Background
Vasan Sitthiket was born on October 7, 1957, in Thailand’s Nakhon Sawan Province.
Vasan Sitthiket was born on October 7, 1957, in Thailand’s Nakhon Sawan Province.
Vasan Sitthiket graduated from the College of Fine Art in Bangkok.
Vasan Sitthiket is one of Thailand’s internationally known artists who produced works in many creative fields, including painting and poetry. Some of Vasan’s paintings are related to natural or erotic motifs. However, most of his pieces address problems within contemporary Thai and international societies, such as the exploitation of the poor by the rich as well as corruption among politicians and bureaucrats.
One of his works depicting these problems was a performance, involving fake rubber breasts and buttocks and simulating rape of the entire nation of Thailand. He uses several media to express his opinions on these subjects. Paintings, drawings, woodcut prints, installations and performances are some of the media used to put his ideas into practice. Vasan has also staged three plays, written more than 10 books of poetry, children’s books, and political writings.
In addition to numerous shows in Thailand, he has participated in frequent shows abroad. In 2000, an exhibition of a new collection that included 50 paintings featuring Thai politicians and military officers in sexually compromising poses, was cancelled by Chulalongkorn University, five days before opening. At the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003, he displayed some large-scale portraits of George W. Bush and other world leaders, created on canvas by using custom-made rubber stamps.
In 2005, he had set up the Artist Party, a political art project that mocked the then-ruling Thai Rak Thai party and Prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2009, Vasan held exhibition at Thavibu Gallery titled Capitalism is Dying! He has also supported the People’s Alliance for Democracy (Yellow Shirts) against Thaksin. The group has used his artwork as backgrounds for their demonstration stages, on their T-shirts and propaganda outlets, and Vasan appeared at the rallies to recite poems or perform music.
In addition to numerous shows in Thailand, Vasan has participated in frequent shows abroad, including the Venice Biennale in 2003. He was awarded the Silpathon Award from the Thai Ministry of Culture in 2007, and his works have been collected by New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Thailand’s National Art Gallery, the Queensland Art Gallery in Australia and the Singapore Art Museum. Vasan lives and works in Bangkok and Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.
Dam Kills Water, Kills Man, Kills Fish
2002Eclipse Swallows the Cock
2002Mad Fish Flying Away
2002Misled - Crazy
2002Put Your Hatred In Your Children's Heads
2006Sitting on the Mountain Watching Dogs Fighting
2011Eve and Adam
Living On Earth
The Two Killers
War Against Capitalism
Who Take All Our Money?
Vasan learnt his Buddhism through extensive readings in the literature. The essence of Buddhism is a search for true enlightenment, but he believes the Buddhism taught in schools subtly twists the basic tenets. For example, the concept of ubekha which means "don't get angry" is now promulgated as "don't rebel."
Vasan Sitthiket is often labeled the “enfant terrible” of Thai art and a firebrand. It can be difficult to pin him down since the artist opposes anyone in power and loathes the hypocritical ways of politicians and bureaucrats, as well as of business leaders and “capitalists.”
He seems to be an anarchist at heart. He sees America, Europe and Japan as 'dead' countries whose populaces have made Faustian bargain, trading their souls for consumer goods. Though seemingly a nihilist at heart, Vasan Sitthiket often talks about his empathy for the discriminated and marginalized, as well as his undying passion for social activism, independence and equality.
Quotations:
“Style is irrelevant. What counts is your feeling. Painting expresses your head and your heart together in one.”
”I live a simple life, and do not want to be rich. I teach my children that most billionaires are thieves who make big problems for this planet.”
In 2005, he set up the Artist Party, a political art project that mocked the then-ruling Thai Rak Thai party and prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Quotes from others about the person
In Vasan’s art the world is largely divided into two polemic camps, that of heroes and villains. But unlike predictable Hollywood yarns where the downtrodden and beaten rise triumphant, for Vasan it is the villains who have the crushing upper hand.