THERDKIAT WANGWATCHARAKUL

Typical to Therdkiat’s spatially sensitive compositions are his minimal urban-scapes. Focusing on mundane architectural detailing, weathered cracked concrete walls are penetrated by a partial window frame. Elevating the vernacular to sublimity, the artist draws attention to the subtle interplay of light and shadow, manmade and nature, by which he instils a mood of contemplation and meditation. He also harnesses staining techniques that imbue his canvases with the same metallic veneer of his mainstay aluminium surfaces, Therdkiat is a master at evoking the loneliness of the big city. Despite the over-crowded milieu of the Asian sprawl, often individual citizens’ find themselves isolated and distant from loved ones. In Bangkok Station, Therdkiat refrains from earlier architecturally aligned works to spotlight the daily rituals of the capital’s inhabitants.

Through greater suggestion towards a narrative, in the latest works soi dogs and pigeons vie for scraps and contribute to a street-side bestial community. These creatures assume their own personalities as they scavenge or seek respite from the scorching heat. Therdkiat has participated in several exhibitions in Thailand, as well as in Singapore (2001), Japan (2003), the Netherlands (2002), Korea (2003), and Spain (2005), and USA (2006). He was awarded the Jurors' Choice Prize in the ASEAN Art Awards in 2000.