PHAPTAWAN SUWANNAKUDT | Days of Endless Meaninglessness 2

“The paintings in the series “Days of (Endless) Meaninglessness” "วันว่าง...เปล่า" was created right in-between and not long after the Bhava series.  They are based on candid photographs taken by Phaptawan without her conscious thought about their content. It reflects the state of being, but this time was created in response to a series of events took place in Bangkok. Phaptawan visited Thailand annually, but this trip coincided with political unrest and her mother's declining health. The title "Days of (Endless) Meaninglessness" reflects the sense of frustration and disillusionment caused by the political turmoil and her mother's deteriorating condition on the day. The protests in Bangkok, aimed at disrupting the government and preventing elections, created a tense and uncertain atmosphere. The protestors' claims of voter fraud and their disregard for the votes of rural people further highlighted the societal divisions in Thailand. These photos served as the inspiration for the series of triptychs. The use of photographs and an impressionistic technique to capture the immediacy of the experiences. The raw and unfinished style reflects the artist’s primitive way of seeing, focusing on what is not in the frame to convey the context of the day; a sense of sadness in the work, suggesting that subconscious feelings may have influenced the photographs and paintings.”

References: Catalogue essay "วันว่าง...เปล่า" “Days of (Endless) Meaninglessness” 2014; Phaptawan Suwannakudt interviewed by Clare Veal, 100 Tonson Gallery  (established as a Foundation in 2019)