EXPLORATION OF IDENTITY

An exhibition at River City Bangkok showcases the journey of 15 Korean and Thai artists through painting, sculpture and ceramics

- STORY: SUWITCHA CHAIYONG

Organised by River City Bangkok and 608 Gallery, the art exhibition "ARK-T", or "Art Road Korean Thai", aims to bridge Korean and Thai artist communities. Created by 15 talented Korean and Thai artists, "ARK-T" displays the works of artists who have different interpretations of their own journey.

The exhibition concept is about how each artist goes through trial and error to discover their style.

Kim Song-tae, the exhibition curator, explained, that of the 15 artists, four Korean artists were selected as they had exhibited their work at RCB last year while the other six Korean artists were selected through an open call for which 118 participants applied. Five Thai artists were also selected by River City Bangkok.

Kim has noticed differences between the Thai and Korean art markets, so he chose artwork that can appeal to potential collectors in Thailand.

"I observed the Thai art market for three years and held an exhibition in Bangkok last year. Thai collectors prefer artwork that is easier to access. Pop art was a trend in South Korea three years ago but Koreans are now interested in modern art. However, modern art does not appeal to Thai art market. Therefore, the exhibition features some pop art and vibrant artwork," explained Kim.

Yoo Jae-youn, the main artist of 608 Gallery, depicts lives of ordinary people through her notable character Kimsee. 'Kim' is a common last name of Koreans and 'see' refers to the act of seeing. Yoo has worked on ceramics for years and has created paintings specifically for 608 Gallery. While ceramics have limited storytelling capabilities, paintings allow Yoo to depict a wide range of Kimsee's stories.

In "ARK-T", the Breaktime series portrays Kim as an urban resident who wants some alone time, but his busy life does not allow it. Thus, he imagines the life he wants. Yoo's work stands out for its vibrant colours and authentic portrayal of Korean people's features and characteristics.