MEDITATION AND MONSTERS
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The Bangkok Triennale's winning print and drawing take on life's essence and hell's secrets
Thailand’s Boonmee Sangkhum and Poland’s Cyprian Bielaniec won grand prizes in the third Bangkok Triennale International Print and Drawing Contest.
“Buddhist philosophy is the main inspiration in my art,” says Boonmee, 37, a Silpakorn University graduate who won for his abstract print “Essence, Truth, Reality No 13”.
“According to Buddhism, all things are driven by the power of origin and factors that influence specific situations. This universal truth reflects an understanding of both nature and life, and meditation on this will lead us to the peaceful hereafter.”
Boonmee most recently won first prize in the eighth Kochi International Triennial Exhibition of Prints in Japan.
Bielaniec’s dream-like drawing “Hell and Heaven” is typical of his combination of “incompatible realities and materials”.
“In this work I set out the extremes – reality and secrecy – that are recognised by many religions,” says Bielaniec, an winner of many awards in Poland. “The mystery of hell and heaven exceeds the human capacity of understanding and imagination. Despite this, I’m trying to get closer to the mystery in the form of old monsters from European paintings of the 15th and 16th centuries.”
The Triennial exhibition at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre features more than 200 prints and drawings by finalists, as well as video presentations on how to create prints.
ON SHOW
- The works are on display at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre until July 29.
- Find out more by calling the BACC at (02) 214 6630-8, extension 520, and Silpakorn University at (02) 849 7564.
