TOWARDS THE FIGURELESS

About the exhibition

Dusadee Huntrakul, Nuttapon Sawasdee, and Latthapon Korkiatarkul are a new wave of artists who possess numerous creative techniques, practices and styles from concepts to artistic media. All three share the same interests in ways of representation, thinking methods and the interpretation behind abstract paintings, which led to the ‘Whenever we don't know how to call them, We will call them "Towards the Figureless" exhibition.

Originating from his passion for Goregrind music, Nuttapon Sawasdee’s work represents the same impetus and force as in his favorite music. Sawasdee’s painting uses strong colors with complex and striking brushstrokes, resulting in fascinating works that express his emotions and feelings. 

Through aspects of his work, Latthapon Korkiatarkul employs a painting process that connects and represents the objects and materials used in his creations. His artistic style is to reflect and depict their visual images through the painting format.

For Dusadee Huntrakul, abstract art is ‘information’ with ready-to-communicate messages. Through its materials and arrangement, artwork can lead to an ideological milestone and can provide information regarding origin and possibility. Based on a collage technique, Huntrakul’s artistic process and symbolic meaning signify the instant of destruction of an old space and the creation of a new one.

Artists Statement

Dusadee Huntrakul

I believe that abstract art is information ready to be communicated. Through their materials and arrangement, works can act as a milestone or a map that helps lead the way, unraveling situations within a community, group, environment, technology, ideology, idealism or other contexts. My work fits in this notion. It acts as information providing the origin and possibilities.

Latthapon Korkiatarkul

Painting is one of the first art medias I learned. The study process was not just to gain the necessity skills but to understand the physical aspect, nature and quality of the materials involved: from types of paint, brands, difference surfaces - canvas, wood board, paper, etc. Each one has a unique quality that can be utilized in different circumstances.

Additionally, studying painting also includes an in-depth understanding of a painting’s subject matter whether they are objects, models or photographs. This means not only interpreting its physical form but comprehending its meaning, content and context. In my opinion, this process is how we learn to connect to the subject matter, to understand an object and the world we live in, from a personal point of view, and represent it in the form of painting. 

Someone once asked me, what is abstract painting? At the time, I was unable to provide a clear answer but I was certain that it was not just merely a formless and figureless painting that solely emphasizes emotional expression. For me, abstract painting is the way we can represent form and thoughts about an object. It is also how we can represent our thinking process through painting in the most honest and direct way.

When I paint, what I am trying to represent are the materials used in my creativity or, sometimes, I just let the materials speak for themselves. For example, when a piece of paper is covered with oil, the result is a transparent piece of paper showing fibre as its component. Each paper always results in a unique effect, even though it is the same type of material that has gone through an identical process. The result will then be accentuated using colors, pencils, or other objects to create an image. Personally, I see my work more as a representation of materials than simply a painting.

Nuttapon Sawasdee

Reek of Putrefaction is the name of an album by a well-known English band, Carcass, who was a pioneer of a musical genre called Goregrind. Their lyrics, music and album covers were created specifically for their bloodthirsty fan base. Lyrics were full of complex vocabulary (borrowing from medical technical terms). Music was fast paced and low-pitched. More importantly, the album cover was made from a collage of corpses’ images collected from medical magazines. All of these aspects first drew my attention to the band back when I was young, standing in front of a legendary music shop, Jae Ju (เจ๋จู) at Pantip Plaza. A nasty cover and complex lyrics were very attractive to my younger self and I did not hesitate while grabbing money from my pocket to pay for the album.

Time passed and I had lost touch with those feelings until I discovered and started painting. Then the same drive I felt while listening to this music resurfaced through the act of painting. The complexity of the force, feeling and expression are represented through the paint on canvas.

About Artists

Dusadee Huntrakul

(b. 1978, Bangkok) Dusadee Huntrakul wants to send ready-to-communicate messages through his works. Previous works express poignantly expresses humanity’s desire to re-write the traumas of the past. He is inspired by anthropology and explores ethnography. The artist borrows from sources as diverse as primal or tribal art as well as from contemporary art. His works gain symbolic meaning through disintegrating the old into creating something new. Works’ media he uses include sculpture, drawings as well as works on paper like collages. Dusadee’s most recent show was at Chan+Hori Gallery in Singapore and his works have been shown at Nichido Contemporary Art, Japan; Oakland Museum of California, USA, as well as at Osage Gallery, Hong Kong, Palais De Tokyo, Paris/France, Mori Art Museum and The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan. He participated in the Singapore Biennale in 2013 and has exhibited at ICAS LaSalle in Singapore in 2015. Dusadee graduated with a Bachelor in Arts from UCLA in Los Angeles and Master of Fine Arts from the UC Berkeley in California, USA.

Latthapon Korkiatarkul

(b. 1988) lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand. Latthapon’s works are conceptual in nature. He is interested in exploring what makes an object become art. The artist uses ever changing techniques to change the appearance of everyday  objects and tries to deconstruct the fine line that distinguishes them from works of art. Latthaphon’s most recent solo exhibition was shown at VER Gallery, Bangkok. His works have also been exhibited in Bangkok/Thailand notably at Centre of Academic Resources Chulalongkorn University, Whitespace Gallery, YenakArt Gallery as well as at Bangkok University Gallery and at Silapakorn University. Latthapon’s works have also been shown in Singapore and Hong Kong. The artist holds a Bachelor degree in Fine and Applied Art from Bangkok University, Thailand.

Nuttapon Sawasdee

(b. 1989) lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand. Nuttapon believes that each field of study has different learning. His understanding of art, experimenting with ideas and practice are deeply related and strongly influenced by his experiences with politics in Thailand due also to his studies at the department of Government, Faculty of Political Science, Ramkhamhaeng University. Most recently the artist has shown his works at a solo exhibition at Bangkok University Gallery. Notable collaboration projects and group exhibitions include shows at Tadu Gallery, Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, YenakArt Gallery, Art Centre Silapakorn University in Thailand, Rockbund Museum Shanghai in China and Galerie Steph in Singapore. Nuttapon participated in the Kuandu Biennale in Taiwan Awards won by Nut include the Youngthai artist award and the Brandnew art project in 2013. The artist holds a Bachelor degree in Visual art from Bangkok University, Thailand.