GHOSTS, Revisted

Lao American artist Sayon Syprasoueth and Michael ED Detto's exhibition "GHOSTS, Revisited" is coming to the Goethe Intitut from 4/1-15 (two weeks )in Los Angeles.

In their artists statement, they noted "Cultural memory is collective memory, and the artist plays a part in it. Today’s notions of history and memory may be flawed and disputed, but they are especially problematic for the individual that has experienced tragedy. The notion of “victims’ silence” following tragic events has often been the subject of discussion, and is frequently linked to suffering. Should victims decide to speak about their experiences, they are likely to relive past suffering, often making it unbearable."

They added: "German writer W. G. Sebald, whose books became landmark works in the realm of esthetics and its link to memory, served as an inspiration for the exhibition entitled “Ghosts.”

The exhibition includes works by Aragna Ker, Denise A. Scott., Ken Gonzales-Day, Prumsodun Ok and Michael Detto.  The exhibition focuses on the topic of memory as a central theme in exploring the roles of artists as storytellers, researchers, and/or social advocates.

As part of the exhibition, Several artists were invited to present and talk their work in Santa Monica last winter. At the Goethe-Institut, “Ghosts Revisited” offers the chance to “revisit” these works with a lecture by curator Michael EB Detto on his project “Sebald and the Image of Destruction,” as well as the opportunity to discuss the works with the artists themselves.

The Goethe Intituit is located at 5750 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA

[Exhibit] Arena 1: Ghosts

If you're in the Santa Monica area this month, be sure to catch the  ARENA 1 Gallery presentation of GHOSTS – a group exhibition, curated by Michael EB Detto and Sayon Syprasoeuth, which gathers new work from six artists exploring the aftermath of the catastrophe, the genocide, or the war. It will run until March 1st at 3026 Airport Avenue in Santa Monica, California.

ARENA 1 is an exhibition space founded by Santa Monica Art Studios directors Yossi Govrin and Sherry Frumkin. Based in an historic hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, ARENA 1 invites internationally known as well as newly established curators to develop innovative and compelling exhibitions.

For this exhibition, the curators ask:
"How should we treat the Ghosts each of these leaves behind – in real life, as metaphor, as a tool? The very own substantiality each one thing in itself exhibits, its innate properties, its relation to subject, time space, and language are altogether qualities which suddenly start to dissipate when we have to deal with ghosts. It is hard even to agree on one word for them: there are specters, phantoms and wreath, genie and spirit, the apparition and many other denominations to describe a phenomenon that tends to blur the demarcation line between subject and object, past and presence, here and there."

Initiated by Michael Detto’s project “Cambodian Ghosts”, Sayon Syprasoeuth and Michael Detto invite artists to a dialogue about their art and the ghosts of the past, and to present their work in this context. There will be an exhibition walkthrough and conversation with the artists discussing the themes (amongst others) ethics and art, beauty, style and the challenges of an aesthetics of evil, and about the ghost in art. Be sure to see it, if you can.

[Art] My Head II by Anousa Phommeuang

Anousa Phommeuang's "My Head II" which would sell for 1,500 euros. He's a graduate from the Fine Arts School in Vientiane based in Luang Prabang these days. According to his bio, his work has reportedly been "featured in exhibitions in Thailand, Singapore and other countries in SE-Asia," although more specific details than this were not readily available. Of his pieces available online, I consider this one his best. It is rough, but  it's his most imaginative with a competent composition. Like many of the Lao artists in Laos, he is heavily influenced by the cubism, surrealism, and expressionism forms that are still popular among the teachers and students there.

When we see the broader range of his pieces available, we see primarily traditional depictions of Lao women, particularly Lao women minorities especially common to the Fine Arts School in Vientiane. Within that range, several of his pieces are whimsical, others do a fine enough job paying homage to Picasso. But I find only his "My Head" series and "Circle of Life" (below) really step out into the individual and personal expression we would normally applaud in our culture.

"My Head II" in particular captures my attention because of the way it suggests a hierarchy of thoughts and interaction with the community. We see the fantastic and monstrous beast, monks approaching him, the women, and the others near his different sensory organs. It's a fun, imaginative visualization. I only hope one day we might see more pieces like this and that he has the opportunity to present really daring work that surpasses our expectations.