Earth, Air, Fire & Water
Curators: Richard David Garst and Pongdej Chaiyakut
Known for his fusion of Thai cultural symbolism, concepts and techniques acquired from his education and extensive travels and life in his homeland of Thailand and adopted home, of fifty years, in Southern California, USA, Tassananchalee’s sculptures installed in the pavilion incorporate light, both natural and artificial, to illuminate their cut stencil elements, animating compositions representing the four fundamental elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. In the manner of the ancient Thai Shadow Puppet, a recurring motif in the artist’s oeuvre, the sculptures attempt to invoke the imagination of the audience to envision themselves enveloped in this world of elements and “reflect on both the current “state of things” and the “appearance of things”.
Usually these classical elements relate to ancient philosophical concepts which today are generally compared to the contemporary “states of matter”. The solid state, gaseous state, plasma and liquid state. In Buddhist philosophy the four elements are viewed not as substances but rather as categories of sensory experience.
The concept behind Tassananchalee’s choice of his theme is, that regardless of how far the world has progressed and regardless what paths “All the World’s Futures” may take, the basic constituent elements of life are eternal.
Kamol adds that his 8×5 m sculpture will be installed at the exterior of the pavilion. Although it is intended to be laid on the ground, for the show it will be placed on a base. Inside the pavilion, visitors will see a perforated sculpture with neon lights shining through, symbolising wind, waves and fire.
Having developed the imagry of his concept through mixed media paintings, Tassananchalee morphs his symbols for Earth, Air, Fire & Water into large, hydro and laser-cut, stainless steel, aluminium & neon light sculpture.
Date
InParadiso Gallery, 9 May – 22 November 2015
Press review
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