Laos in translation By Deepika Shetty
Publisher:The Straits Times - Publication Date: 10-06-2008

Lao artist May Chandavong's paintings make a significant departure from the Western-style oil and water-colour canvases which arrived in Laos during the French colonial period.

Born in Vientiane, Chandavong, 65, studied in Paris before returning home. He went on to join the National School of Fine Arts in Laos in 1971 and served as its deputy director till 1988.

During this time, he travelled extensively around Laos to find a new idiom for his work. Ignoring picture-perfect landscapes, he set out exploring rural life and representing it realistically.

Shorn of embellishments, his canvases unfolded the real story of life in the villages.

The artist looked for inspiration in the market place, in the paddy fields and often focused on women. But the women he painted were not coy - they boldly confronted viewers with their direct gaze.

This is reflected in Happiness In The Grassflower Fields and Pimai Lao, two oils on canvas which are on display in Glimpse Of Laos - A Contemporary Laotian Art Exhibition at The Arts House.

Apart from Chandavong, the exhibition presents 30 artworks by nine other Laotian artists. Priced between S$1,500 (US$1,000) and S$9,000 (US$6, 600), these works include oils on canvas, mixed media and oils and acrylic on paper.

They include the works of the internationally renowned Khamsouk Keomingmuang.

Like Chandavong, he too draws inspiration from rural scenes featuring women in traditional costumes, but his subjects are often rendered with a touch of the abstract.

Another famous artist whose work is also on show goes beyond these themes.

Kongphat Luangrath, 58, draws on his experience of living through the internal conflict that racked Laos in 1970s.

In an e-mail interview, Luangrath talks about one of his paintings titled Melancholy.

In this oil on paper, the artist uses heavy colours such as black and grey to reflect the gloom around people. The human figures dominating the canvas are slouching, portraying an overwhelming sense of helplessness with the state of things in the world.

The artist says: "I was drawn to this theme by the growing inequality, hardship, pain and suffering in the world around us. Even though we want to change these things, often we are helpless because resolving complex issues needs a lot more than just policies, speeches and pronouncements."

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