TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

9 August – 3 September 2017, Bangkok CityCity Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

“To Whom It May Concern” is an inquiry, an initiation of a dialogue with someone who we do not exactly know, and for this show it is the dictum followed by Judha Su in its curation and formation. Su, a writer and curator, proposed this collaborative exhibition as a critical examination of and response to the ongoing dialogues about art within Thailand. Selected artists were asked to submit a response to this proposal, resulting in an exhibition that features both Thai artists and international art & cultural practitioners. Together with these individuals, audiences are invited to examine and partake in a process of transferring and forwarding, of exchanging dialogues, of learning to embrace limitations and failures. This exhibition is the gallery’s second non-commercial show.

What are values and gestures of writing about art in the realm of artistic production and exhibition making? To what extent thinking and writing become a driving force for the production of art? Is it probable that the act of writing is transferred into responsibilities and questions leading to no tangible goal? How (much) you value and acknowledge this intangible work?

These are initial inquiries for To Whom It May Concern project, an extensive part of the research project about the practices of art criticism by Judha Su who started to realise the missing or trivialised method in the artistic process and in the discourse of the development of art as a whole. The phrase “To Whom It May Concern” is generally used by a letter writer to address people whom are not exactly known or clearly identified. For this project, this phrase is employed as its title to imply something obscure as well as to seek people who are concerned about this issue. It is thus an examination of criticality and of dialogues about art in Thai context, and an experiment on overarching concept to open more entrances for thinking and critical inquires about art.

This group exhibition To Whom It May Concern brings artists together to translate issues they are concerned: Kittisak Chonthong; Chulayarnnon Siriphol; Namfon Udomlertlak; Nuttapon Sawasdee; Pisitakun Kuntalang and Sina Wittayawiroj, will interpret the initial concept of the project into their individual works, and open various entrances for audiences to dialogue.

Along with collaborations with artists, art & cultural practitioners from different locations: Elaine W. Ho, from Homeshop (Beijing) and Display Distribute (Hong Kong); Jong Pairez from Radio Kosaten (Tokyo); and School of Improper Education from KUNCI Cultural Studies Centre (Yogyagarta); will carry out the collaboration based on their discursive practices.

Hello Monday, Malign Euphoria
The Newspapers compiled here will be replaced daily. You may choose to cut an image or text from these newspapers, then paste it on the white wall in front of you. You can create a story of your own or form a dialogue with the existing collage on the wall.

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