Language : ENGLISH : THAI

The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University
29th March – 18th May 2013

 

31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit (Non-being by itself)

What is the state of ‘before birth’ and ‘after death’? Or is it that we could only conceive the state ‘after birth’ and ‘before death’? If so, follows the question; what is life? And how does life exist? Life consists of body and Soul. The Buddhism believes that life is formed of the Five Aggregates, which are Corporeality, Sensation, Perception, Mental Formations and Consciousness, or the belief that life exists with the elements of earth, water, wind, fire and spirit. All these are causes and sequences that forms into life, which means that life could not exist by itself.

In the scientific world, it is believed that the galaxy, including particles of matters in the human body is formed by each particle of objects, circulating and ever changing. The atoms in our body could once have been part of a faraway planet. Everything, whether it is a living or non-living thing; human, animals, trees, sky, rivers or rocks etc. All are parts of the others, for everything is formed by atoms, which in the micro world which could not be individually separated, but it is also independent from one another.

The same goes for living in the society. We all have different responsibilities and careers. Still, we all need to depend on one another. A complete society consists of diverse responsibilities. Just like how a rich abundant forest would have diverse ecology, each with its own unique function. Like feelings and thoughts, we all have individual aspects of our own, but we all need love, freedom, happiness and peace just the same.

Humans have learned from knowledge inherited from the past which will then be passed on to the next generation. We’ve learned from both destructive and creative experience of others. We’ve learned either from success or failure that affect us positively and negatively, intentionally or unintentionally. These components of knowledge interact among one another, exchanges knowledge and experiences of their own, acting as consequences of each other. We could be inspired by someone and this affects our lives, which sometimes we are not aware of or even knowing in person. In the same way, our own life could possibly be an inspiration for others without us being aware of it too.

This exhibition features various short films done by cultural activist, young artists and common people who interesting to share their experiences. Each person is interested in social culture changes and is capable of expressing his or her thoughts through 10 minutes short film projects, with different techniques and mediums like mobile phone, digital camera or professional camera, etc. Every person would choose a person who inspires creativity for them as a representative in telling the way of life. Other than this, participants will help interview people with different career and background about people who inspire them and the reason why.

The story of these common people, might allow the audience to gain some thoughts or perspective about the worth that lies beneath daily life. These things might already exist in our lives but was overlooked. If we understand the state of non-being by itself, meaning nothing can exist without the others, then it might trigger awareness of our own life’s worth and also of others’. It is believed that we could be an inspiration for others and can send out creative energy from experiences of knowledge, of love, of compassion and of social conscience by starting from being responsible for our duties and our way of life the best we can. These small gestures of activities from all of us will become the energy that contributes to the society.

In order to transform the society, we have to start with changing our behavior. Or on the other hand, we could even say that we don’t need to change anything at all, we only need to realize. Because innocence, love, compassion and good-will for others, which I personally state this as “fundamental values”, already exists naturally in all of us from birth. We can notice this from how human transform themselves through stages of their life. Starting with innocence in childhood, love in adulthood (reproductive age), until reaching parenthood where at this stage, the awareness of paying forward experiences of love and compassion to others (sons and daughters) will happen naturally.

I believe that this event of activity (the state of non-being by itself), will be a part that triggers us to understand human values that lies in us all, hidden beneath our unconsciousness. They will surface as impressions or admirations when we see it once again through someone’s way of life. This will change the awareness as information, into evidential experiences through this practice, making the “fundamental values” that are hidden in our souls appearing themselves as our behavior.

All life and matters have the essence of emptiness, thus it is an ever changing state where all things are always interconnected and all things are non-being by itself.

 

Kamin Lertchaiprasert
11September 2012

 

Artist talk “Kamin Lertchaiprasert” @The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University 1
Artist talk “Kamin Lertchaiprasert” @The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University 2
Artist talk “Kamin Lertchaiprasert” @The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University 3
Artist talk “Kamin Lertchaiprasert” @The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University 4

 

The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University would like to invites all interested people to make short films with the theme of “the person who is the most impresses or inspires me” and participate in “Non-Being By Itself” exhibition by Kamin Lertchaiprasert, an internationally well-known artist, at The Art Center, Center of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University.

This project aims to encourage participants to express their thoughts and opinions about the impression or inspiration they have from other people. These thoughts and opinions will be translated into short films and will be exhibited alongside Kamin’s work at The Art Center and travel to other venues.

If you are interested, please email your name to info.artcenterchula@gmail.com and come to get all the details from the artist himself on Thursday January 24, 2013, 1.30-3.30 pm. at the auditorium room on the 7th floor of the Center of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University.

The project is a collaboration between The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University and Mr. Kamin Lertchaiprasert. It is part of the 31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit.

 

We are all the same Kamin Lertchaiprasert Length: 10 minutes

We are all creative.
We are all unique.
We are all love peace.

