Kanticha Wongchumphit

IB Year 13 Visual Arts Exhibition

Climate change and global warming have played a large role in damaging our biodiversity. The wildlife in Phuket which used to be enriched with different species of plants and animals has greatly declined in the past decade. This is a phenomenon called the 6th Mass Extinction. Unlike previous mass extinctions, the Helecone extinction is caused by human activities.

Born and raised in Phuket, Thailand, I have been exposed to many of these new changes and I have decided to start taking more initiative towards fixing this issue. My intention within this body of work is to raise awareness about the loss of biodiversity by using creative and imaginative approaches. My collection is a mixture of artworks in a variety of media which encompasses acrylic painting, sculpting, etching, encaustic wax, suction printing, woodcut, screen printing, and 3D printing. This exhibition is aimed towards children at school. I want them to see and feel the tourist industry’s impact on wild Phuket and recognize that if they are not part of a solution, then they are part of the problem. This is a call to action for the audience to start taking more initiative towards reversing the damage and not returning to the mass tourist activities taking place prior to the pandemic.

My range of works explores a variety of issues that have been occurring over the past two years. “Wild Elephants” is a common link that connects many of my artworks together. Inspired by the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (PES), the work expresses the oppression of elephants that are kept in captivity. This is a large issue in Phuket, animals are being mistreated and used for entertainment purposes. Tourists who come to Phuket and visit these elephants often are not aware of the pain being inflicted on these animals.

At the start of my exhibition I displayed my largest piece. At first glance the audience will see two normal elephants standing next to each other. This at first seems joyful and normal. However, the longer the audience observes the work, they may notice smaller details such as the chain around the animal’s foot. By placing the work near the centre of the hall so people would see this work first, I wanted to portray how large the scale of this issue really is.

The exhibition for my work will be displayed in a way to convey how our biodiversity has been neglected and changed due to pollution and waste. Using materials that have been thrown away and collected from the beach, “Recycled” is a series of small cutout recycled canvases from my previous unsuccessful pieces. This work will be placed near “Stains of Humanity” since my intention was for people to see the inner beauties within the things we consider unusable.

Throughout my IB diploma, I have been inspired by multiple real-life experiences. For example on a sailing trip, sights of coral bleaching is a normal occurrence. The colour of the coral’s surface turns white, the algae are very sensitive to slight changes in their environment. This is why I decided to display my artworks in a dark room to create a depressing mood and evoke a sense of sadness and reflection from my audience.

Programmed to turn on and off when close to a sensor, “Wildest Dreams” is one of my most powerful pieces from this collection. All photos were taken from the Great Barrier reef, Australia using google earth. The installation was created to remind people about the beauty under the surface of our deep-blue sea. Being one of the largest tourist attractions in Australia, the locals and biodiversity heavily rely on these living species in order to sustain life. It is a part of our earth that is worth saving.

Finally, my sculptures will be displayed at the end of the corridor in glass cases which will mimic that of a museum. I want this to communicate to the audience that in time if we do not take action this will be the only way we will see coral reefs. “Bleached” is located near “Wildest Dreams” since they both share the same theme. Overall, this exhibition has not only given me the opportunity to express my creativity without using my voice, but it has also helped me grow as an artist.

SPIRALING BLOOM Ceramic and Glaze 35x20x20cm, November 2019

BEHIND THE CURTAINS

Wood Cut on paper 29.7x42cm, February 2022

CHANGE YOUR TICKET

Acrylic on Wood 210x100cm, May 2021

BABY GANNETS Acrylic on canvas 100x100cm, September 2020

STAINS OF HUMANITY Ink on Canvas 150x120cm, October 2021

BLEACHED

Ceramic and Glaze 100x100cm, February 2021

FOSSIL

Etching in Black Ink on Paper 30x42cm, October 2020

WILDEST DREAMS 3D printing and LED lights 28x28x28cm, December 2021

ENDANGERED Acrylic Screen Prints on Paper 105x59.4cm, January 2022

THE “RECYCLED” SERIES Acrylic, Wax and found netting on canvas November 2021