China Town Ghosts
Harriet Murray
Opening Reception: Thursday 7th December 2017, 6.00 – 9.00pm
Exhibition Open: 8th – 10th December 2017, 12.00 – 6.00pm
Presenting new works by Harriet Murray made in response to
the cremation of King Rama IX, Bangkok, Thailand.
The dead and the living, seeing and not seeing, hearing and not hearing, censored free speech, we live in a world of duality, seemingly able to negotiate contradictions with ease. Without a blink we carry on, absorbed by life, then occasionally something makes it all stop, just for a moment something shifts. In a brief window as time unfurls we look with different eyes and it becomes possible to see what we have not seen before?
‘China Town Ghosts’ is a new body of work created at such a moment, where the two national identities and cultures of Thailand and China merge in a period of mourning for the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX of Thailand. Along with the passing of the King a long chapter in Thai history dies with him.
The China Town district in Bangkok is never quiet, never still, it is like the tide, constantly shifting and swelling, chocked by the rivers of tourists, predominantly Chinese visitors looking back in time to a lost China, experiencing outlawed traditions and tastes. Then in late October 2017 following a year of national mourning, King Rama IX was finally cremated. This unique moment in Thai history allowing
All work for ‘China Town Ghosts’, was created during a
With very special thanks to Ekua Yankah, Anikamon Moni and Justin Mills