Wantaya Thitipaisal – Stage Fright

Richard Koh Fine Art Singapore is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition “Stage Fright”, featuring the latest body of work by Thai artist Wantaya Thitipaisal. The exhibition will run from 27 July to 17 August 2024 at Richard Koh Fine Art’s Singapore gallery located at 47 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks #01-26, Singapore 109444.

“Stage Fright” is a captivating collection of thought-provoking artworks meticulously crafted over the course of a year. This series delves into the profound intricacies of ambiguity and self-negotiation while exploring the impact of privacy on human relationships. Wantaya skillfully blurs the lines between public exposure and private censorship, inviting viewers to contemplate the delicate balance of decision-making in uncertain circumstances.

Each canvas embodies a unique presence, with brushstrokes, color choices, and corrections representing moments of hesitation between abstraction and figuration. Abstraction is employed as a form of censorship, shielding the artist’s private self while granting viewers the freedom to interpret and engage with their thoughts and emotions.

The subject matter of “Stage Fright” revolves around the complexities of day-to-day interactions, ranging from gossip and rumors to cultural myths, social constructs, virtues, and introspective acts of self-reflection, penance, remorse, and repentance. This collection exudes a touch of postmodern sensibility, drawing inspiration from real events, places, and everyday experiences.

The symbolic use of stages acts as a foundation for the artworks, manifesting as platforms, walls, cage-like structures, fences, and floors. Despite their diverse forms, each stage symbolizes a space to stand upon, meticulously arranged as dioramas with focused lights casting an evocative glow upon them.

Wantaya Thitipaisal (b.1984, Thailand) or Arm Wantaya is a self-taught artist from Nonthaburi, Thailand.

After graduating from Raffles Design College in 2006, he studied Multimedia at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, before voluntarily leaving the field of advertising in 2018 to focus solely on his artwork.

Working across several disciplines (painting, ceramic, and moving image) Wantaya’s work explores themes of dialogue and assimilation. Subject matters are drawn from the mundanity of everyday life to pressing and complex socio-political issues, each piece an intimate reflection of the artist’s cognizance.