{"id":98545,"date":"2024-09-09T17:44:49","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T10:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/art4d.com\/?p=98545"},"modified":"2024-09-09T17:44:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T10:44:49","slug":"the-closing-event-departed-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/en\/2024\/09\/the-closing-event-departed-revisited","title":{"rendered":"THE CLOSING EVENT \u2018DEPARTED \u2039 \u203a REVISITED\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"font-family: boing-bold; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;\">THE CLOSING CHAPTER OF THE COMMEMORATION OF MONTIEN BOONMA AT THE DHAMMAKOSANA LIBRARY, WAT UMONG, FEATURING THE DOCUMENTARY, DISCUSSION AND RECREATED WORKS BY NAVIN RAWANCHAIKUL<\/span><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/h1>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: relevant-bold; font-size: 12pt;\">TEXT: TUNYAPORN HONGTONG<br \/>\nPHOTO COURTESY OF NAVIN PRODUCTION<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 10pt;\">(For Thai, press <a href=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/2024\/09\/the-closing-event-departed-revisited\">here<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 10pt;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">Four years ago, at the tranquil Wat Umong Meditation Center in Chiang Mai, Navin Rawanchaikul mounted an evocative exhibition titled <a href=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/en\/2021\/01\/departed-revisited\">\u2018<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Departed < > Revisited<\/span>\u2019<\/a> to mark two decades since the passing of Montien Boonma, his beloved mentor and an illustrious figure in the art world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98510 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-16_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">The exhibition opened over the final weekend of 2020, showcasing both reimagined works of Montien by Navin and his team, as well as new works by Navin, crafted as homages to his late teacher. It was a vibrant forum, hosting spirited panel discussions with a cadre of Montien’s contemporaries and acquaintances\u2014artists, curators, professors, and writers\u2014who delved into his artistic legacy and exchanged rich dialogues on the evolving narratives in contemporary art. In collaboration with Montien Atelier, the event extended into the Dharma Riddle Pavilion with a joint exhibit, while a parallel show titled \u2018Becoming Stupa\u2019 was featured at the DC Collection. Navin Production also introduced a comic book, \u2018Guess What’s in the Tunnel?\u2019, encapsulating the storied past of Wat Umong itself (The title \u2018Guess What’s in the Tunnel?\u2019 cleverly alludes to the name of the venue, as ‘Umong’ translates to ‘tunnel’ in Thai). True to Navin’s distinctive style, the exhibition was a full-scale affair.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-98512\" style=\"max-width: 1500px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-94-0 metaslider metaslider-nivo metaslider-98512 ml-slider ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"the closing event - book\">\n <div id=\"metaslider_container_98512\">\n <div class='slider-wrapper theme-default'><div class='ribbon'><\/div><div id='metaslider_98512' class='nivoSlider'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_Book-1_low-res_edit-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Mockups Design\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-98512 slide-98541\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_Book-2_low-res-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Mockups Design\" alt=\"the closing event\" class=\"slider-98512 slide-98515\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_Book-3_low-res-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Mockups Design\" alt=\"the closing event\" class=\"slider-98512 slide-98516\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">However, one ambition that Navin Rawanchaikul had not fulfilled as planned four years ago was the creation of a book dedicated to the works of Montien Boonma. As such the books Navin publishes alongside his exhibitions are envisioned as a companion and as an archive to provide insights for future scholarly pursuits. Navin had actually laid the groundwork for this publication back during the \u2018<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/2019\/04\/memory-palace\">Revisited < > Departed<\/a><\/span>\u2019 exhibit at BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY in 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">By last July, it was disclosed that Navin would orchestrate the closing event for the \u2018Departed < > Revisited\u2019, which would include both a documentary screening and a book launch. It became clear that he would not only finally achieve his initial intention for the project, but also that throughout nearly four years, while engaging in other ventures like the Thailand Biennale, Navin had persistently explored and reflected upon Montien\u2019s artistic legacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98517 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-04_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">This culminating gathering spanned two days, August 16-17, 2023. Day one’s agenda kicked off with a documentary screening at the Dhammakosana Library, Wat Umong, segueing into an afternoon talk. The discussions covered topics on film and book production, the relationship between art and Buddhism (featuring contributions from Pramual Pengchan) , and concluded with a dharma video lecture by the revered Buddhist monk and thinker, Phra Paisal Visalo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">The documentary, spanning 3 hours and 10 minutes, utilizes letters Navin wrote to Montien as its screenplay, weaving a narrative accompanied by images of people from Montien’s life whom Navin and his team had met and conversed with, thereby bringing the stories in the letters to life. Instead of relying solely on Navin’s voiceover, the film invites these individuals to alternately voice the segments of the letters that pertain to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98518 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-07_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">The film progresses in a straightforward manner. But the diverse cast of contributors: artists, curators, gallery owners, notable writers, and skilled yet perhaps unrecognized artists were previously depicted in the artwork \u2018Black Question\u2019 (After Montien Boonma) (2020), created for the \u2018Departed < > Revisited\u2019 exhibit four years earlier. This familiarity makes it easier for the audience to connect with the personal stories, memories, and detailed, tangible images related to Montien.