Natee Utarit – Tosachat Eclectic

Richard Koh Fine Art Bangkok (RKFA) is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Natee Utarit (b.1970), titled Tosachat Eclectic. This exhibition is scheduled to run from 8 – 29 October 2022. It is also in conjunction with the opening of the new gallery at Peterson Building, 712/1, 9th Floor, Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

Tosachat Eclectic was developed from Utarit’s Déjà vu series on woodblock. These woodblock prints are related to the Lord Buddha, Buddhism and the Western World. Therefore, the inclusion of these 10 woodblock prints in the Déjà vu series is presented.

Tosachat can be defined as the name given from the scriptures in Buddhism. Those scriptures are mainly depictions of the story of the Lord Buddha, who was once still a “Bodhisattva” for ten incarnations before becoming fully “Enlightened” and lastly succeeding as the “Lord Buddha”. There are 10 main factors that are related to things such as good morals which are considered a prestige component. With these traits, it can transform a normal individual into a “noble individual.” This is an important part of the “Buddhism Concept”. Tosachat can also be classified as a form of literature. It can be seen as “A Story Telling”, “Have its own sources and background”, and “have its conclusion per each chapter”. It is considered an ancient tradition here. Moreover, even though Tosachat are mainly classified as Buddhism Scriptures form only, the concept is also perceived in other areas as well. Its concept can act as a newer point of view, whether it is in the context of “society”, “culture”, “traditional areas” and lastly “political factors”.

With this mixed concept, this series of artwork can be seen in a more contemporary context. A newer image with a blend of diversity and chaos. All those images come from different sources, which passed through the process of being reproduced, added info, and modified from their original picture. Hence, resulted in Tosachat’s characteristics in context and presentation being changed from its original sources. These can be conflict & harmony, Eastern & Western, Old and New, Traditional & Contemporary, and Philosophy & Absurdity.

Natee Utarit (b.1970, Bangkok, Thailand) studied at the College of Fine Art in 1987 and graduated in Graphic Arts from the Painting and Sculpture Faculty at Silpakorn University, both in Bangkok, Thailand in 1991. Solo exhibitions include Optimism is Ridiculous: The Altarpieces, The Private Museum, Singapore (2018), Optimism is Ridiculous: The Altarpieces, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia (2017), Optimism is Ridiculous: The Altarpieces, Ayala Museum, Manila, the Philippines (2017), Illustration of the Crisis, Bangkok University Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand (2013), After Painting, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2010) and The Amusement of Dreams, Hope and Perfection, Art Center of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (2007). Recent group exhibitions include Beyond Bliss, Bangkok Art Biennale 2018, Bangkok, Thailand (2018), Contemporary Chaos, Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium, Norway (2018), Thai Eye, BACC, Bangkok, Thailand and Saatchi Gallery, London, UK (2016/2015), Art of ASEAN, Bank Negara Museum and Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2015), Time of Others, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan (2015) and Asian Art Biennale 2013: Everyday Life, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taipei, Taiwan (2013).

His work is part of many renowned collections, such as the Bangkok University, Bangkok, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore, as well as private collections in Europe and Asia.

Utarit’s multifaceted practice focuses on the exploration of the medium of painting connecting it with photography and classical Western art. Light and perspective are some of the elements the artist chose to work with, focusing on painting as a means to explore image making. His complex pictures, juggling wide-ranging metaphors usually in the format of the traditional still life, allude to Thailand’s current social and political landscapes.