Verapat Sitipol’s previous solo exhibition in 2014 was titled, The Forest Season. He was inspired by the forest of the Kanchanaburi province and its seasonal changes during his time in self-isolation. Sitipol had chosen solitude and has remain in this capacity since. During that period, Sitipol grappled with slowness of time in isolation and his paintings became a reflection of his solitude. Seasonal sadness, depression – such feelings are widespread in the darker months but by looking outwards, Sitipol had managed to circumvent the ‘darkness’, by understanding and appreciating its rhythms. He had learned to embrace and celebrate the seasonal shifts in all its shadows and lights.
In The Silent Profundity of the Dark, Sitipol confronts this notion of ‘darkness’ and attempts to understand its duality, not only as a source of fear but also a point of fascination. Comparatively, this new body of work is primarily grounded by a darker palate of green and black. For Sitipol, these deeper hues represent the silent profundity of the dark and serves as the undertone of his paintings. Sipitol builds visual depth by layering lighter hues of green across the surface, increasing its intrigue. In several paintings, flowers are gently exposed creating a sense of light pushing through the darkness.
Upon first glance, viewers are presented with a seemingly unfamiliar landscape but upon gazing at the works closer, viewers realize a sense of familiarity, not in the physical sense, but more of a feeling of serenity akin to being awoken after a good dream. The enigmatic quality of Sitipol’s paintings are palpable and in the spirit of Santiniketan’s school of thought, he postures himself as an intermediary of nature.
