Representing the ten unifying principles of the universe, the exhibition “The New Ark “ premiers on September 2.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is an interactive sculpture entitled ‘The New Ark’ which is a beacon created by the artist Director Jacq to revive and reconnect the universal bond that keeps life together.
The exhibition features 13 international artists who have created projects that address universal unity.
The exhibition and featured artworks are funded by a new international organization, Art Can Die, founded to provide financial support to art projects that otherwise might not receive funding.
The idea of the exhibition is derived from the Ark of the Covenant, a gold-covered wooden chest that contained the original Ten Commandments. The sacred artifact was stolen during one of the invasions of Jerusalem. Centuries later, people throughout the world have been trying to find it, including Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s classic film. But in reality, it seems to be gone forever. With the original ark gone, the rules between humans and the sacred seem to have disappeared as well. We treat our planet, animals, and other beings with no sense of responsibility, to a point that we are endangering our own existence.
Designed by Director Jacq and carved out of wood by Thai artist Suwat Boontam, “The New Ark” installation plays a visual symphony of lights and musical notes created by the public on a live-streamed website. Thus, visitors become the co-composers of “the symphony of humankind” – sharing a message of unity.
Venue: RCB Artery on 1st floor and RCB Galleria 3 on 2nd floor
Ilse van Roy (1978) is a Belgian multidisciplinary artist, expressing herself mainly through fluid shapes of textile and glass; both worlds demanding a different physicality and perhaps form of breathing from her and from us.
We are invited to consider matter and space, sensuality, and guts. Van Roy’s work takes Textile and Glass materials to the limit and into the art of craft in combination with numerous other media, such as photography, video, and print. Her work is a multilayered and multidimensional conversation with the world around us.
The work of Ilse Van Roy always depicts this intermediate stage, in which we all are “in-between” these phases, always uncertain, on the edge of the abyss, vulnerable forever, to all eternity. Her new work ‘Blue seeds’ expresses this in its purest shape with fragile blue eggs in glass resting on burned wood. Born out of fire and ready to hatch, a new holy humankind needs to appear out of the destruction it caused itself.
Exclusively created with the finest craftsmen in glassblowing, Ilse Van Roy presents her first collection of ‘SEEDS OF BLUE’, as a renewed exploration of our divine origins and as holy grails accompanying The New Ark on its world tour.
‘Have a moment to wander off. Silence out the city and all its noise. Feel what addresses you to step into. There is a duality going on, forming tension and narrative.’
Nick Ervinck
Nick Ervinck (1981) is a celebrated Belgian sculptor and contemporary craftsman combining top-notch technology with abstract design, traditional concepts of sculpture art and virtual futurism.
On the edge of the digital revolution, Nick is as much a visionary artist as a shamanistic rule breaker. Collected all over the world, his morphing sculptures and inconceivable mask mutations continue to impress and fascinate. As an artist Nick is expressing a deep unconscious desire to merge nature with technology, creating a new kind of harmonic creature, a human reintegrated and dramatically transformed by its environment as a last hope for survival. Nick Ervinck is as much Manga as he is Moore, his work is as much a projected ever-changing hallucination as an expression of the classical rules of the art carved in stone.
As gatekeepers for the New Ark, Nick Ervinck created a series of two sculptures,TANATILSUR & TANATIRIUB, that needed years of preparation and research to be designed.
A first and unicum, the sculptures are 3D printed by the pioneering Stratasys, giving rise to artworks that would, by all rules of nature, be impossible to imagine and to create.
‘I am a futurist who is dreaming about the future. I create imaginary dream images as windows in a possible future.’
Suwat Boontam (1982) is a Thai artist winning several awards for his distinguished style blending painting and carving on wooden canvases. His brushstrokes with knife and chisel make him more of a sculptor than a painter while his work gives the viewer an experience that flirts with French Impressionism, Russian Constructivism, and architectural surrealism.
Mostly black and white, his paintings illustrate with almost geometrical precision the restless imaginary cities of his dreams, preserved from any human or organic life, always in construction and transformation. Conceptual as well as figurative, the buildings in his landscapes float between abstract and photography.
Suwat Boontam collaborated with Director Jacq to create the New Ark and made his own ‘ASTRACT MAN TRIPTYCH’ especially for this exhibition.
Winner of major Asian art competitions, Thai artist Thongmai Thepram (1983) creates colorful and playful paintings depicting scenes inspired by fairy tales, masterfully mixing pop art with surrealism and anime.
Behind this innocent facade, Thongmai is an engaging artist touching themes of ecology and contemporary world issues.
Thongmai uses his own child’s face to symbolize every child and human being born on this planet and creates various characters wearing the costumes of heroes from cartoons, movies and moral stories whose personalities, habits and behaviors are models or represent the correctness and goodness according to Buddhist moral principles.
Thongmai created an exclusive painting ‘STOP FOR EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING’ for the New Ark exhibition. The exceptional work of art takes inspiration from the angels of The New Ark, creating a scene of protective angels for the Ark and humanity.
