Sung Tieu and Ho Rui An explore psychological warfare through media in Bangkok exhibition

Sung Tieu and Ho Rui An presented a duo exhibition titled "On-Air, Off-Air" at the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. The exhibition investigates how media can function as a covert political instrument. This exploration draws inspiration from historical military tactics, specifically referencing Operation Wandering Soul from the American war in Vietnam. That U.S. military campaign used engineered voice recordings to simulate the ghosts of fallen Việt Cộng soldiers, aiming to exploit local spiritual beliefs. The artists examine such remote, psychological methods of combat through a collection of installation, video, and photographic works. The show's title alludes to the broadcast and cessation of radio or television signals. By gathering these multimedia pieces, the exhibition probes the subliminal channels through which political strategies are disseminated. The works collectively analyze the intangible sensory assaults that characterize certain forms of modern and historical conflict.