“Trapped on an Island” is being held at the Phuket Contemporary Art Gallery at Provincial Hall from Sept 21-30 and sees works on display by 45 young artists from all over Thailand who are all under the age of 35.
The event is part of the TIDKOR Young Contemporaty Art and Exhibition being held under the 3rd International Contemporary Art Festival project which is showcasing Phuket as a city of creative arts and culture ahead of the province hosting the Thailand Biennale next year.
Kesorn Kamnerdpetch, Deputy Director of Contemporary Arts and Culture, presided over the opening ceremony yesterday and was joined by: Anchalee Wanichthepbut, President of Phuket Art Association; Professor Bin Muangchan, President of the Southern International Artist Association; Professor Sakchai Uthito, President of the Isan Artist Association; Professor Suwit Jaipom, President of the Khua Art Chiang Rai Association; as well as the artists whose work is on display during the exhibition.
The artists created their works during a 3-day, 2-night period in Phuket between 17-21 Sept, using their experiences on the island to inspire a depiction of a range of topics through contemporary art works, including the arts, culture, traditions, history, tourist attractions, climate, physical characteristics and food.
The exhibition is therefore designed to resemble a journey around the island where one travels from beach to beach and to the city, incorporating all Phuket has to offer along the way.
The use of colour is very purposeful in depicting certain meaning and characteristics of a specific area – for example, turquoise blue has been widely used to represent the northern area of Phuket, such as the sea at Mai Khao Beach who is considered tranquil and clear.
Similarly, orange is used to represent the west of the island, depicting spectacular sunsets in the likes of Bang Tao, Surin, Kata, Karon and Patong. Red is used to represent the east to emphasise the long history and continuation of Chinese culture in the Phuket Town, while golden yellow represents the south to reflect highlights like Promthep Cape. Finally, emerald green has been utilised to represent central Phuket, to mirror the lush green landscapes in the area.
While the exhibition is designed to convey the essence of Phuket, there is also an interactive live presentation of artworks called “What is your Phuket like?” where visitors can engage.