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The Unspoken Dialogue
Wanlop Hansunthai
MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum is pleased to present “The Unspoken Dialogue,” a solo retrospective exhibition tracing the artistic evolution of Wanlop Hansunthai (b. 1978, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand). With a profound sensitivity to the intricate bond between humanity and nature, the Thai contemporary artist’s work delves into the essence of human nature itself, inviting contemplation on our place within the ever-changing world around us.
Born and raised in the agricultural countryside of Nakhon Ratchasima, Hansunthai was immersed in rural life from an early age. First working as a volunteer for an environmental foundation and later as a land surveyor, he traversed vast terrains, where the quiet yet powerful dialogue between human existence and the natural world unfolded before his eyes, while the underlying undercurrents of social movements ran alongside. These deep connections between people, the physical places they inhabit, and the cultural practices they follow have profoundly informed the trajectory of his artistic inquiry.
“The Unspoken Dialogue” explores the evolving contexts of human activity and its repercussions on the environment, through a diverse array of mediums, including installation, sculpture, mixed-media painting, photography, and moving image. Some of the pieces are drawn from the museum's permanent collection, others are curated from Hansunthai’s past exhibitions, most notably “Against the Wall” (2021) at Numthong Art Space; “THE PRESENCE OF SILENCE” (2022) at Gallery Seescape; and “HAUS” (2023) and “Survival Sphere” (2024) at Head High Second Floor, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Guided by a minimalist sensibility grounded in naturalism, Hansunthai’s voice emerges softly yet profoundly, distilling personal contemplations into powerful narratives. His works engage with themes ranging from the rippling emergence of cultural structures, to the fluid
dynamics between humans and their environment, and the turbulent convergence of individual perspectives and collective realities through history. Materializing locally sourced natural materials as mediums for his exploration, his practice is firmly anchored in the landscapes that fuel his vision.
Amidst an era that rushes ever forward — like the relentless torrent of water — “The Unspoken Dialogue” beckons the audience to pause, retreat within, reflect upon, and listen to the silent conversations. In this stillness, we seek the delicate equilibrium between living beings and nature, all while exploring our place within a context ever-changing, shaped by the shifting currents of time and external forces
About artist
Wanlop Hansunthaib.1978, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandCurrently based in Chiang Mai, ThailandWanlop Hansunthai is a contemporary Thai artist who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Chiang Mai University. His work examines the intersection between human nature and the world surrounding it through everyday observation. Known for his rejection of traditional methods, Hansunthai creates art using various mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed-media, and installation. These techniques are employed in innovative ways to dissect and reveal social truths. The narratives his art conveys are shaped by time and place, reflecting belief systems from the past to the present.
Hansunthai's works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, at numerous renowned festivals and exhibitions. Notable examples include Kenduri Seni Patani 2024, TEDxChiangMai 2024, Résidence de France at the French Embassy in Thailand (2023), Art For Air Editions 1 and 2, Shinano Primitive Sense Art Festival 2021 in Japan, The Golden Triangle in Hang Dong and Chicago, C-Hub Creative Space in Taiwan, the Shine Landscape 2020 Award in Italy, MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, MAIELIE Khon Kaen, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Queen Sirikit Gallery, Chiang Mai University Art Centre, Numthong Art Space, and Neilson Hays Library in Bangkok. Currently, Hansunthai continues his practice as an independent artist, consistently addressing social, cultural, political, and environmental issues through his works.
