Witness the ‘Our Daddy Always Looks Down on Us’ exhibition by Jirat Prasertsup. This installation is an extension of the new short story Patience is the Treasure of A Well-Mannered Person, which was part of the collection of stories under the name ‘Thu-lee-la-ong’ (Of Dust and Ashes, a Collection of 9 Horror Stories), to be published by Salmon Books early 2021. This exhibition will be presented as a simulation of the scenario as interpreted from the aforementioned text. It will be told through the perspective of the short story’s protagonist, who took part in a panel discussion event at an unknown gallery, before chaos ensued.
‘Our Daddy Always Looks Down on Us’ is created from the perspectives of stories; stories that have been passed down and have transcended into an oral history. Stories survive by being passed on, an act which can often achieve the same effect as propaganda. This is especially true when pertaining to figures of significance, leading to the ascension of individuals into heroes of myth and – through the integration of faith – divinity. Such lofty legends may have grown from the smallest seedlings, from unworthy tales of inconsequential happenstance. But such things have a way of burrowing into the human heart, creating a union between love and veneration. Such stories, therefore, act as a generator of historical consciousness, a mechanism with the objective of creating a sense of ethnic belonging, all the way to full-fledged nationalism. In the end, that very affection can veil their eyes from acknowledging apparent flaws within the system, from the very process of creating these stories to the roles they play in this autobiography.
Jirat is an author of contemporary stories, with many of his works offering political commentary or otherwise satirizing the authoritarian regime. This time, in conjunction with recording the current political narratives in the form of writing, he has chosen to create this experiential showcase, reflecting the imagery of and satirizing the cult of personality. It is out of his belief that all creative professionals have a duty to record and criticize what is a significant shift in the history of Thailand – one that is the result of these past several decades – one way or the other.
An exhibition by Jirat Prasertsup
Curator: Kittima Chareeprasit
Opening reception: 5 December 2020 | 6 PM
Exhibition period: 5 December 2020 – 24 January 2021
At CARTEL ARTSPACE, Bangkok