Japanese artist Eiji Sumi returns to the Bangkok art scene once again with his new obsession. Now based in Bangkok, last year he staged a mixed-media exhibition inspired by wire cables. In his exhibition that premiered last week, he shows us how obsessive he is with construction sites.
Sumi transformed his observation of building work in Bangkok into the show "Under Construction", which is comprised of paintings and installations. His works are inspired by the "combine" movement of late American artist Robert Rauschenberg; in Sumi's work, he combines found objects and images with lighting and new media.
The top floor is a mixed-media room where Sumi combines his obsession in construction with his imagination and artistic skills.
The show plays out over two floors. The first one includes paintings and installations, while the top floor of the gallery is turned into an interactive exhibition room with a sound system created by his fellow New York-based sound designer Niklas Moller.
Sumi moved to Bangkok last year and now is a lecturer in Chulalongkorn University's International Communication Design Programme (CommDe), part of the university's Faculty of Architecture.
Life talked to Sumi about his new work and being based in Bangkok.
What is the background of "Under Construction"?
After I moved to Bangkok last year, I've been interested in the number of constructions in the city. I went and took photos and collected objects. Basically, I wanted to talk about the positive side and negative side of the constructions. Not the building itself, as I see them as a beautiful thing. The shapes and forms of the unfinished construction that change every day _ the next day they will be something else, which raises the issue of the goodness of the old disappearing in the world of fast-growing new buildings.
Eiji Sumi stands in front of his painting inspired by the patterns of gypsum boards seen in most construction sites.
And what is the positive side of it?
Here in this work I captured the deserted area near Phrom Phong, which is expected to be turned into some buildings in the future. There are plants that grow in this area or some of them spring up inside the demolished buildings that sort of represent life in the ruins.
The paintings seem to dominate the theme of this exhibition. Can you elaborate on that?
These are the paintings inspired by the patterns of the constructions. When you paint a gypsum board as the interior wall, you make these lines and dots to hide the seams of the board and screws. To me, these patterns have always been an abstract painting.
What is the story of the room on the third floor of the gallery?
It is my utopia side of construction. Here I created a room with the installation of found objects and ready-made objects construction workers use in daily life. I wanted to make this room a construction wonderland of my utopia.
The highlight of this room is the sound system made by sound artist Niklas Moller.
I recorded different sounds from construction sites and sent him the materials to create this work. One of the walls is used as a screen for the projector _ it displays an interactive image that is inspired by the computer screen when it freezes. The image can change itself from the sound in the room.
This is your second exhibition in Bangkok. How was the feedback of your last show?
It was wonderful. I was surprised to gain so much attention from the audience and the media. After that, I have gotten the teaching job at Chulalongkorn University. Since last year, I became a teacher in multimedia design for the international programme at the Faculty of Architecture.
Do you like teaching?
It's very interesting. I really enjoy it. Young students are very creative. I usually get the comments that Thai people copy works or are unoriginal, but I find it's not true. My students really impress me. They create something from scratch that become really impressive works.
What do you think of the Thai art scene?
Thai contemporary art is very conceptual. It actually helps me grow in terms of creating new works with strong concepts.
"Under Construction" runs until Sept 15 at WTF Gallery, Sukhumvit Soi 51. Call 02-662-6246.
The second floor of WTF gallery has paintings and installation art.
