Coalescing Cadence (Curated by James Luigi Tana)

Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA) is pleased to present Coalescing Cadence, a group exhibition curated by James Luigi Tana, on view at the gallery’s Bangkok space from 31 July to 29 August 2026. The exhibition brings together eight artists from Thailand and the Philippines, namely Francis Commeyne, Imhathai Suwatthanasilp, Jonathan Ching, Kanokpon Somchua, MM Yu, Pik Chaichit, Poklong Anading and Thanatcha Chairin.

Coalescing Cadence looks at points of intersection across artistic practices and methods of visual construction within the socio-cultural and historical ties between the two countries. The exhibition proposes that certain facets of everyday experience materialise as images and objects marked by a shared sense of cadence. While cadence suggests rhythm, movement and flow, the works on view are equally shaped by grit and tension, negotiated through the relation between tradition and contemporary life in Southeast Asia. Spanning painting, sculpture, collage, mixed media and video, the exhibition continues a broader regional effort over the past decade to foster cross-cultural connections among artists from Southeast Asia.

Several of the works consider found and everyday objects as systems of meaning. Poklong Anading presents a video iteration of his ongoing photographic series contemplating the single-use plastic bag, whose resistance to degradation speaks to its persistent presence throughout our lives and its capacity to shape and blur our identities. Pik Chaichit’s new series of paintings combines unrelated objects and elements within a single picture plane, producing absurd, often eerie images that resist fixed meaning and remain open to interpretation.

Others translate their physical environments into abstraction. MM Yu’s Measures and Measures II allow paint to travel towards the edges of the canvas under the pull of gravity, an exercise in controlled chance that registers her surroundings as an amalgamation of bright colours. Her video untitled landscape presents scenes from across the Philippines marked by disarray and the unexpected, scored ironically with the sound of birdsong. Imhathai Suwatthanasilp’s mixed-media drawings, incorporating monoprint, graphite, acrylic and human hair, draw on her observations in Lamphun Province during the turn from the hot season to the rains, when termites begin to swarm. In an accompanying set of collages, she arranges termite wings into floral patterns within Petri dishes, reflecting on the rhythms and repetitions found in nature and the promise of renewal that the rain brings.

POKLONG ANADING (b.1975, Manila, Philippines) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice investigates photography, found objects, and material transformation. Exploring value, memory, and sociopolitical questions, he has exhibited internationally, including the Gwangju Biennale, Guggenheim UBS MAP, SFMOMA, and National Gallery Singapore, alongside numerous international artist residencies.

PIK CHAICHIT (b.2002, Thailand), also known as Prig, is a young Thai artist who graduated in Painting from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. Driven by his passion for painting, he continues to develop his practice and pursue his aspirations as a dedicated and accomplished artist.

MM YU  (b.1978, Philippines) is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography and painting. A Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines, her practice explores urban life, memory, and overlooked everyday moments. Recipient of the CCP Thirteen Artists Award and Ateneo Art Award, she has undertaken international artist residencies.

IMHATHAI SUWATTHANASILP (b.1981, Thailand) is a Thai mixed-media artist renowned for using human hair to explore identity, memory, and belief. Drawing from personal and cultural narratives, her practice reflects morality and human relationships. Educated at Silpakorn University, she has exhibited internationally, with works in public collections including the Singapore Art Museum and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum.

KANOKPON SOMCHUA (b.1996, Thailand) holds a Master’s degree from Silpakorn University. Raised in Nakhon Si Thammarat, his practice reflects a profound connection to nature, exploring identity, memory, and consciousness through observations of forests and landscapes. His paintings transform personal experiences into contemplative expressions of humanity’s relationship with the environment.

FRANCIS COMMEYNE (b.1988, Philippines) is a Filipino artist whose paintings and mixed-media works reinterpret everyday urban life through themes of movement, belonging, and value. A Painting graduate and valedictorian from the University of the Philippines, he has presented solo and group exhibitions locally and internationally.

THANATCHA CHAIRIN (b.1990, Chiang Mai, Thailand) is a sculptor and lecturer at Chiang Mai University’s Sculpture Department. Holding a Master’s degree from Silpakorn University, her practice explores social identity and Thailand’s transition into modernity. Through sculpture, installation, and mixed media, she examines the relationship between industrial development, craftsmanship, culture, and contemporary society.

JONATHAN CHING (b.1969, Dagupan, Philippines) studied Civil Engineering before pursuing Visual Communication at the University of the Philippines. A founding member of the artist collective Surrounded By Water, he has exhibited extensively since 2008, presenting solo and group exhibitions across the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.