At the Thai National Pavilion, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture has invited Kamol Tassananchalee to welcome visitors to reflect upon the theme of the 56th Biennale di Venezia, "All the Worlds Futures"
The Artist & the Concept
The Representative for Thailand at the 56th la Biennale di Venezia, Dr. Kamol Tassananchalee in the Thai National Pavilion.
Thai National Artist, Dr. Kamol Tassananchalee has chosen for the theme of his presentation at the 56th la Biennale di Venezia the four primary elements of nature, Earth, Air, Fire & Water.
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.
Artist, Kamol Tassananchalee (2015) by Photo; Wattanachot TungatejaThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
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.
The Art & the Exhibition
Stainless Steel, Aluminium & Neon Lights are the materials supporting the images representing Earth, Air, Fire & Watter
These large Sculptures, presented in the Thai National Pavilion are metaphors for Time and the World.
Gallery 1 and 2, Four Elements, Earth, Air, Fire & Water, Series #7, #9, # ,#10 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
In many classical world views four basic elements are believed to constitute the essential components of which everything consists. Earth, Air, Fire & Water.
Gallery 1, Series #7, #9, #12.5, #8 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Wattanachot TungatejaThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Gallery 1, Four Elements, Series # 9, #12.5 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
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.
Progressive manifestations of the world evolve through the interactions of its fundamental elements.
In Buddhist philosophy the four elements are viewed not as substances but rather as categories of sensory experience.
Four Elements Series #8, # 14 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Light and shadow play a central roll in these works. Illuminated with ambient and tinted, shaped, neon lights, the laser and hydro-cut compositions of elemental symbols are irradiated in the metal plates projected and cast.
The use of hi-tech processes, such as Hydro and Laser-Cutting the Aluminium and Stainless Steel in producing these images, is representative of technology and its developmental role in the world's futures.
Detail View, Four Elements Series #7 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
The lightning-bolt shaped, tinted, neon lights represent
fire and technology and also symbolize the world's futures.
Four Elements Series #11 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
The ink roller, a recurring motif in the art of Tassananchalee, who has a graduate degree in Printmaking, symbolizes in the current context cyclical time and the world.
The Triangular shaped rollers are abstractions created for compositional variation and contrast.
Gallery 2, Four Elements, Series #15, #10, #14 (2014/2015) by Kamol Tassananchalee Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Printmaking was also employed in the development of imagery for the sculpture as exemplified by the two Woodcuts in Gallery 2.
During the installation several sculptures were reconfigured to accommodate the gallery environment. An example, Series #10, the rollers handle was repositioned and the lighting was changed.
Gallery 3, Four Elements Series #13 (2014) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Gallery 3 includes a variety of compositional variations and materials, including Series #13 which extends the length of the gallery and Series #4 & #11 made of hydro-cut copper.
Gallery 3 also includes the large Painting, Series #16.
Four Elements, Earth, Air, Fire & Water, Series #16 (2015) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
The large, four panel, acrylic painting in Gallery 3, Series # 16 was done in one 4 hour session, after the completion of the sculpture, in response to the totality of the imagery of the sculptures.
Roller with Lightning / Roller with Wind (2013) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Laser-cut stencil compositions in the sculptures cast images, representing the Four elements, in the manner of the ancient Thai Shadow Puppet, another recurring motif in the artists oeuvre.
Another reference to his Printmaking background, Copper, a traditional material used in Etching and Engraving, has been used in two of the sculptures.
People & the Installation
Some of the people involved with the Thai Pavilion and the installation of the exhibition. The Curator & Artist
Artist Kamol Tassananchalee meeting Marina Bertoldini & Fabio Marafatto (2015) by Photo; StaffThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Kamol Tassananchalee meeting Marina Bertoldini, Presedent of Concilio Europeo dell' Arte and Fabio Marafatto, Director of Paradiso Limited, hosts of The Thai National Pavilion at Paradiso Gallery
la Biennale di Venezia Curator, Okwui Enwezor, meeting Artist; Kamol Tassananchalee (2015) by Photo; Anuchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Kamol is introduced to Okwui Enwezor, Curator of the 56th la Biennale di Venezia, by Marina Bertoldini, Presedent of Concilio Europeo dell' Arte in Paradiso Gallery during installation of Kamol's show.
Curator, la Biennale di Venezia; Okwui Enwezor, visiting the Pavilion (2015) by Photo; Aunchai SecharunputongThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
National Artist, Kamol Tassananchalee, Curator, Richard David Garst and la Biennale Curator, Okwui Enwezor.
Artist & Staff (2015) by Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Assistant Curator; Pongdej Chaiyakut, Curator; Richard David Garst, Artist; Kamol Tassananchalee & Artist Assistant; Peerapong Doungkeaw
Artist & Staff (2015)Thailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Artist Assistant; Wattanachot Tungateja, Artist; Kamol Tassananchalee, Journalist; Rossalin Garst, Artist Assistant; Peerapong Doungkeaw & Assistant Curator; Pongdej Chaiyakut.
Staff (1015) by Photo; Wattanachot TungatejaThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Artist Assistant; Trirat Sriburin, Assistant Curator; Pongdej Chaiyakut, Photographeer; Anuchai Secharunputong, Artist Assistant; Surapong Sudasna Na Ayudhya, Graphic Designer; Techa Tungateja
Kamol Tassananchalee, Peerapong Doungkeaw, Wattanachot Tungateja, Surapong Sudasna Na Ayudhya,
Anuchai Secharunputong
Staff Assembling #8 (2015) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Constructing the Plinth (2015) by Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Artist Assistant; Trirat Sriburin, Graphic Designer; Techa Tungateja, Artist Assiatant; Surapong Sudasna Na Ayudhya
Staff Assembling Four Elements Series #16 (2015) by Kamol Tassananchalee, Photo; Rossalin GarstThailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Artist & Staff in front of Thai Pavilion, Paradiso Gallery (2015)Thailand - Biennale Arte 2015
Staff; Techa Tungateja, Pongdej Chaiyakut, Wattanachot Tungateja, Anuchai Secharunputong, Rossalin Garst, Nuansri Tassananchalee, Somporn Phanthong, Kamol Tassananchalee, Peerapong Doungkeaw, Trirat Sriburin, Surapong Sudasna Na Ayudhya, PanidaThothong, Somchai Samutvongviriya
This a short biographical documentary about National Artist of Thailand, and Thai Representative to the 56th La Biennale di Venezia, Kamol Tassananchalee.
Thai Pavilion
Paradiso Gallery
Giardini della Biennale, Castello 1260
Commissioner:
Chai Nakhonchai
Director-General, Office of Contemporary Art and Culture
Artist:
Kamol Tassananchalee
Curator:
Richard David Garst
Assistant Curator:
Pongdej Chaiyakut
Artist Assistants:
Peerapong Doungkeaw
Wattanachot Tungateja
Trirat Sriburin
Surapong Sudasna Na Ayudhya
Journalist:
Rossalin Garst
Photographer:
Anuchai Secharunputong
Graphic Designer:
Techa Tungateja
Coordinator in Thailand:
Somporn Phanthong
Coordinator in Italy:
Jirinrat Kongkamnerd
