100 Tonson Foundation on Phloenchit Road is now hosting "All Is Prettier", the first solo exhibition by artist Udomsak Krisanamis, which is on view from now until Nov 19.
Inspired by a quote by the late New York artist Andy Warhol, "All Is Pretty", while preparing for the exhibition, Udomsak was drawn to its simple truth. "All Is Pretty" means that everything, as ordinary or unloved as it may be, has inherent beauty. For over three decades, the Chiang Mai-based artist has used many unloved objects to make them "prettier", which suggests there is nothing too ordinary to become art.
Udomsak has been a prominent figure in the Thai and international contemporary art scene for over three decades. After completing a Bachelor's degree in Art Education at Chulalongkorn University, and completing his MFA in Painting at the Chicago Institute of Art, Udomsak moved to New York to found a practice that championed objet trouvés, creating a distinct collage technique using materials as diverse as newsprint, and painting on surfaces that were not the typical artist's canvas. His earlier works comprise densely-layered grids and experimentation with texture, depicting what could be abstract cityscapes, starscapes and even digital scapes, whereas, his more recent works express bold and conceptual statements, expanding to include bright monochrome colours with striking patterns that are intrinsically personal and uniquely his own.
In between the six months period of the "All Is Prettier" exhibition, Udomsak will transform the space at 100 Tonson Foundation into a factory inspired by Warhol's own space: a place for imagination, experimentation, and boundless creation for both the artist and his community. Udomsak's rendition of the Factory will pay homage to Warhol's living space that morphs into various incarnations throughout its three-phase evolutionary existence. The room will become the artist's studio, where the public is invited to observe, listen or read, and ultimately serve as a factory for making memories. After all, everything is prettier when it has the care and attention of a community.
"All Is Prettier" will have its opening reception tomorrow from 5-8pm at 100 Tonson Foundation. The exhibition runs until Nov 19 and will be divided into three parts with each having its own public programming and activities. For more information about the schedules and public programmes, call 02-010-5813.
