The 'Cobalt Blue' Group's Exhibition: 26th Century: Self Examination

Although there are and have been numerous artist's groups in Thailand, very few have had any real direction or longevity, disbanding as rapidly as they have formed. Artists have a tendency for solitude, so why is there this trend for organising en masse, what can it achieve, and why so fleeting? One of the few groups to stand the test of time is 'Cobalt Blue', who after a three year break are exhibiting their latest efforts at the National Gallery throughout June, 1999.

The group first exhibited back in 1994 when their ranks were limited to the three founding members, who were bound together through friendship, study and private commission work. This revolved around several large scale mural projects for hotels such as The Oriental and Shangri La, as well as futuristic space scenes for laser gun game stages. From their mutual education base of Silpakorn, the three students which included front man Thawan Praman, were encouraged by one of their teaching mentors to hold a group show.Thus Cobalt Blue in its embryonic format, was founded. Their name derives from the colour pigment which they consider to be the predominant base colour in all painting, symbolic of purity and uniqueness. It's also a prevalent colour surrounding us in nature, above in the sky and covering most of the planet as water. As Thawan reiterates, "It's a precious colour. In the past it was very rare and difficult to find, so it was really expensive."

"Initially we were thinking a lot about art and nature, trying to relate our work to this subject."In its infancy Cobalt Blue was very lucid in structure and direction, with each artist having his own agenda and criteria. As the group has expanded over the years, so the objectives and philosophy have also mutated. Currently with a membership of eight, it has been necessary to bring in some kind of common ground that could be drawn on as a focal point. This was why a thematic title was used for the next two exhibitions. This mutual concern over concept has been a development that Cobalt Blue considers fundamental to its direction and momentum. Thawan backs this up, "The subject should be something that allows our members to contribute towards society, not just individual expression. I think this is the real progression in our group."In 1996 the topic 'City' was chosen as their motif, and in the latest conjunction at the National the notion of the '26th Century: Self Examination' has been resolved upon.

This is a reaction to the growing euphoria and anticipation as the Christian calendar counts down to the new millennium. It also highlights Western dominance and its growing saturation upon Asian culture. As Thawan points out, "Next year is the 21st century but in Buddhism we are now in the middle of the 26th century. We are trying to view the world and our society through our own context, our own system. It will also remind people that the system be it Christian or Buddhist, is just a system, actually an illusion."Apart from laying down some thematic perimeters, Thawan explains how else Cobalt Blue functions on a practical level, especially the necessity for communication, interaction and critique within their forum. "We have meetings at least once a month, although informally it's a lot more often than that. We work quite separately, everyone has their own studio space. When we have a meeting we bring in what we're working on and discuss it together. Sixty percent of which is smooth and friendly and 40% is quite critical but conducted in a friendly atmosphere. We want people who can share ideas and talk the same language and understand one another. We look for some kind of standard, the quality of the work and the seriousness of the artist."

In the five years since formation four artists have left the group, mainly due to artistic differences or commercial interests leaving little time to devote to the group. The current ensemble consists of original members Thawan and Opas Cotiphantawanon, as well as Suthi Kunawitchayanon, Chalit Nakpawan, Kumsak Atipiboonsin, Suthart Nimchalern, Alongkorn Lanwattana, and Thanomchit Chomwong. The new affiliates have bolstered their force and the group feels it has grown more potent over time, explicated by their spokesman Thawan, "The group has become stronger in terms of the artists that have joined, the variety and quality of the work, the increase in our numbers and the amount of people that have heard of us. We're also very close friends."

Cobalt Blue consider themselves fairly conventional in their use of medium, concentrating on painting, sculpture, and mixed media. This reflects individual artistic preferences, although they're eager to encourage experimentation within the group. This will hopefully become evident in each artist's visualisation of the 26th Century: Self Examination concept. Thawan himself is hanging a 36 piece painting installation revolving around how the practice of Buddhism in modern Thailand has become very distorted. Its practitioners have lost their way and become obsessed with material fulfillment, ruled by greed.

Whereas in Suthi Kunawitchayanon's computer installation, the artist prefers to look internally, examining the duality and conflict within his own persona; the irrational and rational, material and spiritual - yin and yang.The popularity for forming artistic groups within Thailand is dictated by the constraints of operation which are forcing the methodology of many aspiring Thai artists. Galleries much prefer to display a composite collection, rather than risking all on a solo expose' of a relatively unknown artist. Many younger artists have not yet built up a sufficient body of work to warrant an individual exhibit, so by organisng as 'one' they can gain valuable experience, as well as taking that first step up the ladder to hopeful infamy.

Also, in an education system that is extremely slow and unadventurous in its nurturing of artistic talent (especially from a conceptual stance), it gives peers the opportunity for intercourse and exchange of ideas. Yet artists are as fickle, and possibly even more egotistical, than any social sect, which in part explains why numerous groups have dissipated as quickly as they were conceived. Thawan agrees, "Artists are self-centered. In their younger years they're more easy going and can work in a group, but as they get older they develop more of their own agenda and interests."The Cobalt Blue group exhibit 26th Century: Self Examination at the National Gallery from Jun 5-30. 1999.