RECENT ACTIVITIES
Majhi International Art Residency
For three weeks seven invited artists have assembled, exchanged and laboured together around the guiding theme: “How to shape a society of care? On kinship and multiple homes.” Participants Orawan Arunrak, Johannes Büttner, Omar A. Chowdhury, Rajkamal Kahlon, Belle Phromchanya, Bussaraporn Thongchai and Umut Yasat. Compiled and overseen by Zippora Elders, this Majhi edition’s curator.
Rest in Progress Book Launch
MOCA hosted an event in memory of our beloved friend, Chavalit Soeprungsuk. The title Rest in Progress parodies the artist’s realization and awareness in death with the belief that an artist’s retirement is equivalent to the departure from this world. The production was realized through the collaborations between Soemprungsuk and the creators of the book, Studio150, over two years prior to his passing in April 2020. The publication is now available at MOCA museum shop, Bangkok, and Stedelijk Museum shop, Amsterdam.
Something News: Deliberating news creation today and alternative approaches to journalism
Something News is an online conversation (in Thai) with journalist Pawee Sirimai on the intersection of Art and Journalism. [BOOKMARK MAGAZINE] is an online monthly publication that publishes the in-depth discussion from multidisciplinary practitioners on the topics that emerge in the conversation within the BOOKSHOP LIBRARY. These in-depth discussions open the stage for critical debate on the contemporary issues that we would like to share to the public.
Jan, 2020 | Bangkok, Thailand
Photo © Studio150
Tiger City: Bangkok Design Week 2020
Tiger City exhibition unfolds the story of forest conservation and the co-existence between “human” and “wildlife” in the area of HKK. The exhibition is told from the perspective of designers Studio 150 and collaborators who had observed the way of thinking, way of life, and working process of the people living in the area of HKK during their field research. ‘Tiger Eyes’ presenting at the exhibition, is a short narrative on the invisible value of nature, through the eyes of those at the frontline of the conservation.
Nov, 2019 | Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center (RCAC), Bangkok
Photo by Preecha Pattara
Whether Art is Life or Not : Film Premiere
Whether Art is Life or Not : A Documentary on the Life, Thoughts, and Works of Chavalit Soemprungsuk (80 mins), co-directed with Jakkarin Thepvong. The documentary is based on the original short Whether it is Art or Not (2016, 35 mins). The screening is part of ‘80+ Festival’ exhibition, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Chavalit Soemprungsuk.Impartial Spectrum: ACED X Porto Design Biennale
The installation of 80 prints in the main hall of São Bento metro station contains a collection of images and headlines from multiple international media sources, covering the selected cases. It aims to reveal subtle patterns and media positioning within the seemingly objective reporting, encouraging at the same time the audience to recognise the variety of news framing in their daily news consumption.
Impartial Spectrum by Belle Phromchanya & Noortje van Eekelen (ACED) is part of Design Systems curated by Francisco Laranjo.
TERM PAPER 02: Below Sea Level
TERM PAPER 02 aims to provide graphic design related information in the world contemporary context. The second issue, BELOW SEA LEVEL presents interviews conducted by Belle Phromchanya with course directors of Dutch design schools : Joost Grootens (Information Design, Design Academy Eindhoven), Anja Groten (Design Department, Sandberg Instituut) and Irina Shapiro (Open Set) on the topic of the roles of designers as educators and graphic design education in The Netherlands.
Capital Of Mae La: Film Premiere And Discussion at Pakhuis De Zwijger
This short documentary tells the story of Mae La, a temporary shelter along the Thailand-Myanmar border which has been a home to over 40,000 refugees for more than 30 years. The film presents an updated situation of the camp, which has been out of media spotlight, through personal conversations with its inhabitants. This project is a semi-longitudinal work over a 4-year timespan, produced under artistic and ethnographic context. Capital of Mae La aims to trigger valuable conversations around the situation of Karen refugees and many other displaced groups who are affected by the long term conflict.