Thai Artists | Chatchawan Amsomkid
Chatchawan Amsomkid was born in 1976, graduated with a MFA
from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and is currently an
Ass.Prof at the same institution. Marking his
debut solo exhibition, the sculptural installation comprises
resin-moulded canines performing acrobatics that carry
overtones to life’s daily circus. Man’s
best friend, the dog is a prevalent and unavoidable
character to Thai life. Found roaming stray on any street,
or left out to guard an owner’s territory, pooches serve as
both devoted companions and beasts of burden. Trained to
perform on cue, boutique attired, and displayed in photo
albums, in contemporary society where child rearing has
become optional rather than compulsive, dogs have supplanted
as our surrogate offspring. Defined
by breeding and distinctive behavioural traits, particular
canine characteristics provide convenient metaphors to human
personalities. The feral street dog could be analogical to
the poor and down trodden, while pampered imported toy dogs
are characteristic of Bangkok’s indulged urbanites. Against
the current political and social backdrop, where class
distinctions and disparities of wealth have been pushed to
the fore, Chatchawan’s bestial parodies are extremely
pertinent to the heightened societal discord. He has
featured in several group exhibitions, as well as picking up
the bronze (2007, 2009) and silver prizes (2008) in the
Mixed Media category of the annual National Exhibition of
Art. Breed
is the fifth exhibition in the year-long
project, 3D@Thavibu, highlighting three-dimensional art in
Suite 307 of Thavibu Gallery. It is curated
by Steven Pettifor.
