From 1 to 23 December 2023, our international partner ROUNDCOLLAB Contemporary Asian Art are presenting the exhibition “Embrace” in San Francisco. Studio 88 Founder and Director Sasiwimon Wongjarin is ROUNDCOLLAB’s Artist Liaison Thailand, where she helps advise about and coordinate with the local arts scene in Thailand.
Turning microplastic into art, shattering taboos, interrogating one’s relationship with faith, identity and heritage, Embrace is displays diverse styles and fresh perspectives from 11 artists from Singapore, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
Featured artists include: Satya Cipta (Bali, Indonesia) whose work revolves around the themes of women’s role in society, female sexuality, spirituality and heritage; modern flaneur and social commentator Leonard Yang (Singapore); Kadek Marta Dwipayana (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) who turns to abstract art to depict mental health struggles; Pratchaya Charernsook (Bangkok, Thailand), utilizing microplastic salvaged from her hometown in Southern Thailand in her art work as a commentary on pollution and natural landscapes; painter and tattoo artist Yangdol Namgyal (Sikkim, India), whose work represents a contemporary expression of Tibetan Buddhism; and Mathus Kaewdam (Chiangmai, Thailand), turning to mythology and digital collage of archival images to contemplate the relationship between humanity and divinity.
Other artists exhibiting at Embrace include Diana Puspita Putri (Indonesia), Donnapa Phurphangam (Thailand), Made Wahyu Senayadi (Indonesia), Siriroj Kotwongsa (Thailand), and Takdanai Kungsavarangkul (Thailand).
In an interview about his work, Thai artist Mathus Kaewdam explained his influcences, saysing that “everything that enters and exits my life holds equal significance for me. It doesn’t matter who, what, where, or why, it’s all integral to making my work possible. This includes a kindergarten friend whose name has faded from memory, the bird that greets the morning with its first song, vendor stalls on the street, and even those who have departed from my life. Despite their absence, I remember them all, and it is the collective impact of everything and everyone, everywhere, that shapes and influences me.”
Although making a sustainable career as an artist in Thailand is a challenge, Mathus Kaewdam is inspired by the need to shed light on “inequality that certain groups face, where their voices are often stifled compared to others, whether due to power dynamics, financial disparities, or media influence.” In his work he aspires “to delve into my emotions and express this matter through art, ensuring that it is conveyed effectively.”
It is these stories, and the innovative work from contemporary artists across Asia, that Managing Founder of ROUNDCOLLAB Firdy Arman wants to bring to light. As Firdy explains, “A significant portion of the San Francisco Bay Area population are of Asian descent, so it is a great opportunity for the community to be represented through the arts. Although Asian artists are being represented broadly by local galleries, there is still a lot to discover.”
ROUNDCOLLAB Contemporary Asian Art 圆和艺术 was founded in 2023 as a hybrid-online art gallery that promotes contemporary Asian art in San Francisco and beyond. The name ROUNDCOLLAB reflects the collaborative, inclusive and holistic approach to making a difference in communities. The gallery has a focus on societal impact, transparency, and equity of the fine art market globally and they operate in partnership with the Minnesota Street Project Art Services.
Embrace will also feature a series of Saturday lunchtime concerts in partnership with Groupmuse:
2 December, 11am – 12pm: Friction Quartet – a cutting-edge string quartet; repertoire includes a specially commissioned piece by Asian-American composer Michi Wiancko
9 December, 1pm – 2pm: Mark Galvan & Michele Walther – Japanese Butoh dance accompanied by the violin
16 December, 1pm – 2pm: Shaina Pan & Corina Santos (Violin Duo) – contemporary classical music including a piece by Toru Takemitsu, and violin duo improvisation
Exhibition details:
1 – 23 December 2023
Gallery 211 and the Atrium of Minnesota Street Project
1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Sign up to ROUNDCOLLAB’s mailing list to find out about upcoming events, including the San Francisco Art Fair 2024, an exhibition by Turaj Ebrahimi (a Persian American artist in his 80s living and working in San Francisco), and an exhibition about Queer Asian Pride in conjunction with San Francisco Pride Month in June 2024.
Feature image: Pratchaya Charernsook, Strong Waves, 2023, Salvaged microplastic on canvas, 19 1/2 x 39 1/2 x 2 in, 50 x 100 x 4.5 cm
Studio 88 Artist Residency 