ART4D TALKS WITH KAMOLCHAT PANGTHO (JARMO), THE ARTIST WHOSE PAINTINGS INTEGRATE THAI MYTHS AND BELIEFS IN MIRACLES, SPIRITS, GHOSTS JOINED WITH THE GENRE OF SCIENCE FICTION, AND ARE EXHIBITED AT ‘THYBERPUNK,’ THE ARTIST’S LATEST SOLO EXHIBITION AT THE ONE WALL ART FOUNDATION
TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO: PONGSAPAK CHUMNARNKHA
(For Thai, press here)
Extraterrestrial beings, civilizations and intelligences, the question of whether or not they actually exist or not can’t be answered since no definite conclusion has been made yet. As far as we know or are allowed to know, there are only speculations that it’s highly likely that there are at least 36 intelligent civilisations in the Milky Way galaxy that are advanced enough to communicate with mankind.
Kamolchat Pangtho (JARMO), the artist whose dark artistic expression creates paintings that integrate Thai myths and beliefs in miracles, spirits, ghosts joined with the genre of science fiction, fusing the two worlds in the sphere of ‘Thyberpunk,’ a solo exhibition set to open on December, 17th 202 at the One Wall Art Foundation, on the 9th floor of Siam Kolkarn Building. art4d brings you our conversation with ‘JARMO’ about his view on aliens from outer space.
art4d: Which aspect of your interest in aliens are you particularly focused on?
JARMO: I’m not actually interested in aliens in the sense of whether they exist or not (laugh). I’m more interested in how aliens are stereotyped as these beings that are highly intellectual with special telepathic powers and the ability to exist multidimensionally, beyond the three dimensions that we know of, and something along that line. The reason is that I want to be able to integrate and compare these observations into Thai people’s beliefs in mysterious, unexplainable events or incidents in order to critique or sort of tease them in contexts that are somewhat different.
art4d: How are your thoughts on the world, the universe and humans related?
JARMO: That’s a tough question (laugh). If it’s from my personal point of view, I think it’s how everything is studied. Humans will be required to solve even more difficult problems or equations, as our knowledge about the universe progresses, in order to understand its grand existence.
art4d: With the information that you’ve gathered so far, what do aliens look like?
JARMO: From what I’ve learned so far, they have a small body, big eyes and large head. They are the species that have evolved from lizards and visually, look very much like humans.
art4d: Do you think there are secret interactions or contacts going on between our world and the aliens’ worlds?
JARMO: I don’t really know for sure but I wish there are. But what I really want to know is what the interactions are about. Taking into account the fact that they are aliens, perhaps they want to influence the world’s economy and beliefs to go in the direction that they want?
art4d: Have you come across any credible UFO news?
JARMO: I don’t follow this type of news religiously but I remember when I was a kid, I saw that legendary, black and white alien autopsy footage, and I totally believed it was real. I found out way later that it was fake (or maybe they want us to think it was fake). I was just entering my teenage years (laugh). Since then, I think of every news piece I’ve seen as a form of entertainment.
art4d: Do you think now is finally the time for the aliens to make their official debut on earth?
JARMO: I don’t think now is the right time. The world would probably be very chaotic if that were to happen. The arrival of aliens could potentially destroy some people’s beliefs. And when something that has been someone’s conviction all their life gets dismantled, we can’t really tell what they will do next, especially if it’s a belief that’s existed for thousands of years. I think it can be extremely dangerous. I think the most appropriate (or the least chaotic) time would have to be in the utopian world where the world’s population truly becomes global citizens, and people are accepting and rational enough to handle the arrival of visitors from outer space.
art4d: What do you intend for your latest exhibition to communicate?
JARMO: I’ve actually never intended for my work to communicate with or guide people in the society. My work merely emphasizes on what’s already and currently happening through the futuristic, sci-fi concept that beliefs and technologies, which seem to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum in Thailand, are actually interconnected to the point of almost being inseparable, and it’s going to continue to be this way for a long time.
art4d: If you had a chance to meet with a real-life alien, what would you say to them?
JARMO: I think I would ask them questions. All those questions that humans still haven’t found answers to, questions like can you travel through time, do parallel universes exist, do you have religions or gods, why have you decided to contact us, and why now, and most importantly, are you a friend or an enemy?
