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Elemental: Thailand Artist Exchange
Cal Poly hosts three artists-in-residence from Bangkok, Thailand November 5 through November 10. The residence is a precursor to the exhibition, Elemental: Thailand Artist Exchange, opening November 12 and continuing through December 5th. Elemental is an international art exchange and exhibition between six Thai artists and five California Artists.
The public is invited to a free opening reception Thursday, November 12, from 6pm to 8pm at the University Art Gallery. Following a special ceremony, the artists from Silpakorn University in Bangkok will give a walk through and explain the process and concepts behind their artworks.
The three artists from Thailand are: Associate Professor Prasert Pichayasoonthorn, a mixed media and installation artist; Associate Professor Nawin Biadklang, a painter; and Lecturer Ms. Prapakorn Sukonthamanee, a textile and fabric artist. The artists will spend five days creating art in and around the department. The public is encouraged to come watch, visit, and interact with the artists.
This event is the culmination of a yearlong collaboration between artists who have joined together to create new work in Thailand and California. The exhibition is part of an international art exchange program organized by the Department of Art and Design at Cal Poly and Silpakorn Universities Art Centre. This exchange has a twelve-year history and produced exhibitions in Bangkok, Hanoi, Los Angeles, San Jose, and here at Cal Poly.
The first part of this year’s exchange began in August 2009, when five artists from the United States traveled to Bangkok and participated in a workshop/residency at Silpakorn Universitie’s Art Centre. Five American artists attended, including Department Chair Sky Bergman, Professor Michael Barton Miller, and Assistant Professor Tera Galanti of Cal Poly, along with two artists from Southern California, Professor Marie Thibeault from Cal State University, Long Beach, and HK Zamani, from Long Beach City College. Associate Professor Sone Simitrang and Art Centre Associate Director Sasivimol Santiratpakdee hosted the workshop. The theme of the Bangkok exhibition was “Water,” and its relationship to the global environment. Each artist interpreted this theme in diverse ways choosing metaphoric, symbolic, and literal interpretations.
The University Art Gallery is located in the Dexter Building, Room 171. The exhibit is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alway Free.