Shadow Play - Dharma

Artist: 
Chusak Srikwan
Date: 
April 27, 2010 - May 30, 2010
Gallery: 
ARDEL Gallery of Modern Art

“Shadow play” is a kind of the local play in the southern part of Thailand. It consists of many art techniques in which have been widely known and developed along with the lifestyle of local people. The performance uses the local dialect and the story line that parts of it was developed from the Buddhist teachings helps acknowledge people in a less serious yet very nourishing way. Chusak Srikwan, an emerging artist from Songkhla, is inspired by this teaching approach and therefore creates the exhibition “Shadow Play – Dharma” by applying together his carving skill on leather and performing the shadow figures.

“Shadow Play – Dharma” is the combination of the Jataka tales which consists of Buddhist doctrines and the expression that symbolically appears through the shadow figures or in the form of Dharma puzzle. The intention here is to pass on the wisdom in order to encourage the fine lifestyle of Buddhist which will help bring peacefulness to people and the society.

“หนังตะลุง” ถือเป็นสื่อพื้นบ้านภาคใต้ประเภทหนึ่ง ที่เป็นแหล่งรวมของศิลปะหลากหลายแขนง อันเป็นที่นิยมอย่างกว้างขวางและพัฒนาสอดคล้องกับวิถีชีวิตตั้งแต่อดีตมาจนถึงปัจจุบัน การแสดงที่ใช้ภาษาถิ่น รวมถึงวิธีสอดแทรกเนื้อหาด้วยการถ่ายทอดพุทธิปัญญาสู่ชุมชนและสังคม เป็นส่วนสำคัญที่ก่อให้เกิดแรงบันดาลใจและแนวความคิดในการสร้างสรรค์ผลงานชุด “หนังตะลุง-ธรรมะ” ของ ชูศักดิ์ ศรีขวัญ ศิลปินหนุ่มจากสงขลาที่โดดเด่นด้วยแนวทางการสร้างผลงานที่ไม่ซ้ำใครอย่างการ “สลักหนัง” และ “เชิดหนังตะลุง”

“หนังตะลุง-ธรรมะ” ถูกสร้างสรรค์ขึ้นด้วยการผสมผสานสารัตถะในนิทานชาดกซึ่งมีคติธรรมตามหลักของพุทธศาสนา และแสดงออกด้วยรูปทรงตัวหนังในเชิงสัญลักษณ์ หรือในลักษณะของภาพปริศนาธรรม โดยมุ่งหวังสื่อ “สาร” คือ “พุทธิปัญญา” พัฒนาให้เข้าในส่วนลึกของ “จิตใจ” มนุษย์ เพื่อเป็นแนวทางของการดำรงชีวิต ตามวิถีพุทธรรมอันดีงาม สร้างความสงบสุขให้เกิดขึ้นทั้งในตนเองและสังคม

Chusak Srikwan, Desire, 2009-10, leather carving, 300 x 350 cm
Chusak Srikwan, Desire (detail), 2009-10, leather carving, 300 x 350 cm
Chusak Srikwan, Birth-Age-Ailment-Death (detai), 2009-10, leather carving, dimensions variable
Chusak Srikwan, Birth-Age-Ailment-Death (detai), 2009-10, leather carving, dimensions variable
Detail of Shadow Play - Dharma
Artist Biography
Name: 
Chusak Srikwan
Born: 
April 22, 1983
Education: 

2006 : B.F.A. Thai Art, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
2009 : M.F.A. Thai Art, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Solo Exhibition: 

2010 : “SHADOW PLAY-DHAMMA” ARDEL Gallery of Modern Art, Thailand.
2008 : “SHADOW PLAY” WHITE SPACE gallery Siam, Bangkok. Thailand.
2006 : “Honestly” Brand new 2006 Exhibition, Bangkok University, Thailand.

Selected Exhibition: 

2009 : “Animamix Biennial-Visual Attract and attack” The Museum of Contemporary Art,Taipei(MOCATP),Taiwan.
: The Exhibition and Auction of Artwork “Discovering MFA:Exotic Art, Aesthetic Thailand” The Foreign Affairs, Thailand.
: “OUR BEST RECENT WORKS & GLASS ART PROJECT” 26th Art Exhibition by Members of The Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University.
:“No wall : Art and Friendship” The Treasury Department’s Kuru Sapha Printing House Building on Pra Arthit Road Bangkok,Thailand.
: ”Always (as it was)” Tang contemporary Art Bangkok, Thailand.
: “Hong Kong International Art Fair”, Hong Kong.
: “The way of Thainess” The Queen’s Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand.
: “Aesthetics of Body by 500 Artists” Artery The Silom Galleria,Bangkok, Thailand.
: “Mini Matters” Galerie N ,Bangkok, Thailand.
: “Contemporary Shadow Puppet “(Exhibition: 100 Tonson Gallery ‘s Collection) 100 Tonson Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand.
2008 :”Trace of Siamese Smile: Art+Faith+Politics+Love” at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Pathumwan Intersection, Bangkok
:”Beyond GreenHouse” ARDEL Gallery of Modern Art,Thailand.
: General Public Category at 23 st PTT Art contest entitled.
2007 : The POCHEON ASIA BIENNALE 2007,PCAB 2007,the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
: Art thesis Exhibition, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
: Artist self portrait, The Silom Galleria, Bangkok, Thailand.
: General Public Category at 22 st PTT Art contest entitled.
2006 : The 2nd Amata Art 2005, Bangkok, Thailand.
: The 8th Panasonic Contemporary Painting Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand.
2005 : The 7th Panasonic Contemporary Painting Exhibition, Bangkok, Thailand.
: The 1st Toshiba : Bring good things to life Art Competition 2005, Bangkok, Thailand.
: The 27th Bue Luang Exhibition of Paintings, Bangkok, Thailand.
2004 : The 1st SAMART Innovation Award : Prosperity of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand.
: Still Sculptures and Surroundings Art Exhibition, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
2003 : Thailand Art Award, Philip Morris Group, Bangkok, Thailand.
2002 : House of Painting, the 60th Anniversary of Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2001 : The International Smart Art Exhibition, the 10th Suzuhiro Kamaboko Board Painting Contest, Japan.
1999 : ASEAN Art Exhibition by Phillip Morris

Experience and Awards: 

2009 : Received a Scholarship from The Stateman General Prem Tinasulanon Foundation.
2007 : 2nd Prize : Silver Medal mixed media in The 53 nd National Art Works Exhibition.
2006 : Second Prize Naritsaranuwatiwong.
: Second Excellent Prize, The 8th Panasonic Contemporary Painting Exhibition.
: Received a Scholarship from The Stateman General Prem Tinasulanon Foundation.
: Royal “Bhomibhol Scholarship” for outstanding study.
: Silver Medal Honorable Award at “Silpa Bhirasri” 23rd Contemporary Young Arts Exhibition.
: Outstanding Award in General Public Category at 21st PTT Art contest entitled.
: Third Honorary Prize (Bronze medal) in The 52nd National Art Works Exhibition.
: International Culture of Peace Prize : Voices of youth in recognition of an outstanding contribution to peace Activities by Unesco and Escap.
2004 : Merit Prize for Painting of : Young Thai Artist Award 2004. Siam Cement Foundation.
2002 : First Prize Thai Art Student Exhibition, Rajamangala Institute of Technology Songkhla.