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">As the film stitches together these diverse yet interlinked personal narratives and recollections, my own memories as a viewer, distanced from these stories for four years, were gradually pieced back together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98520 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-11_low-res-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">One particular aspect that captivated my interest the most from watching the documentary was a persistent question that seemed to revolve in Navin’s mind, reflected through the ‘letters’ used as a narrative tool in the film. According to Pramual Pengchan, writing letters provide the most straightforward medium for expressing Navin\u2019s inner thoughts and feelings. This prevailing question touches upon Navin’s own artistic process, especially in this exhibition, which faced significant criticism for recreating Montien’s works. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"metaslider-id-98519\" style=\"max-width: 1500px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-94-0 metaslider metaslider-nivo metaslider-98519 ml-slider ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"the closing event - talk\">\n <div id=\"metaslider_container_98519\">\n <div class='slider-wrapper theme-default'><div class='ribbon'><\/div><div id='metaslider_98519' class='nivoSlider'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-12_low-res-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Departed Revisited_16Aug-12_low res\" alt=\"the closing event\" class=\"slider-98519 slide-98523\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-13_low-res-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Departed Revisited_16Aug-13_low res\" alt=\"the closing event\" class=\"slider-98519 slide-98537\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_16Aug-14_low-res-1500x1000.jpg\" height=\"1000\" width=\"1500\" title=\"Departed Revisited_16Aug-14_low res\" alt=\"the closing event\" class=\"slider-98519 slide-98536\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">The intersection of art and criticism is a well-trodden path, as even Navin’s daughter, embarking on her own artistic journey abroad, faces similar critiques from her peers. This isn’t Navin’s first rodeo with critical scrutiny nor the first time such existential quandaries have surfaced in his artistic and personal odyssey. Perhaps it\u2019s what Worathep Akkabootara, the curator, illuminates in his writings that the endless string of question marks and exclamation marks in Montien’s oeuvre, endlessly linked, imply that every discovery to an answer merely unfurls more questions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">Although Navin hoped this exhibition would be a tribute to the person \u2018who has departed,\u2019 allowing us to \u2018revisit\u2019 and rediscover things we might have overlooked or forgotten, he does not provide a definitive answer to what he has found. Over the two days of the event, there were no reactions, either positive or negative, publicly or privately, to that piece of criticism. However, having followed his artistic trajectory for over two decades, it’s clear that ‘sincerity’ resonates through each of his creations\u2014a sentiment echoing the simple advice he imparts to his daughter about making, that it should, quite simply, \u2018speak to us.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98526 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-01_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-98527 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res.jpg\" alt=\"the closing event\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-660x440.jpg 660w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-373x248.jpg 373w, https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Departed-Revisited_17Aug-06_low-res-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>_<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: rm-regular; font-size: 12pt;\">The installation \u2018The ‘Vipassana-Vessel\u2019 (1993), reconstructed by Navin from Montien Boonma’s original work in 2020, has been permanently installed in the Dharma Riddle Pavilion, alongside the displays of information and archival images from the ‘Departed < > Revisited’ exhibition. Meanwhile, ‘Black Question’ (After Montien Boonma) (2020) has been relocated to an outdoor space at Navin’s StudiOK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navinproduction.com\/\"><span style=\"font-family: boing-bold; font-size: 14pt;\">navinproduction.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NavinProduction\"><span style=\"font-family: boing-bold; font-size: 14pt;\">facebook.com\/NavinProduction<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The closing chapter of the commemoration of Montien Boonma at the Dhammakosana Library, Wat Umong, featuring the documentary, discussion and recreated works by Navin Rawanchaikul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5671,9680],"tags":[5849,6137,6393,8963,18482,23135,23138,23141,23144,23147,23150],"class_list":["post-98545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-update-2","tag-exhibition","tag-documentary","tag-art","tag-art-exhibition","tag-art-installation","tag-montien-boonma-2","tag-navin-rawanchaikul-2","tag-navin-production-studiok-2","tag-montien-atelier-2","tag-becoming-stupa-2","tag-the-closing-event-departed-revisited"],"acf":[],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":98545,"th":98506},"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98545"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98548,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98545\/revisions\/98548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/art4d.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}