“I have a dream and hope that my children and every child born on this planet have rules for living, that they move forward by using wisdom, consciousness and goodness as the basis and principle in life.”
Vipoo Srivilasa (1969) is a Thai-born, multidisciplinary artist based in Melbourne. Best known for his porcelain and ceramics, Vipoo also creates mixed media sculptures, bronze statues, and interactive art.
As a curator, mentor, and activist, Vipoo cares to bring essential topics forward such as gender equality and multi-cultural dialogues.
Decades of experience have allowed him to show his work in major museums and festivals around the world, including Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Saatchi Gallery (London), Nanjing Arts Institute (China), and the 10th Asia Pacific Triennial. In 2021, Vipoo has been named the Artist of the Year by The American Ceramics Society, USA.
For this exhibition, Vipoo created an exclusive art installation named “ROOM FOR SPIRIT AND TIME”, a multimedia statue that the visitor can step into to feel a healing experience of light, sound, and scent. The art piece invites the visitor for a ‘rite of passage’, preparing him for a rebirth in a new society in transformation.
“Art means happiness. Because when I make art, it makes me happy. And when people look at my art, they’re happy…Happiness is art.”
IN COLLABORATION WITH SAC GALLERY
Pichai Pongsasaovapark (1963) is a Bangkok-based Thai artist, designer, and photographer using acrylics, mixed media, and photography to create abstract and conceptual art.
Known for addressing concerns pressing society and sharing a deep interest in nature, Pichai has lately been focusing on environmental and climate change issues. In 2018, he was invited to present his work at the United Nations’ annual environmental conference in Bangkok.
His background as an architect has trained Pichai to look for structure and form in objects and art, while also being open to unconventional artistic tools and materials, such as the use of car exhaust carbon, recycled paper, flood water, and most recently, fertilizer and a steamroller to crush flowers, vegetables, coffee beans, and sugar canes.
Pichai has created “TIMELESS SPACE ART TRAVEL”, an exclusive art installation inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s monolith from the film “2001: A Space Odyssey”.
As a preparation for our planet’s ill fate, Pichai gets humanity ready to leave Earth by taking with them its greatest shared legacy and timeless treasure: the world’s art. With a touch of fantasy, the installation consists of a master plan to take all the museums to space, with us.
IN COLLABORATION WITH SAC GALLERY
Alessandro Sicioldr (1990) is an Italian painter and modern symbolist. Combining the painting skills of an old Flemish master with the colorful harmony of a Renaissance Mannerist, he seems to be more interested in the irrationality and exploration of the human psyche as a real surrealist would do. This results in stunning and dreamy scenes with characters out of another sometimes futuristic dimension representing in fact his own interiority and subconscious. Alessandro depicts creatures of his own mythology as if he is trying to reconnect with a lost and divine past. His mysterious masterpieces struck you with a sense of untouchable beauty and melancholy.
For the occasion of the NEW ARK exhibition in Bangkok, Art Can Die presents two of his latest paintings that closely relate to the theme of the exhibition. ‘INCORONAZIONE’ shows the crowning ceremony of a blue alien creature. In ‘IL MAESTRO O LA VOCE’, a light giving tree is blessing the faces of female characters. Two paintings expressing the desire for a new divine future.
‘Rules and boundaries are useless when dealing with metaphysics, so I just let my inner world speak without asking questions.’
“I don’t think that art is about a single message. I think that art is made of untold intuitions, ambiguity, poetic atmosphere and I believe that if the inner life of an artist is quite rich and intense his works will be rich and intense as well.”
Daniel Martin Diaz (1967) is an American artist and musician. His work has been exhibited worldwide and has been published in LA Times, NY Times, Juxtapoz, High Fructose, etc, as well as in five books dedicated to his artwork. Diaz has designed artwork for large public art projects in the US and has won many awards such as a gold and platinum record designed for Atlantic Records. He is also involved in various musical projects.
Diaz’s influences include an eclectic mix from fantastical Mexican Retablos, mystical votive offerings, the Early Netherlandish painters, Gothic ornamentation, alchemy, science fiction movies as well as symbolism culled from assorted secret societies.
His drawings on recycled paper collages seem to be coming from a scientist who meticulously tries to prove the connection between geometry, Catholic saints and UFO inductions. Visually stunning in details and mathematical perfection, his seemingly religious depictions are in reality showing us his personal impressions of the current state of the world with all its delusions and absurdities without losing an eye of the persistence of the divine.
For this occasion of the NEW ARK exhibition in Bangkok, Art Can Die exclusively presents a few of his latest drawings that relate to the theme of the exhibition. METAPHYSIC I – IV are drawings representing geometrical rules while ‘UNIVERSAL COMPUTER SYSTEM’ projects the mysterious functionings of a computer into the realm of the universe.
“As we try to understand our place in the universe, art can be an important part of the dialogue we can create and share with each other. In my work, I seek to reveal the mysterious with arcane imagery and techniques that make sense to me on a deep level that words cannot quantify.”
