MAITREE SIRIBOON

Maitree Siriboon was born in 1983 and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Fine Art from Silapakorn University. He is one of Thailand's leading young artists whose works have been shown extensively in an international context. As a young man hailing from Isan (North-East of Thailand), his focus in the current exhibition is to pay tribute to and use the imagery of the buffalo as a symbol from a cultural and historical perspective. It was the buffalo through its hard work that helped build Thailand into a rice farming nation and then into the modern nation it is today. The artist says: 'Today however, we hardly see buffaloes working in the rice fields, and yet they remain one of the most respected animals in Thailand. Their numbers are decreasing rapidly, and they now have assumed new roles as a decorative item, a family pet, a source of food, and as a cultural icon for tourism purposes'. The buffalo has had lasting influences over Thai culture and beliefs and historically has represented positive attributes. However, in recent times, the buffalo has become a metaphor for many negative attitudes toward people. The word 'buffalo' (kwai in Thai) is often applied to describe someone who is less educated, foolish, stupid, or who is difficult to train. The dichotomy of attitudes towards this important animal is a symbol of changes in Thai society. Maitree Siriboon is a multi-talented artist who does photography, mosaic collages, installations and performances. Maitree often combines his inner childhood memories with contemporary dreams, creating a new imaginary world of beauty using reflective mosaics of coloured glass, the same kind as being used on the outdoor surface of many Thai temples. It is a labour-intensive process since the glass sheets need to be cut into small mosaic pieces and fitted together. Apart from Thai exhibitions he has also been widely exhibited - in Laos, Singapore, France, China, United Kingdom, Cambodia, Korea, USA, Brazil, Japan, Italy, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. He has also been represented at a Biennale in France and a Triennale in China.