problems. Coupled with their personal beliefs of what the society should do, Thai artists often combine traditional Thai elements with modern techniques. They express themselves in large sorts of media such as installation art, reproduction of photographs and performance art. Artists also do not forget their identities when conceptualizing their ideas. Many Thai artists, for example, reinterpret their past by manifesting folk culture and Buddhism in their works.

In this issue, we caught up with Low Sze Wee, Deputy Director (Curation & Collections) of The National Art Gallery, Singapore, to discuss the contemporary art scene paved in Thailand. 

Curator Low Sze Wee

An Interview with Curator Low Sze Wee

Deputy Director (Curation & Collections) of The National Art Gallery, Singapore 

Q: How do you think the Thai art scene has been evolving over the past 5 years and the next 5 years?

The Singapore Art Museum is slowly collecting and we have about 100 pieces now, largely on modern paintings and small installations. In the next 5 years, we need to get to know the artists and collectors better and invest in long-term loans.

Q: What do you look for in a piece of work before you decide to buy it?

Of course, before you start doing that, you have to do some preliminary research. We have to be selective because Thai history goes a long way back compared to Singapore where we want to show every single part of Singapore’s history. I usually choose a piece of work with a lot of layers of interpretation. Maybe, when you see it the first time, you interpret it in one way. Ten years later when you see the same work, you have another interpretation… Basically, the complexity in an artwork.

Q: Do you have your favourite Thai artist(s) or a favourite piece of work?

I have a few. There is one by Vasan Siithiket – “Comes from the Earth, Lives on Earth, Returns to the Earth, 1998”, currently on display in the Singapore Art Museum. It involves mud and clay, to show where farmers used to work. If you notice carefully, the eyes, nose and even the teeth of the painting are made of stones. Through the portrait, you see difficult lives and the concern of fellow human beings. It is shown through the natural environment – intimately connected with soil.

Q: Where would you recommend Singapore art lovers to go when they visit Thailand?

The collecting scene in Thailand is very strong. One of them they should go is Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). The National Gallery has works with some sense of early development of modern art. Silpakorn University Art Gallery showcases works of their teachers and students … and Bangkok Sculpture Centre.

Q: What advice would you give to Thai artists who would like to showcase their work in Singapore?

To gain exposure internationally, there are probably two strategies. One, there are many biennales and triennales now. Curators usually announce on their websites to receive submissions. Do not be afraid to submit as they are usually quite open and not so critical. This is the first step for international recognition. Secondly, there are art spaces in museums where you can work for six months to a year. There are also residences programmes in Finland, Iceland and Japan, allowing visiting artists to stay and work. Many artists now take independence [in exploring how to showcase their works].

For more information on the Singapore Art Museum, please visit http://www.singart.com/
For the National Gallery of Singapore, please click here.

Business Heritage Conference:

This second conference follows on the back of a very successful inaugural conference on 28 Sept 2008, attended by 253 participants from both the public and private sector. The Business of Heritage Conference is unique in that it is the only heritage industry-based conference thus providing rare networking opportunities for this sector. This year, the conference will take the form of a series of lectures and an exhibition, comprising of the Ideas Lab and the Wall of Fame, which showcases the works of the beneficiaries of the Heritage Industry Incentive Programme (Hi2P).

Registration form is available at http://www.hi2p.sg. To find out more about the upcoming Business of Heritage Conference, which is organized by the National Heritage Board in Singapore on 16 September 2009, please contact Kess Xu at  kess.xu@sg.pico.com or +65 6290 5617