MOMENTUM: Time is the Substance I Am Made Of, a recent solo exhibition of SIRAWIT CHATU excavates into the fluid nature of time and the complexities of modernisation in Thailand. Drawing inspiration from the works of Khrua In Khong—the revered 19th-century master who created the mysterious mural painting with the combination western elements and traditional thai technique—CHATU presents a juxtaposition that interrogates the evolving constructs of identity, history, and cultural transformation. With a keen interest in the modernisation of Siam during the 19th century, the artist inquiries the shifts brought about by European aesthetics and ideologies. Through his practice, he questions how these influences shaped the nation’s artistic and cultural landscape, inviting the audience to reflect on the very essence of time—both as a historical force and as a conceptual framework. By weaving together historical narratives and contemporary interpretations, Time is the Substance I Am Made Of explores the tension between tradition and progress, challenging us to reconsider the ways in which time informs identity, space, and artistic expression
