The Uncertainty of Existence
The Uncertainty of Existence
Artists: Ditapong Boonsanong, Ong-arj Loeamornpagsin, Suwit Maprajuab
Curator: Nim Niyomsin
So Gallery @Chang Chui, 14 October – 25 November 2018
The human mind always wonders back toward our own existence, our position within the universe. In The Uncertainty of Existence, three artists are getting together for the first time to reflect on this concept and express it through artistic media. Through his unique painting technique on zinc plate, Ditapong Boonsanong focuses on an undeniable state of reality, a natural cycle, that always has a beginning and an unavoidable ending. Suwit Maprajuab uses discarded chemical barrels as he questions the value of an object at each stage of existence. His work depicts living things while telling the story of human greed. Ong-arj Loeamornpagsin aims to display the ‘moment’, to capture and present each single moment in life amongst a constant stream of change.
Full Concept
Throughout history, upon looking up at the vast star-filled sky and realizing how miniscule life is, the human mind always wonders back toward our own being, our position within the universe. Life is fleeting and in comparison to the world we live in, it seems so insignificant. Eastern and Western philosophers have been trying to understand and define our existence. One school of thought is to point to its vulnerability, its state of constant change and impermanence.
In Buddhism, three marks of existence are one of the main principles and its foundation. They are three characteristics of all existence and being, including Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (unsatisfactory) and Anatta (non-self). This teaching is to remind us that nothing is certain nor truly belongs to us, and to let go. This concept of the transitory is not only found in Eastern wisdom but is also mirrored in Western ideology. ‘No man ever steps in the same river twice’ was a phrase derived from the teachings of Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher. His concept of becoming, comes with the notion that the only constant in life is change. Everything is in the state of flux.
In The Uncertainty of Existence, three artists are getting together to reflect on this concept and express it through artistic media.
Ditapong Boonsanong focuses on an undeniable state of reality, a natural cycle, that always has a beginning and an unavoidable ending. Through his unique painting technique on zinc plate, he presents us with rusted conditions, a state of decay that all living and non-living things have to confront.
Suwit Maprajuab chose to use discarded chemical barrels as his main material as he questions the value of an object at each stage of existence. His work depicts living things while telling the story of human greed. To acquire wealth, humans use chemicals that affect the environment. How we can be so clueless, when at the end we can’t take anything with us and that nature will outlive all.
Ong-arj Loeamornpagsin aims to display the ‘moment’, to capture and present each single moment in life amongst a constant stream of change. Nothing is fixed or permanent. He reminds us that what we hold on to dearly as oneself is only momentary, an incomplete part of the whole that we can hardly comprehend.
This exhibition will make audiences ponder upon life, the state of being and existence. What we would do when we know that our presence in this world is temporary and unpredictable, choosing to let things go or try to make our brief existence count.
About Artist
Ditapong Boonsanong
Ditapong Boonsanong received Master of Fine Arts from Silpakorn University. His works are reminiscent of times past. Well known for his technique – oil and acid on zinc plates – Boonsanong’s artworks are a result of the controlled and the uncontrollable.
He has exhibited and won numerous contemporary art awards including Decay, Black Box (Sevana), Bangkok (2018), Blemish, Chamchuri Art Gallery, Bangkok (2013), Poetic Bangkok, La Lanta Fineart, Bangkok (2011), Second Prize, supporting awards from Krung Thai Bank, the 52nd National Art Exhibition (2006), First Prize Winner, the 5th Panasonic Contemporary Art Competition (2003), Grand Prize Winner, the 6th Phillip Morris’s Thailand Art Cempetition, (1999) and The 6th ASEAN Selected Art Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur (1999).
Ong-arj Loeamornpagsin
A graduate from Silpakorn University, Ong-arj Loeamornpagsin is a sculpture and a painter. He is well known for expressing artistic beauty through his grotesque signature character. His work relates to human nature, social condition and political discourse.
His work has been exhibited internationally and nationally including The Way of the Flesh, G13 Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2018), Freedom Lost, Performance art at The Democracy Monument, Bangkok (2018), Show on the screen, Saatchi Gallery, London (2018), Thai, Sathorn11 Art Space, Bangkok (2016), No absolute truth in the universe, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Bangkok (2013), Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Hong Kong (2012), Art Taipei 2011, Taipei (2011).
Suwit Maprajuab
Suwit Maprajuab is currently a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Bunditpatanasilpa Institute. He received Master of Fine Arts from Silpakorn University. He uses found objects and discarded materials, such as chemical barrels, to create beautiful art pieces. His works confronts contemporary issues like capitalism and environmental problems.
Maprajuab has exhibited and won numerous awards including The 17th Silpa Bhirasri Creativity Grants exhibition (2018), Time Lapse : When did I begin?, Numthong Gallery, Bangkok (2017), Premium Art, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2016), Enjoy this moment, Baan Tuek Art Center, Chiang Mai (2015), First Prize, Gold Medal, Sculpture Section, The 52nd National Exhibition of Art Thailand (2006), Young Thai Artist Award 2005’s Grand Prize winner from SiamCement Foundation (Sculpture) (2005)