In search of other times: reminiscence of things collected

In search of other times: reminiscence of things collected

Opening reception: 26 November 2019 at 6.30 PM

Exhibition period: 26 November 2019 – 29 February 2020

Curator: Kittima Chareeprasit

JWD Art Space, Bangkok, Thailand

The reasons for collecting are multiple. They could be driven by personal desires or professional aspirations, viewed as an investment, a memento, a souvenir from sources of inspiration. Objects to be collected are part of our material culture as well as biological and geological treasure. When looked at closely, these cherished items from private collections present the story of cultural and historical accumulation from the past to the present.

In search of other times: reminiscence of things collected makes manifest both similarities and differences, by juxtaposing natural items and man-made artifacts with art pieces from various private collections. Taking inspiration from the functions of the natural history museum, this exhibition contemplates the relationship between times and displayed objects to build up dialogue about the transition of eras. It examines individual narratives and memories that not only reflect historical contradictions, but also as the archives of planetary evolutions, degenerations, extinctions, and progressions from particular times and spaces.

Traversed by the theme of discovery, the exhibition invites audiences to look at collectors as explorers who seek, study, and compile objects of beauty, value, and curiosity. Collecting is more than a hobby, it’s a lifetime research for some individuals. Beyond passion, it requires time and patience. Through this exhibition, viewers will witness how one collector journeyed across oceans to secure an artist’s archive or how another worked closely with a paleontologist to expand this distinctive field of knowledge. Some collectors develop their relationship with artists to become both their patron and friend. Dedicating their time to their collection, they turn into experts in their own right.

The exhibition displays one-of-a-kind curiosities, rarefied historical artifacts, and progressive, modern, and contemporary artworks altogether. These items could be perceived as a symbolic representation of our cultures’ progression, as well as a hallmark of the spirit of their times. The curatorial approach aims to create a new dialogue between groundbreaking objects and artworks, to open up new interpretations on how to view and read these objects. The intertwined notions of aesthetic, cultural and historical values in this exhibition make it a place of knowledge, a place to wander around with pleasure, a space to search for other times.