Apichatpong Weerasethakul's 'Primitive' at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
The Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is showcasing Apichatpong Weerasethakul's exhibition 'Primitive' until January 3, 2010. This display includes drawings, photographs, and videos inspired by Nabua, Thailand, a site where the army executed communist farmers over four decades ago. Weerasethakul engaged with local youth, merging elements of documentary and fiction. Commissioned by Haus der Kunst in Munich, this exhibition is part of a broader project that encompasses the film 'Uncle Boonmee: A Man Who Can Recall His Past Lives.' Notable video pieces include 'Primitive' in a two-channel format and 'I'm Still Breathing.' Weerasethakul's earlier works consist of 'Blissfully Yours' (2002), 'Tropical Malady' (2004), and 'Syndromes and a Century' (2007), highlighting themes of collective memory and agency.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Primitive' at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris until January 3, 2010.
- Includes drawings, photos, and videos made in Nabua, northeastern Thailand.
- Nabua is site where Thai army killed communist farmers over 40 years ago.
- Weerasethakul lived with local teenagers, blending documentary and fiction.
- Project includes feature film 'Uncle Boonmee: A Man Who Can Recall His Past Lives' (in preparation).
- Commissioned by Haus der Kunst, Munich, exploring art-cinema intersection.
- Paris exhibition has multiple spaces; Munich had a single room.
- Key works: two-channel synchronized 'Primitive', music video 'I'm Still Breathing'.
- Weerasethakul's films: 'Blissfully Yours' (2002), 'Tropical Malady' (2004), 'Syndromes and a Century' (2007).
- He was invited artist at Palais de Tokyo; videos shown by Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster in 'Cities on the Move'.
- 'Blissfully Yours' produced by Anna Sanders Films (Charles de Meaux, Pierre Huyghe, Philippe Parreno).
- Weerasethakul avoids making objects; spaceship remained in Nabua.
- Teenagers given cameras to direct their own film.
- Exhibition explores collective memory; cinema focuses on individual memory.
Entities
Artists
- Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster
- Charles de Meaux
- Pierre Huyghe
- Philippe Parreno
- Nicole Brenez
- Grégoire Perrier
Institutions
- Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Haus der Kunst
- Palais de Tokyo
- Anna Sanders Films
- Festival de Cannes
- Cinémathèque française
- Frieze Art Fair
- Grand Palais
- Musée d'art contemporain, Tokyo
- Carnegie International
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Munich
- Germany
- Nabua
- Thailand
- Bangkok
- London
- United Kingdom
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Pittsburgh
- United States
Sources
- artpress —