Art that’s not for sleeping
The sixth edition of Hotel Art Fair, which brought together galleries, local and international artists and collectors under the roof of W Bangkok, has been declared a massive success by both art lovers and artists.
“A piece of art is more than an item to generate a pleasant ambience. It is a thought-provoking medium for people to engage in conversations and cultivate their own perceptions of the world. To buy art is to express gratitude to the artists for using their creativity to generate a piece that reflects their thoughts of the world,” noted Yoichi Nakamuta from Clear Gallery Tokyo, one of this year’s participating galleries.
“There has never been a more perfect time to break boundaries. In times of increasing division between beliefs, political parties and factions in our society, we need to build more bridges instead of walls. Art is a universal language and has the power to communicate ideas that may otherwise be unfamiliar or difficult to empathise with. In my work, besides moving beyond the 2D/static medium, I use interactivity to explore the concept of polar opposites and the coexistence between the two: black, white, and all the grey areas in between,” commented Purin Phanichphant, a digital artist who showcased his playful, interactive art that blurs the line between viewers and the digital world.
Celebrity guest curators Nithi Sthapitanonda, the founder and owner of A49 architecture firm, demonstrated his signature pen and ink drawings to Thai architects and students, while Pranitan Phornprapha, brought his passion for art and music to life in an installation that reflected the spirit of Wonderfruit, the festival he founded in 2014.
Spectrum, a collaboration project by the Autistic Thai and Na Kittikoon Foundation, showcased extraordinary artworks created by autistic children.
More than 30 leading galleries and independent artists took part in this year’s event including Richard Koh Projects, Artemis Art, L+/Lucie Chang Fine Arts, The Drawing Room Project, Korea Tomorrow, Clear Gallery Tokyo, AA Gallery, Core Design Gallery and B-Gallery as well as local ones such as Number 1 Gallery, Joyman Gallery, S.A.C. Gallery, La Lanta Fine Art, and Gallery Seescape.
The fair was organised on the theme of “Breaking Boundaries” – a reference to art’s ability to seek and to express human emotions by defying expectations and continuously evolving.
“Breaking Boundaries means blending and blurring the line. That’s especially the case when it comes to art, design and creativity. Labels are beginning to carry less and less significance when it comes to the work people are producing. Everything is now integrated. That means one must step out of his/her comfort zone, forget the old ways of labelling things, and start exploring new territory,” said Vorathit Kruavanichkit, creative director of organiser Farmgroup.
“We think that the rest of the world needs to recognise Asia as an art destination,” added Phathaiwat Changtrakul, art curator of Farmgroup.
