Body Universe
Group Exhibition
Curated by Nim Niyomsin and Ekkarat Punyatara
9 December 2021 - 30 January 2022
Our life is as big as what we want it to be. Things are as important as how we perceive them. This exhibition is about assumption and perspective. It points to how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in the universe. It is also trying to explore the role of photography and its cross-disciplinary functions.
Subjects of this exhibition range from the minuscule of small living insects to the vast unimaginable area of deep interstellar space. Simple elements are presented from an unusual viewpoint. Scale and proportion are distorted. Enormity and minute are placed alongside each other. Things that first seem far apart are all interconnected. Everything is the product of this universe.
This exhibition is a collaboration with photographers from various fields, including professional artists, a ceramist, a medical technician, science photographers, an astronomer and documenters. All present different approaches and interests. Equipment and techniques used vary from analogue to digital, light source to electron particles, and latest technology customization to ready-made. Some photographers here do not consider themselves artists. However, with such passion, art is just another man-made definition based on culture and context, open to different perspectives and interpretations. What these people have in common is their devotion to present the world they all have experienced, understood and been fascinated by.
In Body Universe, everything is about perception and perspective. For us, life and our surroundings can be something precious, given the slim chance of life occurring at all. But it can also be something meaningless. We only exist for a brief moment in this universe, yet sometimes feel at the center of it all, absorbed in our private concerns. But in the end, it all comes down to the freedom of our outlook, perception, and interpretation. This is what will guide our understanding, our life, its direction, and destination.
About the Artist
Viriya Chotpanyavisut (B.1982)
Viriya’s graduated with a Master’s degree with mention from École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts Paris-Cergy in 2011. Before that Bachelor’s degree with congratulation in Visual Arts at L’École supérieure de beaux-arts de Toulouse 2009 and earned Bachelor’s degree fine art photography at the Rangsit University in Bangkok.
Viriya was involved in numerous international group exhibitions including: Memento (Crozatier Museum 2021), Le Puy-en-Velay, France. Parc st léger Centre d'art contemporain, Paris 2020). Une Poétique du multiple (Artothèque, Espace d'art contemporain de Caen, 2019), Temporal Topography (MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, Chiang Mai, 2019), Phnom Penh photo festival, Cambodia 2019, PARALLEL (Ramasun Historical Museum, Udonthani, Thailand 2019), Appearing unannounced (Rirkrit Tiravanija's studio 2018), Multiple planes, Bangkok photo, Bacc 2018, 38th Eva international, Ireland biennale,2018, Reste l’air et le monde (Frac Auvergne_ France 2018), All Time High, (Ver gallery, Bangkok, Thailand 2018), 6th Singapour international Photo festival 2018, Wtf gallery 2018, Echo of the footsteps (Nova contemporary 2017), reflect#1 (Frac Auvergne_ France 2017), Le divan des murmures (FRAC Auvergne, France 2017), Thailand eye (Saatchi Gallery, London, England 2015 & Bangkok art and culture center 2016), While it lasts, (Tadu contemporary art, Bangkok, Thailand 2016), Index » Galerie de Multiples, Paris, France, Maison des arts George Pompidou, Cajarc, France 2013), Rendez-vous 12 (National museum South Africa 2012), Rendez-Vous 11( L’Institut d’Art Contemporain de Villeurbanne, France 2011), Copenhagen Photo festival 2012, Salon du montrouge Paris, France 2011, Festival Voies-off, Arles, France 2010.
Viriya has exhibited in solo shows at the Galerie de Multiple, Paris France (2020, 2014 & 2012). “Unnoticed light ” solo shows at Schemata gallery, Bangkok, Thailand (2016). He is represented by the Galerie de Multiples, Paris, France.
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Suparerk Karuehanon (B.1982)
Suparerk Karuehanon is the Head of the Astronomical Public Outreach Department of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). He has published his photography and articles in leading magazines and online sites. His writings can be found in the Manager online and the Narit website. He is also an instructor of Astrophotography Courses. As an astronomy photographer, Karuehanon was part of the Thai team that captured the Solar Eclipse at the North pole.
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Charnpichit Pongtongsumran (B. 1980)
Charnpichit Pongtongsumran is a documentary photographer, a writer, a traveller, a television host and an art lecturer. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Decorative Art, Silpakorn University. He was also a television host for an award winning talk show, ‘Kae Kla’ from 2016-2019. He is currently a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang.