Marisa Papen (1992) is a Belgian poet, artist, activist & naturalist. She became internationally known for her evocative work involving religion, body freedom & censorship. For her campaign ‘God is a Woman, it’s Mother Earth’ she courageously undressed in front of sacred temples like the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Turkey, the pyramids and temple of Luxor in Egypt, the Vatican in Rome, the Western Wall in Jerusalem and others.
With her art and activism, Marisa opens a dialogue towards greater equality and freedom. She aims to naturalize the human body in a world that has lost its connection with its natural origin. She has collaborated with world renowned photographers and artists to realize her vision, offering her body as a symbol for that connection.
Exclusively for this exhibition, Marisa presents her first visual art expressed in two installations. To enter the exhibition, everyone is invited to walk through her ‘PORTAL OF LIFE’, a monumental-vagina-flower-gate as an invitation for rebirth. Her other installation entitled ‘FLOW OF LIFE’ is a series of 13 moon paintings created with her menstrual blood mirroring the lunar year cycle. It is a vivid and powerful reminder of our existence within the circle of life as it is a ritual expression of her will to proudly express her femininity without shame or fear.
‘I was 22 when I first undressed in front of a camera. I remember this incredible wave of freedom and expressiveness filling up my entire being’
Michael Hutter (1963) is a visionary German artist who has spent most of his artistic career working in separation, isolated contemplation, and manic work. His original and pure art form reminds us of great classic masters such as Hieronymus Bosch and fin-de-sciècle artists like Félicien Rops or James Ensor.
He uniquely combines his craft and references with a focus on cosmic horror, an ambivalent fascination for religion, occult tribal fantasies and playful erotism.
Michael Hutter created the first 5 panels of a big altarpiece named “THE TRIUMPH OF THE ARK”, especially in honor of the New Ark. Many elements of Director Jacq and other artists of this exhibition are added into the composition.
While touring, Michael will continue to add more panels to his masterpiece.
‘I decided to become an artist instead of a religious fanatic. I still think this was a good choice.’
‘I don’t care about reality or the probability that something is true, only for its potential to stimulate my imagination. In my opinion, the truth is somehow an illusion anyway.’
Stéphane Blanquet (1973) is a French multimedia artist. He is involved in the graphzine underground scene, art installations, artwork, urban and contemporary art, animation movies, theater, books, publishing, art direction, etc.
Stéphane Blanquet’s work depicts a personal mythology inspired by folk and popular culture, fairgrounds, and magical optical illusions. His paintings are highly detailed multilayered masterpieces with seemingly chaotic sceneries of erotism and devotion inked by a modern tribal monk. One may recognize elements of Art Brut and outsider art with the sense for perfection and harmony of a contemporary classicist. His touch is unique and recognizable in every inch of his canvas and with his latest ‘red’ works, he has been experiencing a renewed excitement for his work.
For this exhibition, Stéphane Blanquet created a 2 by 3 meter painting ‘L’EXALTATION’ inspired by the mission of the New Ark.
New York-based artist Mu Pan (1976) is known for his large epic and narrative paintings with animal and half-human creatures, precisely drawn, whose portrayals are often placed in semi-historical, mythical, and pop culture battle settings.
Monsters in his paintings represent current issues that concern him, ranging from global warming, to racism, or authoritarianism.
Mu Pan believes that war creates great characters, and that one has to be a great artist in order to fight a war as a commander.
Drawing and painting are for him the most obvious ways to claim justice. He uses creation as a pretext to highlight everything he dislikes such as violence, conflict or lies.
Together and exclusively for Art Can Die, Mu Pan created a 1-meter tall sculpture of the mythical elephant ERAWAN. This is the first time for Mu Pan to venture into three-dimensional art. The sculpture is the artistic gatekeeper of The New Ark and will protect the sacred chest during its world tour.
“I dream to have the dominating power to rule, to destroy, and instill fear into my enemies. Of course, it’s impossible. No one can have this kind of power in today’s world. So I created my own world for myself with my images. In my images, I can be whatever I want to be and eat whoever I hate. Every monster I draw is actually a self-portrait.”
Director Jacq is an intergalactic creator who seems to be operating from his spaceship JTI333, lost somewhere in space, among the stars.
Director Jacq only communicates with Earth through his embroidered art which he sends from his spaceship. In the center of his vessel, there is also a space chapel housing his New Ark. This interactive light giving holy sculpture is created to preserve and propagate the 10 holy geometric rules of the Universe. It’s streaming live, 24/7, offering everyone the opportunity to add lights and music notes, and by doing so becoming part of the symphony for humanity.
His embroidered paintings and wearable capes read like religious manuscripts of a lost or undiscovered tribal society and are composed by hand with a high level of craftsmanship and sense for geometrical harmony.
Art Can Die presented here is the first physical exhibition of his embroidered relics in addition to the center piece of its exhibition ‘THE NEW ARK’. On the ground floor RCB Artery, his 10 embroidered capes represent each one of the 10 universal principles that are also represented on the New Ark.