Exhibitions

“A Daughter’s Love?” by Lugpliw Junpudsa − ARDEL’s Third Place Gallery

ARDEL’s Third Place Gallery

Jul 16 - Aug 22, 2020

^{Bride & Groom? (part)
All images by courtesy of the artist}

“A Daughter’s Love?”

“Has he ever called?” was a question from my mom when my life partner had disappeared for several days, months, and years…

Yes, our love is over. It’s painful because, for more than half of my life, it was the best time that I thought could last longer... forever. Truth be told, it did not. If a man loves you for your luscious lips, he will eventually find better ones. Then, what would you do?

And that’s right folks! It’s why I’ve kept wondering about the definition of “love.”

Artist Statement by Lugpliw Junpudsa

Love permeates the air around us. It fulfills and gives meaning to life, be it a selfless love from parents or family members, a romantic feeling for another person, a platonic relationship between friends, colleagues, acquaintances and pets, or even the attraction toward places, scenic views, or favorite food. Love is a melody that resonates with every move life brings. But even so, love cannot escape the impermanence, which is the eternal truth brought into light by the Lord Buddha through his teaching.

Love varies depending on each type of relationship. It can also grow and wilt away like any other thing in this world, thus sometimes generating positive or negative intimacy between people involved. These are what inspire a brand-new series of art by Lugpliw Junpudsa, the petite sculptor from the land of Ya Mo, Nakhon Ratchasima.

An art lecturer at the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Lugpliw Junpudsa uses her life stories and experiences to create 3-dimensional works of art while, since the early stage of her career, incorporating the paired hip bones as an allegory of motherhood and motherly love. Her trademark -- of delving into the theme of maternity and the pelvis design -- has been explored further through many succeeding artworks along with her latest solo show “A Daughter’s Love?”.

Lugpliw has selected two kinds of love for the main point of discussion. The first one is love with the unexpected adieu. After being together for two decades, this final farewell leaves her doubting the intent of such a romance. The other kind of love is the love of a mother who is ready to comfort her child with a warm embrace whenever she needs strength and creativity boost.

The series features several compelling creations such as the heart-shaped fiberglass sculptures as a symbol of love between men and women. “Love? 1” employs the 7 colors of spectrum to symbolize affection and its quick departure like a rainbow after the rain whereas “Love? 2” tackles the relationship that is conditioned by gender as seen from a task only belongs to women like pregnancy. The stainless steel and fiberglass “Engagement Ring? 1” and “Engagement Ring? 2” opt for silver and gold rings with molded pelvis structure decorated as the gems to represent confinement and possession.

Presenting in forms of bony pelvises and sacred garlands used in Thai wedding ceremonies, “Bride & Groom?” proves to be one of the most distinctive works in the collection. Dolls and small toys have replaced flowers in order to scorn a marriage as if it is a joke. Similarly, “Longing for Love?” showcases a skeletal structure with long white hair growing out of the genital area in which could imply an eternal wait. Moreover, another exhibition’s highlight is “Puppy Love?” in which the artist delivers a shocking-pink heart by using her netherhair to serve as a mordant sarcasm to the sex drive hidden behind love.

Even though this series relies heavily upon questioning the purpose of love, the artist succeeds in maintaining the aesthetic that is a fundamental principle of the fine arts. Such a fascination is apparent in “Love Flower?”, a resemblance of a crown flower set by interlacing three pelvic bones together, or “Begin with Us?” which is a pack of pink dogs connected and expanded continuously from its origin. All sculptures have been deliberately designed with preconceived ideas to present both the beauty and profound messages.

A Daughter’s Love? echoes the story of a woman who seeks refuge in the unwavering love of her mother. No matter how hard the storm has hit, a mother will always love and care for her child. Each piece of art depicts the artist’s understanding of the role of love, while at the same time showing a new path she is traveling to free herself from the old cycle. As an artist, her journey continues with introspection, form selection, material combination and molding process altogether, resulting in this solo exhibition that provokes thorough speculation from the audience.

