Anuwat Apimukmongkon

The ‘Speak Thai’ exhibition consists of ten works depicting images of Bangli, a bisexual individual, who represents a symbol of the ‘other’ to Apimukmongkon. This term is brought to light by the intentional contradiction of Bangli’s imagery and the handwritten and overlaid lyrics of propagandistic anthems that permeate Thai society. The lyrics of these anthems and songs played throughout the artist’s childhood emphasize a nationalistic idea of Thailand and its people. The works, with their vivid pops of color and striking imagery, explore the tension between the nation’s expectations of its people and those that exist outside of them.

This work began with a sense of nationalism in the area, influencing people’s feelings of otherness. The artist uses this framework to look both outside in a broad sense and back into the area, reflecting back and forth in order to analyze the variables that trigger circumstances and create mutual understanding between outsiders and insiders. However, they do not expect it to reflect as much as how outsiders come to learn and perceive the people in the area by themselves.