Episode 2: Kawita Vatanajyankur – On becoming objects
In this episode, I’m joined by Bangkok-based artist Kawita Vatanajyankur. In this conversation, we talked about Kawita’s beginnings as an artist asking the question: what is beauty? And in turn what is ugliness? Where is the line between beauty and ugliness and most importantly who defines them? Kawita’s move to Thailand was also a big turning point in her artistic practice where she starts to question the different societal standards of labor, beauty, and the role of women particularly in Asia. This investigation led to her series of endurance performances where she manifested as household objects: a sponge, a dustpan, a mop, an ice shaver amongst other things. Tune in to hear Kawita share about how approaching art-making as a series of questions can help find the truth behind our everyday encounters.
About Kawita Vatanajyankur
Kawita Vatanajyankur has achieved significant recognition since graduating from RMIT University (BA, Fine Art) in 2011. In 2017, her work has been curated into 'Islands in the Stream' exhibition in Venice, Italy alongside the 57th Venice Biennale, Asia Triennale of Performing Arts at the Melbourne Arts Centre, as well as 'Negotiating the Future', The Asian Art Biennial Taiwan. In 2018, She showed her works as part of the Bangkok Art Biennale. In 2019, Vatanajyankur has held her largest museum show to date at Albright Knox Art Gallery in New York. She is currently represented by Nova Contemporary, Bangkok and Antidote Organisation, Australia.
Find out more about the artist at kawita-v.com and @kawitavv