Neither Body nor Soul aroused out of Oranniwesna’s radical re-examination of a journey taken by him across the Thai-Myanmar border in 2015. This is a voyage traversing the physical dimension of the border, one which extends itself to the relationships and experiences of the people, objects and life migrating between the two countries.
The symbolism present is rich and multi-dimensional. Oranniwesna use of easily recognisable objects and the map-like quality of his work provides each of the pieces with insightful underlying meanings that are easily accessible. The objects selected by him were disassembled, transformed and reconstructed within and in accordance to the gallery’s layout.
This exhibition does not seek to form a clear answer or solution to the problems encountered by Oranniwesna along his journey, instead it aims to encourage contemplative encounters between the objects and audiences that could lead to a critical questioning of the art itself.
Nipan Oranniwesna is an artist and professor at the department of visual art at the School of Fine and Applied Art, Bangkok University. He was selected to represent Thailand at the Thai Pavilion during the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007, and has exhibited domestically and internationally, in shows such as Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth, Singapore (2017), KEMPOKU ART 2016, Ibaraki, Japan. (2016), Human AlieNation, The Art Centre Silpakorn University, Bangkok. (2016), Zones Sensibles, 49NORED, 6EST FONDs REGIONAL D’ART CONTEMPORAIN DE LORRAINE, Metz, France. (2016), Hiroshima Trilogy: 70thAnniversary of the Atomic Bombing, Part II: Bird’s Eye View of The World (2015), Singapore Biennale: If The World Change (2013), Setouchi Triennale , Japan (2013), The 18th Biennale of Sydney: all our relations(2012), Kuandu Biennale: Artist in Wonderland (2012), City- Net Asia, Korea (2011), Sea Art Festival, Busan Biennale, Korea (2008).
