Head High Second Floor, a non-profit art space in Chiang Mai, invites everyone to rediscover the compelling beauty of outsider art during "Darkest Before Dawn", until June 26.
The exhibition explores the concept of "outsider art", a term coined by British art historian Roger Cardinal. It has its origins in Art Brut, or "raw art" introduced by French artist Jean Dubuffet in 1945.
Dubuffet used the term to describe art created by individuals existing outside the cultural mainstream, including psychiatric patients and those on the margins of society. Cardinal later broadened the definition to encompass artists working beyond formal art institutions and academic training.
On showcase are the works of Kailash Mani, an Indian American outsider artist and independent creator whose distinct identity is expressed through raw, unrestrained emotion.
His aesthetic reflects a unique and distinctive artistic blend of ideas and form, reflecting the relationship between place and his experiences shaped by migrations -- from the US to Thailand to India and to his decision to come back to Thailand.
This turning point has prompted a deep return to memory -- through periods of darkness, loss, waiting and inner struggle. In seeking renewal, he searches for hope and the possibility of new beginnings, while navigating the uncertainties of life.
Born in Philadelphia in 1984, Mani is currently living and working in Chiang Mai. As a mostly self-taught artist, he has developed a style distinct for its radical departure from conventional form and technique. His work reflects an interest in relationships, both interpersonal and with oneself, as well as universal concerns, such as fear, loss and hope.
Head High Second Floor is on Singharat Road, Mueang district of Chiang Mai and opens daily from 4pm (except Wednesday and Sunday).
Visit head-high-second-floor.com.
