ALONG THE WAY การเดินทางของเวลา
Concept for Creation
This exhibition explores the evolution of Chiang Mai’s shophouses through printmaking and installation. By examining these structures, we delve into the city’s changing lifestyle patterns and the impact of modernization on traditional architecture.
The shophouses, once a vital part of Chiang Mai’s commercial landscape, now face challenges such as neglect, repurposing, and the encroachment of modern infrastructure.
Through this artwork, we aim to preserve the memory of these historic buildings and their role in shaping the city’s identity.
Designing Contemporary Artworks
The artwork features two two-story shophouse-style buildings, each 4 meters wide and 4.20 meters high, designed to be shorter than typical structures. The lower level stands at about 1.40 meters, while the upper level is 2.80 meters. This height reflects the current state of older buildings that are being overshadowed by rising road levels.
Constructed mainly of wood using intaglio printmaking, the roofs are made of galvanized material created with the same technique. A one-meter-wide, 13-meter-long sidewalk is also included, along with a 4-meter-tall electric pole and a public phone booth. These elements highlight the contrast between outdated technology and modern advancements, reminding us of our reliance on the past.
Plates & Prints
The creation process will focus on a realistic style, depicting local shophouse structures at nearly actual size and highlighting details using intaglio printmaking techniques.
This method produces striking contrasts and realistic textures in both two and three dimensions, thanks to the pressure used to create raised surfaces. It effectively captures the textures of various materials like wood, metal, and cement, ensuring high realism and detail in large-scale works.
Additionally, printmaking allows for the replication of multiple materials needed for constructing the shophouse, making it well-suited for this creative presentation.
This creative process involves experimenting with presenting printmaking in a manner distinct from traditional methods through installation art, complemented by collaborations with artists from other fields such as media art.
Projections are made onto the front doorway structure, featuring a print setup without ink, relying solely on the raised wooden surface created in the mold and printed on paper.
The projections narrate the continuously evolving moments of the structure through street art and graffiti, perpetually shifting as time marches onward.
