Rather than the presumption of the ‘correct perspectives’, the experience of his works embodies the correcting of perspectives, underscoring a fundamental trait that humanity should necessarily continue aspiring towards.
John Tung in ‘Seeing the World is a Question From Where’
Gajah Gallery presents Shifts in Perception, a solo feature by Tawatchai Puntusawasdi at Gajah Gallery Singapore, curated by John Tung. Working predominantly with hardwood and metal, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi has come to be known for his refined and elegant sculptures that skew and distort recognizable forms, evoking in audiences a heightened experience of the spaces they inhabit.
Shifts in Perception is a concise presentation introducing the interests and concerns that have pervaded Tawatchai Puntusawasdi’s practice over the past two decades. Beyond a melding of his mathematical mind and painstaking craftsmanship, the works also communicate the artist’s own ruminations on the limitations of human perception – our predominant means of apprehending reality. Bringing together iconic works from the artist’s oeuvre as well as newly commissioned artworks, the presentation intimates the artist’s unique perspectives and creation process in re-presenting the world around us. In doing so, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi offers up a nuanced worldview underscored by the revelation that perspective is always relative to position, and perception is always rooted in circumstance.
‘Shifts in Perception’ will take place in Singapore from 12 – 28 November, 2021 at the gallery’s exhibition space in Tanjong Pagar Distripark. The show will be accompanied by an online feature and short essay publication, written by curator John Tung.
Tawatchai Puntusawasdi (b. 1971, Bangkok, Thailand) pursued his art education at Chiang Mai University (BFA), and then Silpakorn University (MFA). He produces architectural sculptures in organic materials of hard-wood, slate, organic fibres, and metal. Puntusawasdi has exhibited locally in Thailand (National Art Gallery, 2007; Chiang Mai Art Museum, 2001), as well as internationally in countries such as: Singapore (ArtScience Museum, 2018; ADM Gallery, NTU, 2016; Esplanade Concourse, 2008); France (Morisot Foundation, 2007); Taiwan (Soka Art Space, 2008 and Shihmen Reservoir, 2004); Japan (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2007); Germany (Artswitcher Kunstwerks, 2000); and Sweden (Edsvik Konst och Kultur, 1999). In addition, he has participated in the Bangkok Art Biennale 2018, Jakarta Biennale 2009, Biennale of Sydney 2006, and the 50th Venice Biennale. He has twice been the recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. He lives and works in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
