Monologue/dialogue II

In June, July and August 2006 the British Council launched a major visual arts event in Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate the King of Thailand's 60^th anniversary of his accession to the throne called Monologue/Dialogue UK-Thai Visual Arts Showcase. There were three parts to this event but the part that concerns us here is the collaborative residency and resulting show which was organised by the Thai Curator Ark Fongsmut with the British Council.

Seven of us were invited to participate in a residency in Bangkok and to make work over a two month period resulting in an exhibition in the newly built Bangkok University Gallery (BUG). The UK artists were provided with accommodation in the centre of the city and given studio spaces. The artists selected by Ark worked in a variety of media with diverse approaches. Four British artists and Three Thai artists eventually met in Bangkok's Siam Square in Starbucks in late June 2006 after some careful planning.

As a group of artists it soon became clear that there was plenty of overlap in our world views. The serious dialogue was laced by the amusing exchange of discussion and gossip when we sat down for a meal with spicy exquisite food and was further proof of the international exchange and language that art has become.

The subtle art world in Thailand of which these three Thai artists are leading participants, is an example of how even when cultures are being projected along a rapid path of change they can attempt to find a balance between their own sense of place, history and purpose while being active and creative in the international forward looking dialogue. Naturally this dual way of operating brings to the surface many interesting contradictions.

Having previous experience of Thailand, it was a great pleasure in watching my fellow British artists join me in revelling in and marvelling at the quite spectacular and richly diverse super-modern city that is 21^st Century Bangkok with it's muggy heat, the downpours of monsoon rain, the skyscrapers next to old buildings and temples, the Chao Phraya River and the dense markets. There are some places that are irresistible and the city of Bangkok is one of them.

Monologue/Dialogue II brings the same artists to London from the original show and residency in Thailand (with one change). This time Nipan Oranniwesna will have been artist in resident at the Slade Woburn Research Centre for one month and Panya Vijinthanasarn and Sansern Milindasuta are bringing their work from Thailand for its installation.

Andrew Stahl                                            

February 2008