Exhibition

The Grotesque of Krungthep

Exhibition by Tanakorn Sittiracha

13rd August - 6th September 2015

For his debut solo exhibition, emerging artist Tanakorn Sittiracha installs a series of vibrant fiberglass sculptures that caricature the physical and psychological dispositions of Bangkok’s inhabitants coping with life in the urban sprawl. In a city that devotes little attention to functional public art, seek out Tanakorn’s bold fluorescent figures and take a perch to momentarily lift your spirits from the grind of Bangkok.

A native of Pathumthani province, the 29-year-old artist has created exaggerated expressive bust portraits that grimace and frown like contemporary grotesques or gargoyles. Reminiscent of cartoon characters, the floor-based heads are stunted and drag themselves along in a parody to the perceived fast pace of city living. Captured from street-side sketches of daily commuters, his disgruntled morose looking visages are an indicator to the misapprehension that greater technology and infrastructure ease the burden of everyday existence.
Tanakorn’s fatigued faces encourage inner reflection and a re-evaluation on why we populate urban centres. The vexed citizens are contrary to the romantic notion of Thailand as ‘The Land of Smiles’, yet they conveniently offer whimsical respite to the weary as functioning seats to be installed around public spaces in downtown.

Tanakorn (b. 1986) holds a BA in Fine Art from Rangsit Univeristy and an MA from Silpakorn University. He has participated in group exhibitions in Thailand and has received a special prize in the “Bring Good Life” Competitive Art Exhibition organised by Toshiba (2012).

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