Spectrosynthesis II Examines LGBTQ Art in Southeast Asia
The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre hosts 'Spectrosynthesis II – Exposure of Tolerance', a touring exhibition from the Sunpride Foundation featuring over 50 artists. Curated from the foundation's LGBTQ art collection led by Patrick Sun, the show follows a 2017 iteration at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, which coincided with Taiwan's move to legalize same-sex marriage. In Thailand, same-sex activity is legal but marriage equality and gender recognition are not, providing a contrasting geopolitical context. The exhibition balances awareness-raising with art-historical merit, opening with a drag performance by Dicklomacy Queers Spicey(est) Sisters. Notable works include Ohm Phanphiroj's 'Underage' (2010), documenting child sex workers in Thailand; Arin Rungjang's 'Welcome to My World (Tee)' (2019), linking personal trauma to a transgender prostitute's life in Germany; David Medalla's interactive 'A Stitch in Time'; and Xiyadie's papercuts depicting internal battles. The show runs from 23 November 2019 to 1 March 2020.
Key facts
- Exhibition at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre from 23 November 2019 to 1 March 2020
- Second iteration of touring exhibition based on Sunpride Foundation's LGBTQ art collection
- Features over 50 artists
- First iteration was at Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei in 2017
- Patrick Sun leads the Hong Kong-based Sunpride Foundation
- Opening featured drag performance by Dicklomacy Queers Spicey(est) Sisters titled 'Land of a Thousand Rainbows'
- Ohm Phanphiroj's 'Underage' (2010) documents child sex workers in Thailand
- Arin Rungjang's 'Welcome to My World (Tee)' (2019) explores transgender identity and suicide
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Sun
- Ming Wong
- Bradd
- Radha
- Tamarra
- Josh Serafin
- Amadiva
- Ohm Phanphiroj
- Arin Rungjang
- David Medalla
- Xiyadie
- Yan Xing
- Robert Mapplethorpe
- Lionel Wendt
- Martin Wong
- Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
- Maria Taniguchi
- Danh Vo
Institutions
- Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
- Sunpride Foundation
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Taipei
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
- Asia
- Tel Aviv
- Germany