Sornchai Phongsa Challenges Belief Systems in Contemporary Society

The Lua people, an ethnic Thai group, have a belief system that regards males as the "gatekeepers of the faith and venerated defenders of cultural heritage." This is challenged by Sornchai Phongsa in Hypnotize, addressing how long-held beliefs and traditions are observed in contemporary society. Having belonged to the Lua people himself, the artist juxtaposes grand theatrics and males in prideful senses thus disrupting this belief. This is part of the artist's journey to understand the relationship between human behavior and invisible identities, in this case, animistic beliefs and the ethnic traditions of the Lua people.

Cartellino Sornchai Phongsa Richard Koh Fine Art
Installation view of Hypnotize
Cartellino Sornchai Phongsa Richard Koh Fine Art
Negotiation
String and terra-cotta
250 x 170 x 100 cm
Cartellino Sornchai Phongsa Richard Koh Fine Art
Ghost in the Lua Yard
Pencil and ink on paper
100 x 70 cm
Cartellino Sornchai Phongsa Richard Koh Fine Art
Immolate, Acrylic on Lua's fabric, 170 x 170 cm
Cartellino Sornchai Phongsa Richard Koh Fine Art
Installation view of Hypnotize
Hypnotize will be on view at Richard Koh Fine Art Thailand until December 6, 2019.
Photos courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Art