Pinaree Sanpitak

"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the AMOA - Arthouse, Austin, TX, 2013
April 20 - June 30, 2013
Silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the AMOA - Arthouse, Austin, TX, 2013
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the AMOA - Arthouse, Austin, TX, 2013
Breast Stupa Cookery, Austin Museum of Art - Arthouse, Austin, TX., 2013
Breast Stupas Topiary, in the exhibition, "Female Power,"
at the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, The Netherlands, March 3 - May 20, 2013.
Breast Stupas Topiary, in the exhibition, "Female Power,"
at the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, The Netherlands, March 3 - May 20, 2013.
Breast Stupas Topiary, Chateau La Roche de Jacquelin, Daumeray, France, 2009
Breast Stupas Topiary, Chateau La Roche de Jacquelin, Daumeray, France, 2009
Breast Stupas Topiary, Chateau La Roche de Jacquelin, Daumeray, France, 2009
Breast Stupas Topiary, 2011
watercolor on paper
"Cloud Garden" and "The Mirror" installation, 2012
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
permanent collection
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
October 15 – December 30, 2012
Silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
"Temporary Insanity" Installation at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
Pinaree working in the glass studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
Pinaree working in the glass studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, , 2012
Pinaree working in the glass studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA,
Pinaree working in the glass studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, , 2012
Workshop with "Breast Stupa Cookery" molds at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, 2012
Installation view of Anything Can Break, 2012
Sydney Biennale, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Detail of Anything Can Break installation, 2012
Sydney Biennale, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Detail of Anything Can Break installation, 2012
Sydney Biennale, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Detail of Anything Can Break installation, 2012
Sydney Biennale, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
View of Hanging by a Thread, April 19 - June 1, 2012
VIEW OF HANGING BY A THREAD, APRIL 19 - JUNE 1, 2012
Hanging by a Thread, 2012
Installation of hammocks made from traditional "Paa-Lai" printed cotton fabric
VIEW OF HANGING BY A THREAD, APRIL 19 - JUNE 1, 2012
Bare Silhouette, 2012
Silk, printed polyester dress, embroidery
76 1/2 x 48 1/2 in. (195 x 123 cm)
Flying Cube, 2012
Silk, linen dress
74.02 x 49.61 inches (188 x 126 cm)
Feather Flow, 2012
Silk, polyester, silk dress, feathers, embroidery
62.99 x 56.3 inches (160 x 143 cm)
Connecting, 2012
Polyester, printed cotton dress, embroidery
78.74 x 55.12 inches (200 x 140 cm)
Kaw Gra-Shao - Purple, 2012
Chenille, Thai Kaw Gra-Shao blouse, embroidery
57.48 x 55.91 inches (146 x 142 cm)
Kaw Gra-shao - Blue, 2012
Printed cotton, Thai Kaw Gra-shao blouse, embroidery
39.57 x 29.13 inches (100.5 x 74 cm)
Kaw Gra-shao - Green, 2012
Silk, Thai Kaw gra-shao blouse, embroidery
26.77 x 28.74 inches (68 x 73 cm)
Installation view of Anything Can Break
The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, August 2011
Installation view of Anything Can Break
The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, August 2011
Installation view of Anything Can Break
The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, August 2011
Flying Cube I, 2011
acrylic, pencil on canvas
47¼ x 39¼ in. (120 x 100 cm)
Flying Cube II, 2011
acrylic, pencil, fabric on canvas
47¼ x 39¼ in. (120 x 100 cm)
Flying Cube Sculptures, Artists Scarecrows Rice Paddy Project, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2010
wickerwork
Flying Cube Sculptures, Artists Scarecrows Rice Paddy Project, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2010
wickerwork
Flying Cube Sculpture, 2010
wickerwork
Flying Cube Sculpture, 2010
wickerwork
Flying Cube Sculpture, 2010
wickerwork
Installation view of the Here/Not Here exhibition at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2011
Installation view of the Brilliant Blue and the Mirrors, 2011
Photo by Kaz Tsuruta.© Asian Art Museum, San Francisco.
Cloud Garden as installed in the ground floor atrium of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2011
Installation View of Quietly Floating at Tyler Rollins Fine Art, March 4 - April 17, 2010
INSTALLATION VIEW OF QUIETLY FLOATING AT TYLER ROLLINS FINE ART, MARCH 4 - APRIL 17, 2010
INSTALLATION VIEW OF QUIETLY FLOATING AT TYLER ROLLINS FINE ART, MARCH 4 - APRIL 17, 2010
Brilliant Blue, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
78 x 98 1/2 in. (198 x 250 cm)
Quietly Floating Quietly Funny, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
78 x 98 1/2 in. (198 x 250 cm)
Cloud Garden, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
78 x 98 1/2 in. (198 x 250 cm)
Cloud Track, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
78 x 98 1/2 in. (198 x 250 cm)
Cloud Sprout, 2008
Acrylic on linen
78 x 78 1/2 in. (198 x 199 cm)
Cloud Mist, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
69 x 75 in. (175 x 190.5 cm)
Vermillion Sky, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
69 x 75 in. (175 x 190.5 cm)
Dark and Sweet, 2008
Acrylic on linen
78 x 78 in. (198 x 198 cm)
The mirror, 2009
aluminum and mirrored glass
37 1/2 x 76 x 7 in., edition of 6 + 2 AP
The mirror, 2009
Aluminum and mirrored glass
37 1/2 x 76 x 7 in. (95 x 193 x 18 cm), edition of 6 + 2 AP
Quietly Floating: blue 3, 2009
Acrylic on shikishi paper
9 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (24 x 27 cm)
Quietly Floating: vessel 3, 2009
Acrylic on shikishi paper
9 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (24 x 27 cm)
Quietly Floating: blue 1, 2009
Acrylic on shikishi paper
9 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (24 x 27 cm)
Quietly Floating: breast clouds 9, 2009
Acrylic on shikishi paper
9 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (24 x 27 cm)
Quietly Floating - Pink, 2008
Hand blown Murano glass
14 x 6 x 10 in (35.5 x 16 x 25 cm)
Quietly Floating, 2008
Hand blown Murano glass
Dimensions Variable
Breast Clouds - Installation View, 2010
Cast aluminum
Dimensions Variable
Installation View , 2008
Hand blown Murano glass
Dimensions Variable
Quietly Floating - Pink, 2008
Hand blown Murano glass
14 x 6 x 10 in (35.5 x 16 x 25 cm)
"Temporary Insanity" Installation in Paris, 2006
Silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
dimensions Variable
"Temporary Insanity" Installation in Paris, 2006
Silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
dimensions Variable
"Temporary Insanity" Installation in Paris, 2006
silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
dimensions Variable
"Temporary Insanity" Installation in Brussels, 2008
silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
dimensions Variable
"Temporary Insanity" Installation in Brussels, 2008
silk, synthetic fiber, battery, motor, propeller, sound device
dimensions Variable
Pink Bras Alert! Installation in Bangkok, 2006
Dyed and starched donated used bras
Dimensions Variable
Pink Bras Alert! Installation in Bangkok, 2006
Dyed and starched donated used bras
Dimensions Variable
Pink Bras Alert!, 2006
Dyed and starched donated used bras
Dimensions Variable
Pink Bras Alert!, 2006
Dyed and starched donated used bras
Dimensions Variable
Breast Stupa Cookery, 2005
Glazed terracotta and cast aluminum
Dimensions Variable
Breast Stupa Cookery, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, 2005
Breast Stupa Cookery, Tokyo, 2005
Breast Stupa Cookery, Tokyo, 2005
Glazed terracotta
Dimensions Variable
Breast Stupa Cookery, Tokyo, 2005
Breast Stupa Cookery, Tokyo, 2005
Breast Stupa Cookery, Austin Museum of Art - Arthouse, Austin, TX, 2013
Vessel 1 and Vessel 2, 2003
Bronze with gold leaves
47 in (120 cm) Diameter, 16 in (40 cm) Height
Vessel 1 and Vessel 2, in collaboration with Art Ship Performance group at Pier 40, San Francisco CA, 2003
Bronze with gold leaves
47 in (120 cm) Diameter, 16 in (40 cm) Height
The Vessel, 2002
cast magnesium alloy
9½ X 76¾ X 37½ IN. (75 X 195 X 95 CM)
The Vessel, 2002
cast magnesium alloy
29½ x 76¾ x 37½ in. (75 x 195 x 95 cm)
The Vessel, 2002
cast aluminum
29½ x 76¾ x 37½ in. (75 x 195 x 95 cm)
Noon Nom, 2002
Organza, synthetic fiber, 200 pieces
Approximate Dimensions 1000 Square Feet (93 Square Meters)
Noon Nom, 2002
Organza, synthetic fiber, 200 pieces
Approximate Dimensions 1000 Square Feet (93 Square Meters)
Installation view of "Noon-Nom" exhibition at Bangkok University Art Gallery, 2002
Installation view at the Singapore Art Museum's exhibition, "Negotiating Home, History and Nation," April 2011
Breast Leaves I, Installation view, The National Gallery Bangkok, Thailand, 2000
Cast aluminum
Dimensions Variable
Breast Leaves I, Installation view, The National Gallery Bangkok, Thailand, 2000
Cast aluminum
Dimensions Variable
Breast Stupas, 2000
Unthreaded silk
48 x 197 in (122 x 500 cm), 37 pieces
Breast Stupas, 2000
Unthreaded silk
48 x 197 in (122 x 500 cm), 37 pieces
Breast Stupas, 2000
Unthreaded silk
48 x 197 in (122 x 500 cm), 37 pieces
Consciously Here Sub-Consciously There, Installation view, National Gallery Bangkok, Thailand, 2000
Wax and titanium powder
Dimensions Variable
Consciously Here Sub-Consciously There, 2000
wax and titanium powder
Dimensions Variable
Womanly Bodies, Installation in The Lightness of Being with Judith Wright, Queensland Art Gallery, 1998
Saa fiber, ratan
71 - 102 in (180 - 260 cm) height, 25 pieces
Womanly Bodies, Installation, the Third Asia-Pacific Trienniale, 1998
Saa fiber, ratan
71 - 102 in (180 - 260 cm) height, 25 pieces
Womanly Bodies, Installation, About Studio About Cafe, Bangkok, Thailand, 1998
Saa fiber, ratan
71 - 102 in (180 - 260 cm) height, 25 pieces
In the Midnight Hour, 1990
Collage, mixed media
Self, 1991
Photograph, collage, mixed media on plywood
63 x 63 in (160 x 160 cm)
Untitled , 1991
Photographs, collage, mixed media on plywood
To Be Confused, 1991
Photographs, collage, mixed media
63 x 63 in (160 x 160 cm)
Black Breast, 1994
Ink, acrylic, pastel on paper
40 x 42 in (102 x 106.5 cm)
Pink Breast, 1994
Acrylic and pastel on paper
41 x 42 in (105.5 x 106.5 cm)
The Black and the White, 1995
Acrylic, pastel and charcoal on canvas
79 x 59 in (200 x 150 cm)
The Black and the White and the Body, 1995
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
79 x 79 in (200 x 200 cm)
Gold Womb, 1997
Charcoal, pastel, gold leaves and Saa paper on canvas
79 x 74 in (200 x 190 cm)
Blue Note, 1997
Acrylic, pastel, charcoal, pigment and sand on canvas
86 x 74 in (220 x 190 cm)
Pink Body, 1997
Acrylic, pastel and collage on canvas
86 x 79 in (220 x 200 cm)
The Egg, 1997
Charcoal, acrylic and pastel on canvas
79 x 82 in (200 x 210 cm)
Womanly Heavenly, 1998
Acrylic, pastel and collage on canvas
86 x 79 in (220 x 200 cm)
Womanly Temper, 1998
Fabric, acrylic and pastel on canvas
75 x 76 in (192 x 192.7 cm)
Womanly Stroke, 1998
Tumeric, pigment and charcoal on Saa paper and canvas
75 x 67 in (190 x 170 cm)
Womanly Stand, 1998
Acrylic and pastel on canvas
88 x 79 (225 x 200 cm)
Quiet Pleasures, 1999
Acrylic, oil pastel, fabric and paper on canvas
75 x 75 in (192 x 192 cm)
Over the Blue, 2007
Acrylic on canvas
98 x 98 in (250 x 250 cm)
Bright Nights, 2006
Acrylic and dried flowers on canvas
63 x 75 in (160 x 190 cm)
Looming Red, 2007
Acrylic and modeling paste on canvas
98 x 98 in (250 x 250 cm)
Big Blue, 2007
Acrylic, modeling paste and dried flowers on canvas
63 x 87 in (160 x 220 cm)
Flower Cloud, 2007
Acrylic and dried flowers on canvas
63 x 87 in (160 x 220 cm)