Artist Profile:

Lugpliw Junpudsa
Born: 1980 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand



Teaching and Lecturing
Present: Lecturer, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University
2008-2012: Lecturer, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Mahasarakham University

Education
2016-2017: Italian government scholarship, Diploma accademico di i livello-indirizzo scultura, Accademia di belle arti di Firenze, Italy
2005-2007: Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture), Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
1999-2003: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture, 2nd Class Honor), Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
1996-1998: Certificate of Vocational Education Program, Faculty of Fine Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Awards and Honors
2018 - Gold Medal, 19th International Calligraphy Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Japan
2014 - 1st Prize, Sculpture Competition on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Supalai Public Company Limited, Thailand
2013 - Creative Research Scholarship from the National Research Council of Thailand; “10 Thai Contemporary Artists Award” at The Ministry of Culture, Royal Thai Consulate - General, Los Angeles, USA
2009 - 2nd Prize, The 3rd Amata Art Award
2006 - UDC Scholarship, Teacher Development Program for Mahasarakham University, Thailand; 2nd Prize, “Thonburi Rotary Club Sculpture Art Award”, Bangkok, Thailand
2005 - 1st Prize, “The 5th Thailand Art of Stucco Exhibition 2005”, Bangkok, Thailand
2004 - 3rd Prize, The 1st Amata Art Award, Thailand
2002 - Scholarship from General Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation; Silpakorn Pradit Award, The 20th Exhibition of Contemporary Art by Young Artists
2000 - Scholarship granted by Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat
1999 - Ganesha Scholarship
1998 - Misiem Yipintsoi Scholarship

Solo Exhibitions
2016 - 365 Days: My Travel Diary Sculptures (Italy & France) at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Italy
2014 - “Mother: The Virtue of All Mankind” at The Sense Pinklao, Bangkok, Thailand

Selected Group Exhibition
2019 - KWCA International Women Ceramist Festival Exhibition at Woljeon Museum of Art Icheon, South Korea; INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION AND ACADEMIC COLLABORATION ISI YOGYAKARTA SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY at the Gallery of Art and Design, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; “Anthropocene”, The 36th Art Exhibition by Members of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand; INTERNATIONAL ART WORKSHOP 2019 by the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand; Hiku-Sculpture International Exhibition for Art Universities in Asia, Tokyo, Japan; “Art from Banyan Tree” at H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn PSG Art Gallery, Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University Sanam Chandra Palace, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
2018 - The 35th Art Exhibition by Members of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand; 1st Thai Contemporary Art Auction on the occasion of 33rd anniversary of River City Bangkok Shopping Centre, Thailand; The Sculpture Project of 21st Century “Hybrid Sculpture” by the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Sanam Chandra Palace Library, Silpakorn University, Thailand; 19th International Calligraphy Exhibition at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Japan; 13th Art International Workshop at Pohchang Academy of Arts, Bangkok, Thailand
2017 - Hiku-Sculpture International Exhibition for Art Universities in Asia, Tokyo, Japan; “In Loving Remembrance”, The 34th Art Exhibition by Members of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand; Thai and Korea Contemporary Art at H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn PSG Art Gallery, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
2016 - Student Art Exhibition 2015-2016 at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Bologna, Italy
2014 - “Cubic Museum” Art Exhibition Exchange between Aichi University of the Arts, Japan and Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; “Langkawi Art Biennale 2014”, Malaysia; The 3rd Neo Barbarian Thailand - Indonesia Art and Culture Exchange Project 2014 at Hof Art Residency, Bangkok, Thailand; Art Exchange: Workshop and Exhibition at HCMC University Fine Arts, Vietnam; Art Project for Andaman Art Museum, Krabi, Thailand
2012 - “SAYINGS OF SILPA BHIRASRI” to commemorate 120th anniversary of Professor Silpa Bhirasri
2011 - “Art No Wall Project 2011” at The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University, Thailand; “Art Exhibition Thai-Nordic 2011” at Silpakorn University Sanam Chandra Palace Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
2010 - “Art No Wall Project 2010”, Gwangju, South Korea
2006 - “The 8th Oita Asian Sculpture Exhibition” at Fumio Asakura Museum of Sculpture, Japan