Happiness cannot be simulated (from 'Silent No More' series)

The sharply realistic drawings, paintings and conceptual works of Paphonsak La-or (Thailand b.1981) critique Thai politics and history. His ‘Silent No More’ series features empty landscapes around Fukushima and Futaba in Japan — areas abandoned following the 2011 nuclear disasters.

Viewing the terrain obsessively through Google Maps, La-or discovered a connection between his fascination with these quiet, uninhabitable landscapes and his frustration with the political situation in Thailand.

Finding similarities between the beautiful, lush landscapes of Japan and those around his hometown of Chiang Mai, La-or emphasises the contradictions between the apparently peaceful scenes and the turbulent situations they represent.

Each painting in the series bears text painted with dust, conveying a sense of unease and distrust, and further undermining the idyllic tranquility portrayed.

Exhibited in 'The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT8) | 21 Nov 2015 – 10 Apr 2016