Art as solace in Gongkan's exhibition

A visitor admires Gongkan's painting at Pingshan Art Museum. Photos by Cao Zhen

Thai artist Kantapon Metheekul, known as Gongkan, is exhibiting his minimal yet vibrant paintings, sculptures and installations at the “No Heart Here” exhibition at Pingshan Art Museum. By merging pop culture with profound artistic concepts, Gongkan creates works that are both accessible and deeply resonant. 

The subject in the exhibited works is a boy set against a simple and bright natural backdrop, either on a grassy field beneath a clear blue sky dotted with white clouds or under a moonlit night. The boy’s heart is hollow, sometimes containing various objects like a hand holding a balloon or an umbrella, and even a rainbow emerging from within.

A glance at Gongkan's exhibition at Pingshan Art Museum.

These surreal paintings and sculptures are both figurative and abstract, reflecting the ideal world the protagonist aspires to. For Gongkan, the contrast between the minimal style and the emotional and introspective content is reconciled through a visual language that is immediate yet capable of triggering deep, subconscious responses. The artist reveals the confusion faced by modern people and offers solace through these simple yet vivid images. At the exhibition hall, he has even placed a ball pit for visitors to relieve stress.

Born in Bangkok in 1989, Gongkan graduated from Kasetsart University Laboratory School and the Faculty of Arts at Silpakorn University. After graduation, he moved to New York, where he spent three years working in graphic design and advertising. 

Vistors observe Gongkan's paintings at Pingshan Art Museum.

A visitor takes photos at Gongkan's exhibition at Pingshan Art Museum.

In his spare time, he created street art and illustrations centered on the idea of being transported through time and space back to his homeland. Excited by the direct social communication and intrinsic anonymity of street art, he found it a liberating way to express himself amid the U.S. culture. His works, which he dubbed “Teleport Art,” soon gained recognition in the New York street art scene.

In 2019, he returned to Bangkok and quickly became one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent young artists. He has collaborated with numerous fashion brands, showcasing his works in cities such as Bangkok, New York, Paris, Havana, Seoul, Singapore, and Beijing.

Liu Xiaodu, director of Pingshan Art Museum, said that “No Heart Here” is a contemporary art exhibition that can soothe emotions and heal hearts. The art museum hopes to guide visitors toward self-discovery through this engaging exhibition.

Visitors take photos of Gongkan's paintings at Pingshan Art Museum.

Dates: Through Oct. 8

Venue: Pingshan Art Museum, Pingshan District (坪山美术馆)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D1

SkyShuttle: Line 1 to Culture Center Station (文化聚落站), Exit A