๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ
March 9 @ 10:00 am - July 15 @ 6:00 pm
MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum is delighted to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ, curated by Roger Nelson. This distinctive showcase, running from 9 March to 15 July 2024, features an international ensemble of artists who delve into the concept of adaptation in art, transforming various inspirations into new creations.
All the artworks in ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ can be considered โadaptations,โ meaning that they respond to stories that the artists have taken from elsewhere. For example, some artworks are inspired by works of literature and cinema. Other artworks take their cue from historical paintings, sculptures, and designs by other artists. Some artworks are also inspired by writings by scholars and theorists.
Despite this, all the artworks in the exhibition transform the stories they respond to into something new. In this way, while they can be considered โadaptations,โ they are not trying to be exact copies of other artworks or literary or cinematic sources. Instead, they are deliberately โunfaithfulโ kinds of adaptation, meaning that they use their artistic license to freely change the look and feel of the stories they are responding to.
The concept of ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ is inspired by two of the artists that are included in the exhibition. They are Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook (b. 1957, Thailand) and Mieke Bal (b. 1946, Netherlands). Both artists are world-famous and have exhibited at many prominent platforms internationally. Both artists are also prolific writers, and their writings as well as ideas from their artworks have inspired the title and curatorโs concept for the exhibition.
The exhibition also showcases newly commissioned artworks, including an installation by Fyerool Darma featuring a recording of a sรฉance with a deceased man, a series of paintings by Ian Tee based on a Chinese mythological tale, and an artwork by Thao Nguyen Phan, which reconstructs furniture designed by Vietnamese artist Diem Phung Thi, serving as seating for visitors to engage with the displayed works. This approach is inspired by the writings and artworks of Mieke Bal and Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook. Additional pieces include videos and films by internationally acclaimed artists like Mieke Bal, CAMP, and Chulayarnnon Siriphol, as well as an early silent film from Spain showcasing extended sword-fighting scenes, created in 1908 by Ricardo de Baรฑos & Alberto Marro.
Originally exhibited at Nanyang Technological University’s ADM Gallery in Singapore, this exhibition was made possible with the support of Jim Thompson and Quu Hotel.