On Life and Death

Different stages in life are often represented in the works of art, including but not limited to one’s birth, growth, adolescence, marriage, and eventually, the family or one’s own illness, aging, and death. Based on the works theming on family’s illness or death, and those that depict different events in life, the show traces stories of life and death in everyday life. While we may spend dream-like time feeling happy, we sometimes need to endure deep sorrow and suffering in solitude. Chatchai Puipia (Thailand)’s painting illustrates the artist’s father just before his passing, while Song Yongping(China)’s photography portrays his parents battling illness and himself taking care of them. These are a few of the examples that disclose the reality – aging or sickness, which we cannot avoid.

Through fifteen works of art that explore life and death, we wish to consider contemporary life values and views of life and death.