There might be cultural differences, but the artists of The Ethics of Encounter exhibition are geared up to bridge any gaps between Indian and Thai culture. See +art page 27.

Chintan Upadhyay

What work are you showcasing in this exhibition?

I have two paintings Visarjan and Welcome and two box sculptures titled Dowry. Both paintings are in acrylic and oil on canvas and the sculptures are mixed media.

What message are you trying to get across to the audience?

I am not into delivering messages to people. I prefer to provoke them to go beyond their mundane life and think more about their surroundings. My work deals with many layers of my culture. I have special interests in issues pertaining to the past, present and future, like gender specific abortions and consumerism. My pieces are political in their own ways.

What do you think exhibitions like this bring to society?

I believe that they work as a bridge between two cultures. I have been exposed to the Thai culture while Thai people will be exposed to me and my work. These kinds of projects always give new experiences to people and open new channels for future understanding. It develops tolerance and makes us aware of other cultures.

Vidya Kamat

What work are you showcasing in this exhibition?

It can best be classified as digitally modified prints—digital photographs that are later manipulated on a computer in order to arrive at a desired image.

What message are you trying to get across to the audience?

This particular series is called Birth Marks, and deals with memories that are culture specific. They are given to you when you’re born but may or may not fade away with time. I have tried to show how these cultural memories get embedded into your skin like a birthmark or tattoo. Skin is the largest organ of the body and also where we unwittingly “tattoo” cultural differences and similarities. At times these writings on the skin appear as beautiful decorations or as very private and personal tales which we want to hide from others, or even from ourselves.

Do you think that stereotypes still exist between Thais and Indians?

Stereotypes happen as a result of an imperfect knowledge about other cultures. As more and more people interact with each other in different spheres and with the information revolution dissolving political and cultural boundaries, stereotypes (especially negative ones) fade away.

Sudsiri Pui-ock

What work are you showcasing in this exhibition?

A video: The Street of Two Birds.

What message are you trying to get across to the audience?

Being a stranger in an unfamiliar city, my perceptions differ from that of the local people. When I start to do something that is unexpected for them, the way they react is also unex-
pected for me.

Do you think there are similarities between Thai and Indian cultures?

I would say that Indian culture has had many influences on Thai culture. You can see it in the Sanskrit language, philosophy, religion and arts. I can see roots of the Indian culture in almost everything related to the mind and beauty. But, in spite of the influence, there is something that sets us apart. I just can’t pinpoint what it is.