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Established in 2000, Sundaram Tagore Gallery is devoted to examining the exchange of ideas between Western and non-Western cultures. We focus on developing exhibitions and hosting not-for-profit events that encourage spiritual, social and aesthetic dialogues. In a world where communication is instant and cultures are colliding and melding as never before, our goal is to provide venues for art that transcend boundaries of all sorts. With alliances across the globe, our interest in cross-cultural exchange extends beyond the visual arts into many other disciplines, including poetry, literature, performance art, film and music.
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Sundaram Tagore Chelsea is pleased to present the first New York solo exhibition of work by Kamolpan Chotvichai, an emerging Thai artist based in Bangkok. The artist addresses issues of identity and gender in photo-based self-portraits. Challenging the formal limitations of paper and canvas, she meticulously hand-cuts images of her body, creating sinuous ribbons along various parts of her anatomy. Based on an understanding of Buddhist teachings, Chotvichai obliterates her identity, eliminating her face and literally strips away her physical form, in the process relinquishing attachment to her body. In contrast to the often socially and politically charged contemporary art coming out of Southeast Asia, Kamolpan’s emotionally wrought black-andwhite images are free of cultural iconography
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or social commentary. Her work is informed by her cultural heritage, not defined by it. Although her practice incorporates elements of Buddhist philosophy, her succinct visual language is entirely modern. She executes these dimensional works with an almost scientific precision and unparalleled technical mastery. Her artistic process is composed of multiple steps. She begins by sketching each composition before translating her concepts and postures into photographs. Before printing and mounting the portraits, she distorts her image in an intentional manner. Wielding an ordinary utility knife, she carefully slices areas of the canvas into strips. Through this process, she transforms twodimensional photographs into three-dimensional sculpture-like works.
Atta (self), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 48.8 x 44.1 inches/ 124 x 112 cm
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Born in Bangkok in 1986, Kamolpan Chotvichai received a Master of Fine Arts degree at Silpakorn University, Bangkok. She is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including a Gold Medal at the 58th National Exhibition of Art (2012), Bangkok. This year, her work was prominently featured in Thailand Eye at Saatchi Gallery, London, the first major survey of contemporary Thai art in the United Kingdom. Her work was shown alongside work by renowned Thai artists such as Rirkrit Tiravanija, Navin Rawanchaikul and Udomsak Krisanamis and was chosen for the cover of the book accompanying the exhibition. Thailand Eye is currently on view at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, where it will remain through June 2016. In 2015, Kamolpan Chotvichai was the youngest artist to participate in Frontiers Reimagined, an exhibition of global art and Collateral Event of the 56th Venice Biennale. The show was mounted at the Museo di Palazzo Grimani and named one of the five best exhibitions at the Biennale by The Art Newspaper.
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Blinded, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 30.3 x 43.7 inches/77 x 111 cm
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Flux, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 29.1 x 44.1 inches/74 x 112 cm
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True Self, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 42 x 48.6 inches/107 x 98 cm
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Phassa (touching), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 39 x 44.1 inches/99 x 112 cm
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Citta (mind), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 37.4 x 49.6 inches/95 x 126 cm
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Restlessness, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 44.1 x 33.5 inches/112 x 85 cm
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In Between, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 32.7 x 90.5 inches/83 x 230 cm 22
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Ignorance, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 51.2 x 37.4 inches/130 x 95 cm
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Desolation, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 44.1 x 43.7 inches/112 x 111 cm
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Moha (delusion), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 36.6 x 59.4 inches/93 x 151 cm
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Karma (deed), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 40.5 x 54.3 inches/103 x 138 cm
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Hopelessness, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 41.3 x 26.8 inches/105 x 68 cm
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Sin, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 41.3 x 36.2 inches/105 x 92 cm
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In the Flesh, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 66.1 x 43.7 inches/168 x 111 cm
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Underneath, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 31.1 x 44 inches/79 x 112 cm
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Tension, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 43.7 x 73.2 inches/111 x 186 cm each 40
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Dosa (hatred), 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 44.1 x 43.3 inches/112 x 110 cm
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S U N D A R A M new york new york hong kong singapore
T A G O R E
G A L L E R I E S
547 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001 • tel 212 677 4520 fax 212 677 4521 • gallery@sundaramtagore.com 1100 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028 • tel 212 288 2889 4/F, 57–59 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong • tel 852 2581 9678 fax 852 2581 9673 • hongkong@sundaramtagore.com 5 Lock Road 01–05, Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108933 • tel 65 6694 3378 • singapore@sundaramtagore.com
President and curator: Sundaram Tagore Director, New York: Susan McCaffrey Director, Hong Kong: Faina Derman Director, Singapore: Melanie Taylor Exhibition coordinator/registrar: Julia Occhiogrosso Designer: Russell Whitehead Editorial support: Payal Uttam and Kieran Doherty
W W W . S U N D A R A M T A G O R E . C O M Text © 2016 Sundaram Tagore Gallery Photographs © 2016 Kamolpan Chotvichai All rights reserved under international copyright conventions. No part of this catalogue may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Cover: Underneath, 2015, C-type print and hand-cut canvas, 31.1 x 44 inches/79 x 112 cm