 

 

 

 

 

31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit: Non-Being by Itself

The Art Center at Chulalongkorn University’s Office of Academic Resources proudly presents the solo exhibition by Kamin Lertchaiprasert, who is undoubtedly one of Thailand’s most prolific avant-garde artists. His long list of achievements includes several solo and group exhibitions at prominent national and international venues. Solo exhibitions includes Beyond at 100 Tonson Gallery, Bangkok (2008), Inner/Outer Gaze at Gallery ART U, Osaka, Japan (2002) and his group exhibitions includes Busan Biennale (2008), The World in Painting at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Australia (2008), 50th Venice Biennale, Utopia Station, Italy (2003) and Biennale of Sydney (1993,2012). On par with his personal artistic practice in 1998, Kamin co-founded an experimental community-based foundation called The Land in Chiang Mai province with world-renowned Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija.

Kamin Lertchaiprasert graduated from Silpakorn University in 1987 then moved to the United States and returned to Thailand in 1992. His degree in printmaking combined with overseas-lived experiences has informed the multi-disciplinary facet of his cultural practice, from drawing to printmaking, photomedia, painting and sculpture. Since then, Kamin’s artworks consistently interrogate aspects of Buddhist philosophy, meditation and self-discipline.

For this particular exhibition at The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, I am pleased to congratulate Kamin on the success his fiffiirst video installation. Kamin’s pursuit and commitment to The Land’s community-based activity may have informed some of the core values within this exhibition. The mutually respectful collaboration with others is perhaps a metaphor to improve understandings between greater society and us. I trust that Kamin Lertchaiprasert will continue to push new boundaries with his artistic practice and The Art Center is grateful to be part of this artistic collaboration.

Dr. Prapon Kumjim
Head of The Art Center at Chulalongkorn University

 

 

31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit: Non-Being by Itself

Kamin Lertchaiprasert

Special Thanks
to everybody that participates and supports the completion of this exhibition.
The Art Center, Center of Academics Resources, Chulalongkorn University
Numtong Gallery
Dr.Prapon Kumjim (Head of The Art Center)
Numtong Sae-Tang
Thippawan Sae-Tang
Suebsang Sangwachirapiban (Manager of The Art Center)
Siriwat Pokrajen (PR)
Pattana Chalermtanasak (Staff)
Latthapon Korkiatrakul (Staff)
Rattana Chomchan (Administrate)
Chol Janepraphaphan (Printing)
Pannitida Kiatsuwimol (Printing)
Praphonsak La-or (Artist Assistant)
Kritchnun Srirakit (Artist Assistant)
Arnont Nongyao (Artist Assistant)

 

Introduction Article
Dr.Prapon Kumjim

 

Translation
Chonticha Sudjaritpinit

 

Artist Assistant (Sculpture)
Jakchai Prawatmuang
Piyapong Matpol
Teerapong Noiboonta

 

Artist Assistant (Film Maker)
Arnont Nongyao

 

Photography
Suebsang Sangwachirapiban
Kamin Lertchaiprasert

 

Design Catalogue and Prints
Wanaek Juntaratip

 

Invited Artist (Sound Art)
Ming Ching Chen

 

Invited Artist (Product Design)
Udom Udomsri-anan

 

Invited Artist and Activist (Short Film)
Jedsada Tangtrakulwong and Khotphuwieng family
Nattapon Wannaporn
Jin Ruankriengsin
Thanawat Patanaprasart
Natdanai Chutipabhakorn
Norapat Sakartornsup
Sompong Lirasiri
Apipar Norapoompipat
Watsamon Tri-yasakda
Thanyathorn Tangsongcharoen
Cherry Pongprajjakkul
Thanakrit Srisuwan
Panida Aonsamang
Soravis Vibhagool
Pavares Paisarnjaroenwong
Anan Sikamhan
Visitthorn Anunsukhirun
Pariwut Piamkarunwong
Jakraphun Thanateeranon
Tanaphon Inthong
Santanut Kavownark
Naruemon Hansakul
Aimwika Tabanakornwut
Watcharapat Kongkhaow
I-na Phuyuthanon
Chitpapat Batprakhon
Arnont NongYao
Samart Suwannarat
Teeramon Buangam

 

Interviewees
Bringkop Vo-raurai
Suchada Moondong
Jaroen and Orawan Polaongnam
Nittaya Saentaweesuk
Jirasak Saengmonsit
Pannida Chomputhip
Phra Pratom Piyawanno
Somporn Tarawut
Noku Amenomori Damien Pitw
Francine Meoule
Jia Gottlibe
Lyse Kong
Marcel Daudin
Michelle Anderson Binczak
Peter (Austria)
Reef (Singapore)
Zoncy (Myanmar)

 

Lastly, I would like to thank my father, mother, my wife, daughter, son, relatives and all friends who have inspired, encouraged and supported me for all my creative art activities and living.