THE FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION OF A RISING ILLUSTRATOR WHO DEPICTED HER LIFE AND EXPERIENCES ON PAPERS AND A VARIETY OF SURFACES BY DRAWING AND SKETCHING
TEXT & PHOTO: PHETDAO PATTANABANDIT
(For Thai, press here)
‘WATCH ME NENE’ marks the debut of Nene Nanthawan Jamsai’s first comprehensive solo exhibition, showcasing her creative identity as NNENE.IIE. Nene, a rising illustrator, revels in sketching and drawing on paper with fluid, expressive pen strokes. Her deep-seated passion for documenting everyday experiences is evident in her unique practice of inscribing stories onto a variety of surfaces, ranging from notebooks to something more impermanent such as receipts and paper bags. She also explores other mediums such as sculpture and animation.
NNENE.IIE’s eclectic interests, rooted in a scientific background from her high school days and a profound love for art, fuel the rich tapestry of stories she aims to convey through her artworks. Staged across the four intimate floors of KINJAI CONTEMPORARY, the exhibition offers a complex and varied collection of narratives.
As spectators enter and ascend to the first floor, they are immediately greeted by an impactful display of spent pens mounted on the walls—a homage to the artist’s exhaustive creative process. A brief look around further catches viewers’ attention with a video that introduces Nene, providing a glimpse into her artistic journey and motivations.
Moving up to the next level, the exhibition takes a personal turn with a display featuring the artist’s dog’s toys alongside a visual diary comprising about 800 daily drawings of her dog. These drawings vividly and attentively chronicle playful interactions and daily activities, capturing the essence of the artist’s cherished moments with her pet. The space also exhibits the dog’s personal items, and careful observers might notice paw prints on the walkway, enhancing the sensation of stepping into a world where the dog is an integral part of the artist’s personal and creative life.
The third floor is divided into two main zones. Walking up the stairs, viewers will encounter the first zone where the artist’s simulated studio space reveals itself. Designed to create a comfortable and warm atmosphere, the room evokes the feel of a genuinely lived and worked in a space. The room is cluttered with various tools and collectibles, yet everything is organized meticulously. To the left, visitors will find twelve pieces of the artist’s work created using the risograph technique, inspired by her experiences during traveling. Nene had previously sold these works as posters at art fairs.
In the second zone, located to the left of the stairs, the front of the room features several of the artist’s sketchbooks on a shelf. These sketchbooks serve as further evidence of the artist’s dedication to documenting small everyday stories and ideas through drawing and sketching, capturing moments like those encountered during her travels. Deeper into this space, the room is segmented into three distinct sections.
The central part of the room is dedicated to the artist’s thesis project from the International Program in Communication Design, Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University. Titled ‘man made extinction’, this work is an animation depicting humanity’s destructive actions that render the earth uninhabitable, looping through past, present, and future times. To the right, several sheets of paper and sketchbooks spread out on a table signify the commencement of a new animation project, showcasing the artist’s rigorous commitment to research and methodical data organization.
In the final section on the left side of the room, the artist utilizes a distinctive technique that involves drawing on canvas with pens. This area showcases representations of various organs depicted as functioning cities, such as a brain segmented into different departments, effectively mirroring her fascination with biology through the medium of art.
On the fourth floor, the exhibition primarily features an array of older works centered around themes of ‘still life’ or ‘daily life objects.’ These pieces incorporate everyday items from the artist’s life, offering playful interpretations on surfaces like paper bags. To enhance the viewer’s experience, the artist has deliberately curated an atmosphere reminiscent of an art classroom. By arranging commonplace items in the center of the room and encouraging viewers to draw, she fosters a space where the diverse drawing styles of different individuals can be observed and appreciated.
Those interested in delving deeper into NNENE.IIE’s work can come and visit the exhibition at KINJAI CONTEMPORARY, running from March 30th to April 28th, 2023. The gallery is easily accessible by MRT, with Sirindhorn station being the closest stop. The exhibition is open from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.