Playing Arts (in a Thai Way): Christoph Riemer and Panu Boonpipattapong

Playing Arts connects art and life through the action and idea of play. Playing Arts is an aesthetic practice which was initiated in Germany 15 years ago by Christoph Riemer. It is also a network of artists who come together, through workshops and projects, to perform their own projects and actions. Stimulated by art impulses, one’s own creative action is induced.

 

Playing Arts is related to the attempt of life art, action art and the social sculpture (Soziale Plastik) of the celebrated German artist Joseph Beuys. Life becomes the material for aesthetic working. Community life is part of it. The projects try to find an answer to the social and cultural situation through art. Playing Arts is multidimensional, engenders all types of media and not be reduced to only one art field.

 

In Thailand, after 4 successful workshops in Bangkok and Chiangmai in 2007, the following book was produced: Playing Arts in a Thai way. In it, there are examples of how Playing Arts has been adapted and conducted in Thailand.

 

The focus lies on:

- Transforming objects shows the transformation of everyday-life objects. Released from their earmarking, infinite possibilities can arise.
- Inspiration by an artwork shows how artworks can animate to creative actions, if one is courageous enough to play the game.
- Making an own Playing Arts project shows examples how the public can get involved in creative projects. 

 

For the exhibition in Gallery VER, there will be presentation of photographic images and texts tracing the process from the previous workshops. There are also participatory set-ups in order to encourage gallery visitors to be involved in creative actions. The screening of Playing Arts projects in Germany and previous workshops in Thailand will make this exhibition an “encounter of cultures”.

 

Playing Arts is a direct and positive response to the prevalence of visual culture and community networking in the city, and the growing creativity of artists working with everyday found objects. Playing Arts exhibition is an occasion for FREEFORM and deep pulses of creation.