A sting in the tail

An image of a large snake that has apparently swallowed an entire turtle went viral on the social networks recently along with rumours that this was a portent of things to come.

However, netizens would have done well to look a little more closely at the photo before jumping to conclusions: the snake and the large lump stuck in its gullet is in fact a sculpture and it, along with eight other works artist Chatchawan Amsomkid are on show in the exhibition titled “Nai Thong Ngoo” (“In the Serpent’s Belly”) at Thavibu Gallery.

Chatchawan finds the reaction to his work amusing. “In fact, the snake hasn’t swallowed a turtle but a ‘pha chee’ – the cone-shaped bamboo cover traditionally used to keep flies away from food,” he explains.

“It wasn’t even intended as a promotional shot,” the 38-year-old adds. 

 “I was transporting all my sculptures from Lat Krabang to the gallery on Silom Road and all of them, except this one, were covered in shockproof bubble wrapping. Because it weighs more than 100 kilograms, we put it on the ground before lifting it up to the fourth floor. This was around noon and office workers in the area were heading out for lunch and stopped to take photos on their smartphones. Some of them were convinced it was a real snake and wouldn’t come close! Anyway, that’s how it ended up on the social media and I can’t say I’m sorry. It was great publicity for my show.”

“In the Serpent’s Belly” is a continuation of his first two solo exhibitions that were designed to communicate to viewers through animal shapes. The first, 2010’s “Breed”, featured sculptures of dogs and was symbolic of the fighting between two political groups. The second, “Khet Apai Than” (“Animal Sanctuary”), with sculptures of dogs, pigs, goats, cats and monitor lizards standing on their own two feet and with their hands together followed in 2011 and was a plea for kindness following the political chaos that saw CentralWorld set alight.

The new show is about politics too but this time addresses the problems of corruption.

“Corruption has a major effect on all our lives but politicians refuse to do anything about it,” says Chatchawan, who has a wife and two children to support. “I feel exhausted after working and am always wondering why I have no money even though I’m far from extravagant.”

His worries about looking after his family have come to the fore in recent years and have influenced the subjects he depicts in his culture. As a 17-year-old, he focused on his parents then moved in his 20s to works about love. When he reached 30, his interest turned to dharma, and today it’s all about making a living.

“In cultures where corruption is a way of life, it isn’t only the politicians who are corrupt but society as a whole. We cannot improve ourselves in a society that teaches us be greedy and materialistic, a society where money is God. To me, the snake symbolises greed, especially the python which can swallow animals its own size,” says Chatchawan.

“One of the pieces shows a snake swallowing a ‘pinto’ [food carrier], which represents the way we consume culture along with our food,” he says.

Others show a snake swallowing a piggy bank and the wide-mouthed bowl in which goldfish swim.

“As the snake swallows the bowl, the goldfish jump out and strive for survival. Swallowing their home is symbolic of the way corruption is swallowing our lives. We’re rather like the goldfish,” he says.

The sculpture of a snake-head fish diving under a welcome mat represents the unrest in Thailand’s south.

“The fish is trying to take refuge from the violence. But even as he slithers under the mat, his head comes to rest on a chopping block,” he says.

Another shows a snake swallowing a television set while a dragonfly holds up the antenna.

“TV has too much influence over people. It’s no longer possible to decide just how much of the news we hear reported is true,” he concludes. 

 

 

Snakes alive!

_ Chatchawan Amsomkid’s sculpture exhibition “In the Serpent’s Belly” is at Thavibu Gallery until July 5.

_ The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm.