Exhibitions / Gallery 1 & 2, 3rd Floor
EN THKader Attia: Urgency of Existence
The Jim Thompson Art Center invites you to experience "Urgency of Existence," the first solo exhibition in Asia by internationally renowned French-Algerian artist Kader Attia, a pioneer in multidisciplinary art. This exhibition explores themes of postcolonialism and decolonization, offering a perspective shaped by the direct and indirect experiences of those oppressed and impacted by colonialism in the past century. The exhibition will be on view at the Jim Thompson Art Center from November 23, 2024, to March 16, 2025, curated by Gridthiya Gaweewong, Artistic Director of the Jim Thompson Art Center and former Artistic Director of the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023.
The exhibition, titled "Urgency of Existence," delves deeply into Attia's concept of repair, examining the urgency of global decolonization and crypto-colonization in Thailand and the surrounding region. It invites reflection on the constraints of time and the complexities of today’s uncertain era. Building on his research and works presented at the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023, Attia incorporates the themes of gathering and separation, both literal and metaphorical. His works highlight the fundamental processes of human existence and psychoanalysis while reflecting the historical, cultural, and political impacts of colonialism and the lived experiences shaped by it.
The exhibition features a variety of media, including immersive installations, sculptures, paintings, and a newly commissioned film. Key works include: "On Silence": An installation using vintage prosthetic limbs, representing traces of loss and the wounds of war. "Ghost": A sculpture made from aluminum foil, inspired by the artist’s mother, depicting Muslim women in prayer. This work raises questions about religion, faith, modernity, and capitalism. It holds particular resonance, being displayed near the Ban Krua Muslim community. A new film, which delves into micro-histories and forgotten memories of the artist and two friends, all deeply impacted by colonialism. The film examines how trauma manifests in personal narratives and its connections to global history.
Kader Attia’s works convey the lingering pain and cultural scars of colonialism—wounds that remain unresolved, haunting the present like shadows or “ghosts” of memory that continually resurface in daily life. These are the wounds of absence—what has been lost—and presence, the impact that remains. They bear the traces of historical processes of separation and gathering. Attia’s artistry fosters a deeper understanding of the philosophical dimensions of decolonization, striving to merge the aesthetic, abstract, and political aspects within the intricate process of repair. His work challenges Western concepts of beauty, value, and cultural preservation, encouraging reflection on alternative ways of understanding history, culture, and the legacies of colonialism.
The exhibition "Urgency of Existence" invites viewers to question history, culture, and spiritual memory, exploring the lingering impacts of the past on the present. It delves into the complexities of cultural memory and examines the possibilities for healing wounds through artistic creation.
This exhibition is supported by the James H.W. Thompson Foundation, Galleries’ Nights, the French Embassy in Thailand, Studio Kader Attia, Le Fresnoy - Studio national des arts contemporains, and Disaphol Chansiri - DC Collection.
About the Artist: Kader Attia
Kader Attia (b. 1970, Dugny, France) is a French-Algerian multidisciplinary artist currently living and working in Berlin and Paris. Growing up between two contrasting cultures, Algerian and French, profoundly shaped Attia’s understanding of the complexities of navigating dual identities. This dual perspective inspired Attia to use his art as a medium to question the sociopolitical intricacies rooted in colonial histories and cultural distortions. Through his installations and sculptural works, he investigates the deep emotional impact of Western cultural dominance and colonial power systems on non-Western societies. Attia’s work emphasizes collective trauma and the concept of repair, exploring how these ideas shape social memory and provide pathways to understanding and healing.
Kader Attia has exhibited his work in prestigious international art exhibitions and biennales, including the 3rd Thailand Biennale, the 12th Gwangju Biennale, the 57th Venice Biennale, and Documenta 13. His works have also been showcased at renowned institutions such as the Hayward Gallery in London, Kunsthaus Zürich, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. In recognition of his impactful contributions to contemporary art, Attia was awarded the Marcel Duchamp Prize in 2016. The following year, he received the Prize of the Miró Foundation in Barcelona and the Yanghyun Art Prize in Seoul. In 2022, he served as the curator for the 12th Berlin Biennale.
Beyond his artistic practice, Attia founded La Colonie in 2016, a cultural space located in a former textile factory in Paris's 10th arrondissement. Designed as a hub for the Algerian community, artists, and intellectuals, La Colonie provided a platform for dialogue on topics such as racism, colonialism, and cultural appropriation. Unfortunately, the space had to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, Kader Attia lives and works between Berlin and Paris.
About The Curator: Gridthiya Gaweewong
Gridthiya Gaweewong (b. 1964, Chiang Rai, Thailand) is the Artistic Director of the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. Alongside Rirkrit Tiravanija, she served as Artistic Director for the Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023/2024. After earning a Master’s degree in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1996, Gridthiya co-founded the alternative art space Project 304 with Montien Boonma, Kamol Phaosavasdi, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which operated between 1996 and 2003. In addition to her role at the Jim Thompson Art Center, she is a Guest Curator at the MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai. She also co-founded the Bangkok Experimental Film Festival with Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which ran from 1997 to 2007.
Gridthiya’s curatorial work addresses issues of social transformation experienced by artists in Thailand and beyond since the Cold War. Notable projects include: Imagined Borders, 12th Gwangju Biennale, South Korea (2018) Missing Links, Bangkok (2015) Between Utopia and Dystopia, Mexico City (2011) Internationale Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany (2009) Politics of Fun, Berlin (2005) Underconstruction, Tokyo (2000–2002) She curated the ICI traveling exhibition Apichatpong Weerasethakul: The Serenity of Madness, which toured to Chiang Mai, Manila, Hong Kong, Chicago, Oklahoma, and Taipei between 2016 and 2020.
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