"Art intervention" is the concept behind "More Or Less", a solo exhibition by Portuguese visual artist and graphic designer Miguel Januario, which is running at WTF Gallery until Feb 10.
A piece by Miguel Januario. Photo courtesy of WTF Gallery
The concept suggests breaking down the fixed and known into particles of the unknown from which a new public consciousness may emerge. Art interventions in urban spaces are of many kinds, which collectively symbolise how many different ways there are of understanding, visualising and materialising the issues of society.
They are all intended as agents of change that operate or exist to subvert, resist and continually destabilise the tangible, fixed and known perceptions of public spaces.
In Thailand, art intervention is a relatively new phenomenon, often carried out clandestinely by shadowy collectives who respond provocatively and fleetingly with micro-actions to the systems and structures of control and knowledge, for example with the street stencil works of Black Panther and Watch using the faces of Thailand's leaders to subject them to often critiques.
In this exhibition, Januario showcases his thought-provoking, cutting-edge works in a variety of media to show remarkable parallels in the practices of Thai and Portuguese street artists and the obstacles they resist -- be they constraint of freedom of media, nationalism, the over-exercise of authority or the fragility of democracy. He intends to showcase the manifestations of art intervention in urban spaces between the two countries. The 37-year-old Lisbon-based artist is internationally known for his intervention and street art project titled Maismenos, which offers a critical view on the political and economic establishments that govern modern urban societies.
WTF Gallery is on Sukhumvit 51 and is open from Tuesday until Sunday, 4-10pm. There is no admission fee.
Call 02-662-6246.
