TEXT: PAPHOP KERDSUP
PHOTO: SOOPAKORN SRISAKUL
(For Thai, press here)
This is the last week to enjoy “In Search of Other Times: Reminiscence of Things Collected”, the first exhibition at JWD Art Space, a new gallery in Sam Yan-Chulalongkorn University area. Some may have already seen the image of “Siamosaurus suteethorni” skeleton next to Yuree Kensaku’s “Gogi-chan Sitting on Eternal Waste” (2017). That’s a glimpse into more than 70 works selected from 22 Thai collectors’ private collections.
More than an art gallery, JWD Art Space is “Thailand’s first fine arts logistics and management centre”, providing storage, transportation, insurance, repair as well as consultation services. Curated by Kittima Chareeprasit, the “In Search of Other Times” exhibition, where a good number of art works are exhibited in the 365-square-metre space, delivers as an art exhibition and at the same time shows JWD’s prowess in transportation and storage.
The two keywords of “In Search of Other Times” are “to search” and “to discover”, which in the collector’s perspective, of course, leads to “to collect”. Despite this, another reason why we recommend this exhibition is the presentation which looks like those in natural history museums. Because of this approach, visitors have better understanding of the diverse and ever-changing landscapes in culture, history and society, which, more or less, relates to our daily life. Besides, this also shows the landscape of art collection in Thailand, stemming from the collectors’ diverse interest.
Evidently, the curator has attempted to connect certain artworks and create stories by, for example, showing contrast of different time periods and contradiction between the natural and man-made things. This helps create new dialogues among the artworks, giving them different meanings. Perhaps the exhibition’s only letdown, the lack of captions makes it difficult for the visitors to make such connection on our own, without substantial knowledge about the artworks. Even with a knowledgeable docent, it’d still be more fun for visitors to have our open conversations with the exhibited works.
If you’re still not sure how this would take you to “Other Times”, then visit the “In Search of Other Times: Reminiscence of Things Collected” exhibition at JWD Art Space, from now to Saturday (February 29, 2020). On that leap day, Kittima herself will lead us in the curator’s tours at 2pm and 5pm. For more details, fb.com/JWDArtSpace