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INSON WONGSAM Sculptor & Artist Born Pasang. Thailand 1934 Inson Wongsam received his country's highest award, National Artist of Thailand in the field of visual arts (sculpture) in September 1999. He was born in the small market town of Pasang in the Northern Thai province of Lumphun. His father was a Jeweler & Goldsmith who encouraged his son's talent from the earliest age. His grandfather was a Merchant who traded in Burma & the stories of his adventurous journeys inspired his grandson with a strong desire to travel abroad. The Journey Inson became an Icon for succeeding generations when, after graduating from Silpakorn University of Fine Arts in 1961, he traveled alone from Thailand to Italy on a Lambretta Scooter. His goal was to reach the city of Florence, the birthplace of his revered teacher, Professor Corado Ferocci, the Father of Modern Thai Art & founder of Silpakorn University. Exhibitions en route In search of inspiration for his work, he carried a roll of woodcuts prints depicting scenes of rural life, to introduce his country, whose spirit he had captured so well, to the people he would meet on his travels. He exhibited these together with new works of art which he produced during his journey. He held exhibitions in New Delhi, Lahore, Karachi, Tehran, Istanbul & Athens. He lived with a Fisherman & his family on the island of Corfu for 6 months & began to work on new & larger woodcuts. Arrival Finally he completed his Pilgrimage to Florence & held an exhibition there. Then he traveled to Vienna & Zurich & held 2 more exhibitions. He arrived penniless in Paris in 1963, where he studied & worked until 1966. After a successful exhibition at the Haut Pave Gallery, he went to New York, arriving with just 1 dollar in his pocket. He established a studio & workshop in the East Village & 6 years later moved to Atlantic Highlands New Jersey. A Versatile Artist Inson has always displayed great versatility in his work, using a variety of different media. He began recycling interesting metal objects which had been trashed, making beautiful & useful sculptures. He used silver, brass & copper wire to make simple sculptures & attractive jewelry. He was inspired by industrial machinery, but appalled by the rising tide of pollution. He conceived the idea of civilising them, & thought that scientists, artists & engineers should work together to create beautiful machines to clean up the environment under the sea, on land & in the air; a kind of Sci-Fi Art Techno Fix. This resulted in the staggering production of more than 400 small models constructed from brass & copper sheet. He continued to work on his woodcut blocks & prints. Return to His Roots Log Cabin at Huey Fy In 1974 he returned penniless to the North of Thailand, to recuperate from a severe illness & his experience of industrialised society. He built a log cabin in the wilds & began to recycle the stumps & roots of teakwood trees, bringing them back to life again in a degraded area where a forest had been felled some years previously & was being cleared for resettlement by Karen villagers. HE had discovered a new medium which came to him as naturally as breathing & for the next 25 years he concentrated on carving wood. Requiem For The Forest There he saved the mutilated stumps of teakwood trees, Once tall & graceful, brought them back to life. His sensitive hands revealed the life within, His inner eye, guiding the questing tool. The children came & learned from him, How to work with nature, not against the grain. Accepting pain we will not break but come to life again. V.F.W Evolution of the Woodcuts It is interesting to see in his latest work, reflections of a series of exquisite water colour paintings created in 1987. The intricately combined organic forms, seem to express the fecundity of Nature in all it limitless & breathtaking diversity. Reflections can also be discovered in a series of Batik silk paintings, augmented with coloured inks, painted by hand. They perfectly complement the earthiness of his woodcarvings, with their elusive grace. The playfulness & carefree expression of more violent emotions, can be seen in these astonishing ragged, jagged scribbles executed in sepia ink & Nescafe which was a stimulant & less expensive. The vibrations in these paintings can be found in his latest prints. Architects & Interior designers have always been attracted to Inson's work which captures the vitality & spirit of Northern Thai classical art in a contemporary way. His paintings were translated into Chinese cut wool carpets, wall hangings & stained glass. A Set Back & a Step Forward In 1999, after a dynamic exhibition of his Imaginative Machines, conceived in New York & enlarged from some of the models which had been lost for many years & rediscovered, Inson suffered a prolonged period of ill health. It was whilst he was recuperating in Chiang Mai the Northern Thai Capital, that the current series of woodcut prints was conceived. He was given a Spread Diary for the Year 2000 & characteristically began to fill each day with a drawing. Many of these were inspired by Thai Proverbs which he has always loved. After several months he began the awesome task of translating them into woodcuts. His line became firmer & sharper as his skill & confidence returned. Process of Creation Under the microscope of his inner vision, a myriad of extraordinary almost mystical organisms & organic forms began to emerge. Some resemble marine life, others seem to spring from the earth & there are those which transport us into inner & outer space. The 4 elements can also be discerned. he is determined to complete the whole series of 365. When he has achieved this goal, he would like to return to New York, a city which holds many fond memories & helped to fuel his powerful creative energies, so many years ago. Exhibitions & Prizes:
1957
- National Exhibition of Thailand
- International Exhibition - Japan
1958
- Exhibition of Contemporary Thai artists - Bangkok
- 2nd prize for drawing
- 3rd prize for painting
1959
- National exhibition of Thailand: 3rd prize for painting
1960
- 2nd prize for graphic art
1961
- Tourist Organization for Thailand - One man show
1962
- All India fine Arts Society of New Delhi - Two man show
- Gilganesh Gallery, Tehran, Iran - One man show
- The Arts Council of Pakistaqn, Karachi - One man show 1963
- Consulate de France - Istanbul - One man show
1964
- Galerie Fuchs, Vienna, Austria - One man show
1966
- Galerie de Haut Pave, Paris - One man show
1967
- Lichfield Gallery, Conn, USA - One man show
- International Exihibition of Brazil
1968
- One Eleven Gallery, New York - One man show
1969
- De Mena Gallery, New York - One man show
1974
- Silpakorn University - Nakhon Prathom, Thailand - One man show (Sponsered by the Interior Research Co.)
1975
- USIS Chiengmai, Thailand - One man show
1977
- Hor Silp Bhirasri Institute of Modern Art. Dice Group show
1980
- Alliance Francaise - Bangkok - One man show
1985
- USIS Chiengmai,Thailand - One man show
- Exhibition of Fine Arts - Peoples Republic of China
1986
- Thai investment & Securities - Group show 1987
- Northern Thai Artists, Monthien Hotel Bangkok, Thailand
1988
- Pasang Lumphun Thailand - One man show. On the occasion of the annual Cotton Weaving & quilt making Festival
1991
- National Gallery, Chao Fah Road, Bangkok - One man show
1992
- National Bank of Thailand - Group Show
1993
- Design Com bini Co., Ltd - One man show
1996
- Rama IX Foundation - Sirikit Centre - Group show
1997
- Marsi Gallery - Pantip Arts Centre - Group show Artist save the Western Thai Forests
1998
- National Gallery - Bangkok.Group show - Artists Save the Forests
- Bangkok City art Project For Asian Games - Group show
1999
- National Gallery Chao Fah Rd Bangkok - One man show
2002
- Joint Exhibition of Sculpture with Venetia Walkey at the Cultural Centre, Ampur Umong - Chiang
Mai Wine & Sausage Festival
2004
- Surapon Gallery
2005
- Wood cut & Water color
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