What Cannot Be Forgotten, Must Be Celebrated

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Research Background

In Southeast Asian contemporary art, trauma is addressed in several ways. The Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama views her artistic practice as a means to cope with her hallucinations and mental illnesses. The London-based Chinese artist Shiyu (Icy) Qiao uses line animation and basic visual effects to address the pathological extremes of contemporary and traditional Chinese culture. The Filipina artist Dee Jai takes an active social role in reaching out to damaged youth. All these artists employ one form or another of a confessional strategy. A potential problem with this is that a confession can easily become a performance, thereby risking lessening its impact.

Research Contribution

My exhibition 'What Cannot Be Forgotten, Must Be Celebrated' consisted of 14 paintings, 2 digital prints, 1 set of 7 lightboxes and 1 projected video. It was open for October to November of 2025. Through this variety of media, I address personal loss through a lens of science fiction and fantasy. In my digital art the technologies I employ are the same as those found in Hollywood style visual effects. Importantly, my position to the subject matter is essentially playful, seeking to engage the audience with fantastical and appealing imagery.

Research Significance

The venue for this exhibition was Bangkok University Art Gallery (BUG) and was financially supported by them. The exhibition was curated by the notable Thai curator Pojai Akratanaku. It was favorably reviewed by TimeOut Bangkok and named by Koktail magazine as one of the top five attraction in Bangkok in October (2025). The opening was attended by over 100 visitors.