Thai Artist’s Work Shows Political Awakening

 

In some countries, there would not be any problem with art showing French revolutionaries replaced with cartoon cats and birds. But it may be a sensitive subject for Thailand's monarchy².

For artist Yuree Kensaku, the country's political situation shapes her work. Protesters in Thailand are calling for reform of the monarchy and other changes.

"People have started their political awakening," said Kensaku.

The Bangkok Art Biennale is now showing her latest artwork. It combines the influences of her Thai background with her experience making art in La Rochelle, France. There, historical works of art showing times of revolution gave her the ideas she uses now.

Talk of revolution is sensitive in Thailand. People loyal to the monarchy say that protesters are trying to bring down that system of government. Supporters of the king think protesters are calling for reforms to limit his powers. But the protest leaders say that is not their goal. The protesters want to remove Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and establish a new constitution.

Kensaku's parents are Thai and Japanese. She was born and raised in Bangkok. She said her work is not meant to be a message about the monarchy.

"We must learn about the past to understand the present but I'm not saying that we have to go that way necessarily," she said.

Kensaku does not believe that reforms will end the Thai monarchy.

Blue, Blanc, Rouge³

In the middle of one large Kensaku work, a female body with the head of a chicken holds a flag of blue, white and red. It is similar to Frenchman Eugene Delacroix's 1830 painting Liberty Leading the People. In Delacroix's work, a woman representing Liberty holds the French flag high over bodies of fighters at her feet. The painting depicts⁴ France's July Revolution of 1830.

Kensaku's piece is called Blue, Blanc, Rouge. It relates to both the French and Thai flags, which use the colors blue, white and red. In France's flags the colors represent freedom, equality and friendship. In Thailand, they stand for monarchy, religion and nation.

Broken Victoria

Kensaku's other work at the biennale is a sculpture titled "Broken Victoria." It is modeled on the Winged Victory of Samothrace, an ancient piece at the Louvre museum in Paris.

Kensaku's work combines a winged female body with the head of a cat with green hair. The cat-woman holds a revolutionary flag above her head. A white tie around its middle suggests a symbol of the Thai protests, Kensaku said. And the cat-woman's wing is broken.

She noted⁵ that protestors can get hurt. "In order to achieve victory you have to fight for it and it's not going to be easy," she said.

Kensaku said the indirect symbolism she uses made it possible to show her work in public without risk of trouble from Thai officials. Speaking out against the country's monarchy directly can lead to a jail sentence.

The artist said, "The nature of my work is already self-censoring because it is hiding the truth behind it. It's less risky⁶ than other artists out there."

Words in This Story

cartoon - n. a drawing in a newspaper or magazine intended as a humorous comment on something

monarchy – n. a form of government in which a country is ruled by a monarch¹

sculpture – n. a piece of art that is made by carving⁷ or molding clay, stone or metal

symbol – n. an action, object or event that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

achieve – v. to get or reach (something) by working hard

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

3 rouge   

n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红

参考例句：

• Women put rouge on their cheeks to make their faces pretty.女人往面颊上涂胭脂，使脸更漂亮。
• She didn't need any powder or lip rouge to make her pretty.她天生漂亮，不需要任何脂粉唇膏打扮自己。

4 depicts   

描绘，描画( depict的第三人称单数 )； 描述

参考例句：

• The book vividly depicts French society of the 1930s. 这本书生动地描绘了20 世纪30 年代的法国社会。
• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively. 他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

7 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。