VARIATIONS OF PAUSES, THE LATEST EXHIBITION BY CHAYANIN KWANGKAEW, FEATURES 12 ARTWORKS THAT LOOK INTO THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WORLD AND HUMAN’S MIND IN VARIATION FORMS
TEXT: NAPAT CHARITBUTRA
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBHASHOK THE ARTS CENTER
(For Thai, press here)
Up-and-coming artist, Chayanin Kwangkaew, put together his solo exhibition with Subhashok The Arts Centre (S.A.C.) earlier this year. Nevertheless, whether it was due to the gallery’s not-so easy-to-access location in Soi Sukhumvit 39, the whole COVID-19 situation, or whatever reasons that caused us to miss the show, in early September of this year, under the collaboration between S.A.C. and Rosewood Hotel Bangkok, Kwangkaew’s paintings are reassembled again for another exhibition. This time around, with direct access from Ploenchit BTS Station to Rosewood Hotel via skywalk, viewers can conveniently reach ‘Art Connection,’ the venue where the exhibition is taking place.
The exhibition, Variations of Pauses, features 12 pieces from the artist’s previous showcase, A Symphony of Pauses. The works look into the current state of the world and human’s minds that sometimes seem to move in unison, although there are times when the world moves forward while our mind stands still.
The artist renders abrupt movements and stillness in abstract forms (which look more like a collage). Vibrant and daring colors found their ways to the canvas, serving as the still life’s background. The idea of binary opposition is articulated through contrasting organic forms and abstract forms, the freedom of lines and colors, and still life’s realism, the stark distinction monochromatic between black and white, and the vivid colors, all found in a single painting. From the art history perspective, the artist plays with layers (the same technique found in Cubist works), while the dramatic details created by smearing and the placement of the still life in the foreground, enticing viewers to look deeper into the depth and shallowness, the superimposed, overlapped elements and certain obscurities within the layered compositions.
‘Variations of Pauses’ opens now to November 30th, 2020, at Art Connection, Third Floor, Rosewood Hotel, Bangkok. If you happen to be in the city, be sure to stop by to see some great art.