Artist's statement

Wantanee's diverse artworks delve into critical perspectives on social, political, economic, and cultural issues, offering a rich intellectual landscape through videos, sound, sculptures, and installations. Her practice is distinguished by a dual focus on economic disparities and non-human entities, exploring these parallel themes with depth and nuance.

Drawing from her personal experiences, Wantanee addresses pressing global issues with an emphasis on economic and political concerns. Projects like "(Dis)continuity" (2012), "Living with Uncommon Value" (2012), and "The Price of Inequality" (2015) illuminate global economic disparities and fragile living conditions, providing profound insights into the structural inequalities that shape our world.

In "The 'End of History' Will Not Come Tomorrow" (2022), Wantanee engages deeply with class disparities in Thai society, prompting viewers to reflect on our interconnected world. Her work often examines social and economic inequality through the lens of ideological state apparatus, revealing the frameworks that influence our lives and fostering intellectual engagement.

Since 2013, Wantanee has also explored interspecies communication through an ongoing collaboration with Beuys, an African Grey Parrot. Initially inspired by the irony and parody in Joseph Beuys' works, this collaboration has evolved into a profound investigation of non-human intelligence and creativity. Projects like "Ja Ja Ja Ne Ne Ne" (2016) and "Everyone is…" (2017) challenge traditional perceptions of animal communication, expanding the discourse on creativity beyond human boundaries.

Since 2018, Wantanee's daily interactions with African Grey Parrots have deepened her appreciation for their histories and behaviours, enriching her understanding of interspecies dynamics and offering new perspectives on her environment. Her art challenges conventional boundaries between species, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationships with animals and the natural world.

"Making the Unknown Known," a multi-channel video installation, intertwines geopolitical strife with disrupted wildlife migration patterns. It explores the symbolic roles of White Elephants and African Grey Parrots amid global commodification and environmental manipulation, weaving a complex narrative of ecological and economic conflict.

"Making the Disappeared Appear," a five-channel video installation, highlights past and present political conflicts, ecosystems, and cultures. It addresses the erasure of animals from regions affected by geopolitical disputes and societal changes, integrating oral histories and Traditional Lanna music to create vivid, immersive narratives.

Through her work, Wantanee navigates the delicate balance between societal influences, self-expression, and critique. By examining economic disparities and non-human entities simultaneously, she challenges traditional boundaries and invites viewers to explore the interconnectedness of these issues.




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