Tomyam Pladib

Tomyam Pladib, which opened on 19th March until 5th June, is an exhibition of Thai and Japanese art hosted by the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. The exhibition features Emerald, a video by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Emerald is the name of an abandoned Bangkok hotel, and Apichatpong's slow-moving camera films the hotel's deserted rooms filled with floating white feather-like objects. The effect is elegiac and contemplative, evoking the memories of the hotel's long-departed guests.

Apichatpong discussed his various films and videos in a presentation this evening (Apichatpong On Video Works). He explained the origins of his multi-screen video installations (one of the more surprising sources being Thai melodramas), and played extracts from several of his films. He also screened a few short films in full: Ghost Of Asia (a man follows the instructions of a group of children), 0116643225059 (a telephone call between the director and his mother), and The Anthem (a wonderful overture to cinema, first screened at the 11th Thai Short Film & Video Festival). There was also a short Q&A session with the director.