AMOA-Arthouse, Austin, Texas is currently presenting a solo exhibition of Pianree’s work, featuring her large-scale installation, Temporary Insanity (April 20 – June 30, 2013), which was exhibited in the artist’s 2012 solo exhibition at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA. Later this year, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will exhibit her large-scale installation, Hanging By a Thread, from June 22 – September 29, 2013. Pinaree was recently featured in a group exhibition, entitled Female Power, at the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, The Netherlands (March 3 – May 20, 2013).

Pinaree is one of the most compelling and respected Thai artists of her generation, and her work can be counted among the most powerful explorations of women’s experience in all of Southeast Asia. For well over twenty years, her primary inspiration has been the female body, distilled to its most basic forms and imbued with an ethereal spirituality. The quiet, Zen-like abstraction of her work owes something to her training in Japan and sets it somewhat apart from the colorful intensity of much Thai art. Her rigorous focus on the female form, explored through a variety of media – painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, performance, and culinary arts, to name but a few – has resulted in an astoundingly varied and innovative body of work.

In 2012, Pinaree participated in the 18th Biennale of Sydney (June 27 – September 16, 2012) with a large-scale installation, Anything Can Break, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Installed in a double height gallery of the museum’s new wing, the installation comprised hundreds of origami “flying cubes” and breast-shaped glass clouds suspended from the ceiling. Illuminated by fiber optics, the cubes and clouds were lined with motion sensors that trigger musical motifs in response to the audience’s movement.

Pinaree’s work has been featured in numerous museum exhibitions in Asia and Europe during the past twenty years, and she has participated in major biennials in Australia, Italy, Japan, and Korea. In 2011, her work was seen in institutions around the world, including: Here / Not Here at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; Roundabout at City Gallery Wellington in New Zealand and traveling to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; Negotiating Home, History, and Nation: Two Decades of Contemporary Art in Southeast Asia, 1991-2011 at the Singapore Art Museum; and Body Borders: Anything Can Break at the Art Center at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.

For many years, and certainly since the birth of her son in 1993, a central focus of her work has been the female breast, which she relates to imagery of the natural world and to the iconic forms of the Buddhist stupa (shrine) and offering bowl. Often called a feminist or Buddhist artist, she resists such easy categorizations, preferring to let her work speak to each viewer directly, to the heart and soul, with the most basic language of form, color, and texture. Her work is not lacking in a conceptual framework, but it is one informed primarily by a deeply felt spiritual sense rather than by rigid dogmas or ideological constructs.

Pinaree presented her first New York solo exhibition, Quietly Floating, at Tyler Rollins Fine Art in March 2010. The exhibition featured a series of large, monochromatic paintings of breast and cloud forms. These motifs were repeated in a remarkable group of intimate works on Japanese paper, and in an installation of large, aluminum mirrors, cast at her foundry on the outskirts of Bangkok. As the exhibition title suggests, the works conveyed a sense of tranquility and weightlessness that was at once otherworldly and profoundly natural. Pinaree’s subsequent solo exhibition at Tyler Rollins Fine Art, entitled Hanging by a Thread, (2012) centered on an installation of the same title that was the artist’s response to the recent flooding in Bangkok, where she lives and works. Using traditional Thai printed cotton Paa-Lai fabrics of the type that were included in relief bags sponsored by the royal family, Pinaree constructed a group of woven hammocks that were suspended in the gallery from slender threads. These quiet, cocoon-like forms evoke a sense of nurturing, refuge, and contemplation, as well as the precariousness of life.

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
Please click here to view the Hanging by a Thread exhibition catalogue in PDF format.