Anew Negotiation

Artist list

Apinya Boonprakob, Vinit Koosolmanomai, Panjapol Kulpapangkorn, Tithi Kutchamuch, Taweesak Molsawat, Noon Passama, Rudee Tancharoen, Atinuj Tantivit

This March Bilk Gallery is pleased to invite an exhibition of work by eight contemporary Thai artists, curated by Bow Wasinondh for ATTA Gallery, Thailand's foremost art jewellery gallery. ATTA Gallery is directed by Atinuj (Atty) Tantivit; a contemporary art jeweller, collector and advocate, who seeks to bring the work of Thai artists to a wider audience as well as exposing Thai audiences to the work of international artists.

Bilk Gallery has been showcasing contemporary glass and metal for over 14 years, and is considered one of Australia's leading contemporary art jewellery establishments. Established as Workshop Bilk in 2000 a relocation and renaming in 2010 saw Bilk Gallery emerge in its current location in the heart of Manuka, Canberra, Australia.  

The founding director Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, along with director Mio Kuhnen hold up to nine exhibitions each year consisting of a mix of solo and group shows in glass or metal. The artists are chosen specifically for their individuality of approach, use of materials, recognisable style and commitment to contemporary practice. This March Bilk Gallery is pleased to invite an exhibition of work by eight contemporary Thai artists, curated by Bow Wasinondh for ATTA Gallery, Thailand's foremost art jewellery gallery. ATTA Gallery is directed by Atinuj (Atty) Tantivit; a contemporary art jeweller, collector and advocate, who seeks to bring the work of Thai artists to a wider audience as well as exposing Thai audiences to the work of international artists.
 
Contemporary jewellery is a relatively new concept in Thailand, and as such these artists take credence in their cultural heritage and symbols and incorporate this into their work from new perspectives. With many of the artists travelling to further their education, the works are fresh and often surprising. One of the artists on show will be Tithi Kutchamuch, a graduate of both King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok and The Royal College of Art, London. Kutchamuch’s practice is concerned with translating her own life stories into three dimensional forms, often needing to be connected to a place for the objects to be considered complete. Artist Panjapol Kulpapangkorn is another graduate of King Mongkut’s Institute of Tecnology Ladkrabang and further to this he has received his Masters Degree from Birmingham City University, School of Jewellery, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Kulp’s work draws heavily on memories, and not just from the content of memories, but the notion that a memory can be defined in Kulp’s view as a piece of jewellery in its self. Another artist in the exhibition is Rudee Tancharoen who is an Honours Graduate of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, as well as attending the prestigious Alchimia, in Florence, Italy. Tancharoen explores the idea of distortion in her work. Creating tension and play within her pieces though the act of distortion, an effect often considered undesirable, but to Tancharoen it creates an interesting intersection for potential discussion. These are just a few of the artists whose work will be on display. 

Curator Bow Wasinondh writes that the exhibition “Anew Negotiation: Thai contemporary wearable art walks the viewer through a mixed ground of deliberations:  statements of critical social issues, narrations of personal experiences and conceptual experiments for potential new meanings and forms. With practices driven by varying sources or inspirations, these bodies of work are not subscribed to ‘place’ but always revealing particular cultural sensibilities. Each artist negotiates and communicates personal contents through wearable art.  One selected work is a brooch constructed from a culturally specific symbol and material: a medallion emblazoned with socio-political messages on current cultural crisis. While another work, a daily documentation or ritualistic personal behaviours helps the maker to connect and communicate with his loved one. And another playfully intermixes corporeal materials with humanistic characteristics, in doing so invites the piece to be handled and worn on the body.

Each of the eight artists come from diverse backgrounds and have created respected careers within their field, with seven of the eight still living in Thailand, two are university lectures, three have founded educational jewellery studios, two are independent makers and one runs a contemporary jewellery art gallery.
 
Bilk Gallery is thrilled at the opportunity to show the work of these promising emerging and established contemporary Thai art jewellers to an eager Australian audience in the upcoming exhibition Anew Negotiation: Thai contemporary wearable art.