ANG48, 2022

Single-channel HD video, 25min

Collection of the Artist and Bangkok CityCity Gallery, commissioned by The Jim Thompson Art Center, Thailand and Hong Gah Museum, Taiwan and Bangkok CityCity Gallery, Thailand.

ANG48 is a video that recombines and recreates elements from the artist's previous works, Golden Snail (2019), Golden Spiral (2018), and The Internationale (2018), and a variety of sources, including the popular Thai novel Khu Kam. The video tells the story of a love story between a Japanese soldier and a Thai woman, which serves as the axis of the video, while exploring the ongoing impact of colonialism and neo-colonialism on Asian cultures and the ways in which women's bodies and labor have been exploited. The artist also employs the concept of ANGSUMALIN48, an intelligent mechanical operating system made up of 48 members, taking the form of half-human and half-golden snail figures, which is capable of self-dissolution to the point of invisibility, allowing it to discreetly infiltrate the cultural air. The role of these members is to make connections, export good will, and encourage Asian ladies of the allied countries to stand up and rid themselves of past trauma built up since World War II, the Cold War, up to now. This operating system is named in honor of “Angsumalin”, a Thai heroine from Thamayantee’s novel Khu Kam. The film uses a variety of symbols and imagery to highlight the ways in which colonialism and commercialization have shaped Asian cultures and identities, and employs satire and parody to draw attention to these issues and encourage viewers to question their own perceptions and understanding of these issues.