Showing 11 - 20 of 20
Breasts and body politics
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 21/08/2014
» Being in the presence of Thai visual artist Pinaree Sanpitak’s work, whether a print or an original, has always put me in a state of calm. Her minimalist style is neither cold nor distant, but intimate and nurturing. It somehow invites you to breathe and expand as it envelopes you in its warmth.
Playhouse politics
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 16/01/2014
» As Thai politics heat up on the streets and social media, the act of seeing people in the flesh has never felt more important. For many hours a day, we are glued to our phones and computer screens. People _ friends, acquaintances, colleagues _ are soon reduced to opinions on a single subject.
Setting the stage for change
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 18/12/2013
» As more and more people fall victim to Thailand's censorship laws _ and as the political divide deepens _ the local theatre scene continues to flourish. It is easily the artistic field least supported by the state, and receives little to no corporate sponsorship. As a result, theatre artists have mostly escaped the state censors' radar _ compared to, say, film _ and are mainly free from creating work to fulfil nationalistic, ultra-royalist agendas in order to obtain funding. Thus, theatre is probably the most politically minded among all forms of artistic and cultural expression in Thailand.
Playing with contradictions
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 28/11/2013
» Despite their metallic grey sheen, their shapes and details clearly indicated their roots _ khon. Looking closer, however, and instead of the usual full, growling faces of the khon demons, the cheeks and eyes of these masks designed by Anuthep Potchprasart resembled those of a skeleton. The first few notes plucked from the traditional Chinese guqin zither unfolded an ominous blanket over the show.
Whirlwind of history
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 10/10/2013
» To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Oct 14, 1973, student uprising, B-Floor Theatre and the students from Thammasat University's Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts journey into the past, scrutinise the present and look to the future in the spirited, moving Typhoon (The Remains).
Dancing on graves
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 06/09/2012
» Despite sustaining an injury while performing in B-Floor's Lear And His 3 Daughters a few months ago, Ornanong Thais-riwong refuses to let her pain stop her from documenting the country's current social chapter, which is laden with stories of censorship and violation.
Turning the pages of Democracy
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 04/06/2012
» Since the advent of bookstore chains, followed by the domination of Amazon, the act of dreaming up, opening and maintaining an independent bookstore has always been considered a statement against the invasion of giant corporations.
Moving towards nothingness
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 24/05/2012
» A few months ago, Adjjima Na Patalung posted on Facebook, asking for chair donations. For her upcoming production the stage required to be filled with chairs _ chairs that will be occupied by no one. The director has decided to stage Eugene Ionesco's Chairs for the Demo Classic Project 2, an annual programme at Democrazy Theatre Studio that invites young directors to tackle theatre classics.
The root and fruit of Love
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 03/05/2012
» As much of Thailand's classical trove consists of creations from the court, it comes as no surprise that kings in Thai literature are mostly portrayed as exquisite, god-like beings _ the epitome of goodness and wisdom. Some contemporary Thai artists like to mine the canon to create works for the purpose of teaching the accepted set of morals and ethics, rather than to question them.
Theatre as a mirror
Life, Amitha Amranand, Published on 02/02/2012
» We asked a number of local playwrights, directors and performers to pick a play they believe speaks about present-day Thailand. The play could be thousands of years old or recently written. We didn't limit the choice to works originally written in Thai.