He has won numerous awards in photography and television, including The Outstanding Press TV Programme (2019), Honorable award, the 6th Chang International Fine Arts Photo Contest (2018), Popular Vote Award and 2nd Runner Up, Season 6 National Geographic Thailand Photography Contest (2017)
He also exhibited his photography in numerous exhibitions; People to People, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2021) Sak Esarn, People’s Gallery, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2020), Before the end of Sub-Kalai, Sud Kong Dee Café, Nan, Thailand (2020), Traces of Culture, Lanna Photo Hall, Chaing Mai (2019), Clay Jungle Water Sky, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2017), Arts of Big Trees, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (2016).
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Robert Zhao Renhui (B. 1983)
Singaporean visual artist Robert Zhao Renhui works chiefly with photography but often adopts a multi-disciplinary approach. His artistic practice investigates man’s relationship with nature. His works has been exhibited globally, having held solo exhibitions in Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, and Italy, as well as participating in various biennales and photo festivals.
Recent exhibitions include The Lines We Draw, Yalu River Art Museum, Dandong, China (2019), Effect, Orange County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, USA (2019); Observe, Experiment, Archive, Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden, London, U.K (2019); The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9), Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Australia (2018); Hugo Boss Asia Art 2017, Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai (2017); 7th Moscow Biennale, Moscow, Russia (2017); Singapore, Very Old Tree, National Museum of Singapore, Singapore (2017); 20th Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (2016); Singapore Biennale: If the World Changed, The Peranakan Museum, Singapore (2013).
His works has been awarded The United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award (Singapore) in 2009 and The Deutsche Bank Award in Photography by the University of the Arts London in 2011. In 2010, he was awarded The Young Artist Award by the Singapore National Arts Council. He is named as a finalist for the Benesse Prize 2019, and the Hugo Boss Asia Art Award 2017. His work has been featured in Artforum International, ArtAsiaPacific, European Photography, Pipeline, Archivo, Fotografia and Punctum.
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Miti Ruangkritya (B. 1981)
Miti Ruangkritya is a visual artist whose photography practice expands into the realms of video, text, and publishing to express his ruminations centred on the notion of the City. He is a graduate of the University of Westminster, MA Documentary Photography. His series of works include Thai Politics (2006-ongoing), DREAM PROPERTY (2014-ongoing), and Sunset (2018-ongoing).
Miti was the recipient of the Open Call Winning Portfolio at the Singapore International Photo Festival (2021), Finalist for the Sovereign Art Prize (2016), and shortlisted for the Kassel Book Award (2015). In addition to solo artist presentations in Australia, Bangkok, Singapore, and Venice, his works have been featured in numerous exhibitions and festivals domestically and internationally, including: The Noorderlicht Photography Festival (NL, 2012), FORMAT International Photography Festival (GB, 2015), as well as the Singapore Art Museum travelling exhibition After Utopia (AU, JP, 2017). In 2017, Miti was also part of The Backers Foundation and AIT Residence Programme. His practice is represented in the institutional collections of the Singapore Art Museum (SG) and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum (TH), while his publications also reside in the libraries of the Tate (GB), Metropolitan Museum of Art (US), the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (ES), as well as many others.
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Wasinburee Supanichvoraparch (B. 1971)
Wasinburee Supanichvoraparch is a multidisciplinary artist. He is known for his ceramic, photography, sculpture, installations and public art. He is the owner of Tao Hong Tai Ceramic Factory. He earned a Master’s Degree in Fine Art at Universitaet Gesamthochschule Kassel, Germany. He found an art center, dKunst, and Art Normal, Ratchaburi’s first public art event.
Supanichvoraparch has exhibited in leading galleries and museums worldwide including Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, Taiwan and Singapore. His important art pieces are among private and public collections presented at Hessische Landesmuseum Kassel, Le Meridien, Bangkok, Shizen Lifestyle Spa Resort, Tel-Aviv, Bangkok Sculpture Center, Ratchaburi National Museum and Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
In 2013, he was selected to be Thailand’s representative, showing his work in the 55th Venice Biennale. He has also received the Wattanakunathorn Award in 2013 and Silpathorn Award Winner for Design Section in 2010 from the Ministry of Culture, and Thailand Designer Award in 2007 from Silpakorn University.
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Krittanun Tantraporn (B. 1994)
Since a young age, Krittanun Tantraporn has always been curious about things –especially if they’re strange. He has studied sciences at schools but always believes in fiction. Perhaps photography is a perfect medium for him to seek out the balance, the elusive bond between fact and wonder.
He once pursued a postgraduate in the UK, where he fully immersed himself in the scientific photography programme. It introduced him to a realm that can’t be perceived by the human eye. He found it an incredibly delicate and fascinating natural scene. Since then, he has decided to explore this path for a while. He has high hopes this may give the answer to what he is looking for.
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Prinyakorn Voravan
Prinyakorn Voravan is a nature and wildlife photographer. He graduated from an agricultural college (in dairy) in Denmark. For over three decades, His works have been published in numerous publications including the National Geographic Thailand, Sarakadee Magazine, and The Cloud. He also wrote many books and publish photobooks. He has shown an interest in this field since childhood, reading books about animals and nature. He has made countless expeditions to record and communicate the story and the understanding of wildlife. His practice and journey have become an inspiration to many others in photography, conservation, and education. He taught us to pay respect to nature and all living things.
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Nipan Yodmanee (B. 1975)
Nipan Yodmanee is an Ophthalmic specialist equipment, Department of ophthalmology, Mettapracharak (watraikhing) hospital, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health. He received a Bachelor of Arts Program in Journalism and Mass Communication, Phetchaburi Rajabhat University. He then took a one-year programme as an Ophthalmic Technician at Yale University, New Haven, US, 2006-2007. Yodmanee applied his love for photography to the medical photography field. In Ophthalmology, all images combine aesthetic composition with a diagnostic accuracy to give ophthalmologists the most efficient treatment. He is a member of the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society in the United States with over 2000 members worldwide.
Yodmanee has received many international ophthalmic photography awards including the First Place Monochromatic Photography The worm in Vitreous, and the Third Place Composite Retinal Detachment, New Orleans, USA (2017), the Certificate of Recognition from Vision-Research.eu, Best Picture Competition 2016 (FFA&ICG wide Angle 102 ), the Honorable Mention Fundus Photography wide Angle Pre-retinal Hemorrhage, Las Vegas, USA (2015), the Honorable mention ICG Angiogram AAO meeting, USA (2008, 2011, 2013), the Second Place ICG Angiogram AAO meeting Chicago Illinois (2012).
About the Curator
Nim Niyomsin (B.1980)
Nim Niyomsin is an independent curator and writer. She received a Master of History of Art from Birkbeck, University of London. Niyomsin specialises in contemporary art, photography, and public art events.
Prior to working independently, she worked with the Artist Pension Trust and Horniman Museum in London and was recently the Marketing Department Manager for international art and culture at the Emporium & EmQuartier (Bangkok), organizing public art festivals and cultural events.
She has curated public art festivals and contemporary art exhibitions in commercial art galleries and public art institutes in Thailand, UK and Singapore, including Museum of Contemporary Art Bangkok, Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film (Singapore), Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Center (Bangkok), PhotoBangkok, 333 Anywhere, 1PROJECTS (Bangkok), Subhashok The Arts Centre (Bangkok), and Forty7 Gallery (London).
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Ekkarat Punyatara (B. 1985)
Ekkarat Punyatara is a National Geographic Thailand’s photo editor and staff photographer. His photography is inspired by fascination in Thai culture that he was rooted since childhood by his conservative family. He first gained recognition for his photos in 2011 through a controversial project, It’s Personal that questioning the traditional conservative way of seeing Buddhism in Thailand. The project was a year long documenting a group of Thai monks living in New York.
His works has been published/showed worldwide, Smithsonian(USA), burn magazine(USA), Emaho magazine(India), IPA(Singapore), South China Post(China), Angkor Photo Festival(Cambodia), etc. His Instagram is selected as one of 20 Asian photographers that have the most interesting IG to follow, by IPA(Singapore). Ekkarat won international photo contests, Gold prize of Moscow International Fotography Awards, 2nd prize of Streetfoto San Francisco, 1st prize of 180 years Thai-American relationship photo contest.
