Landscape of Emptiness

When we are in the situation and time of absentmindedly staring at the possibility of "truth", we will see a thin smog of emptiness. The emptiness is not naked, though. The origin of this emptiness stems from the condition of letting go, liberating or disappearing from existence. The emptiness, with its boundless horizons, is an abstract, endless time and infinite universe in a faraway distance. At the same time, to perceive this condition, we need to be aware of "what" exists. The boundary of emptiness, thus, plays a crucial role in unveiling this evanescence leading to the state of emptiness.

The desire for existence induces a simple but powerful force. The existence of ordinary entities reveals some truth that surrounds us and moves forward with time incessantly. The appearance, existence, and disappearance are the cause and effect of the phenomenon of truth, which moves forward as time passes. What is left is ashes of smouldering truth that split off, float in the air, cover time and space, embrace, and penetrate the wheel of time through which it moves. The disappearance returns to an original condition again in the new context and condition of truth.

The condition of truth produces a powerful force that shakes the state of being present and gradually vanishes into the "empty condition" of existence. The state of being present is eroded and burnt into the present moment. In other words, the present creates a "shadow of truth", smouldering and floating in the air, moving past, liberating, falling into the ashes of the moment, and leaving only the consciousness of awakening when we meet and bid farewell.

Landscape of Emptiness by Sanitas Pradittasnee creates a condition through which the audience enters a state of emptiness, taking them into specific situations of space and time to venture into the concept of seeking truth in the frontier or "perimeter" of abstraction. The cloud of existence takes the audience down the path of the truth of time, where everything perishes, leaving only emptiness.

The emptiness presented here is not formless. Nor is it without origin. The emptiness stems from the state of being moving through a flickering shadow of truth in which everything moves and perishes temporarily. The emptiness may only be one condition of truth shaking the present moment.Sanitas creates the border/landscape of entering truth by seeking the state of emptiness. The truth that appears in the space creates ruptures of thought, which connect the history of the space and people who have a relationship with the starting point of this space/landscape, which is only particles of dirt deposited and accumulated through time and memory.

The state of being in the empty space of the works unveils itself and its frontier in the definition of emptiness, leading to the seeking of the meaning of truth and emptiness in a not naked manner. The concept of the shadow of truth enters and floats over the exhibition space, like the air which splits off/floats to embrace and nurture the meaning of the state of truth in the exhibition room. "Shadow of truth" floats like dust particles in the air, which conceals and obscures itself.

Sanitas creates an exhibition space that fills with air and atmosphere smouldering with the meaning of truth and time. We are presented with the time that moves forward and the meaning of dematerialisation of changed materials whose original meaning is altered to create a sharper, deeper and more profound meaning. The meaning and the creation of emptiness have been filled with clear borderlines and forms. On the other hand, it also obscures and forces its way into the state of normalcy, like a flickering shadow of truth, which is shaken and breaks apart when it collides with time.

The state of emptiness unveiling itself in the work does not appear in a bare shape but lets us perceive it through our sensory senses, penetrating itself into our psyche. In this exhibition space, we can see, hear, smell, touch, and even jump into this space of new time. Sanitas unveils sediments of truth falling under the ground and then becoming clearer and floating above in time when moving through materials that overlap with the truth.

Fragments of occurrence originating from vanishing break apart and spread until they're reborn like the collision of universe edges, presenting us with the phenomenon of vanishing, breaking off, and rebirth of various things. Burning sunlight and complex shadows allow us to see the truth of existence, which moves towards the breaking point through the deep time hole.

In this exhibition, we will see what floats amidst the air, representing the void of emptiness. At the same time, we can see and touch heavy substances reinforcing onto the ground, emphasising the definition of emptiness in an interconnected and interdependent manner. Sanitas presents ordinary moments that move through, from the rising sun until the sky becomes utterly dark. In both rooms, we will see the truth of all matters, which moves in a circular fashion and repeatedly in the rupture of the condition of truth, which breaks out and vanishes into emptiness.

In this space, Sanitas uses an allegory of time to invite the audience to "relax" physically and mentally and to liberally review the meaning of life and the truth of various matters. Sitting and staring at morning light and immersing oneself in utter darkness will help us realise ourselves even though our bodies are not ours. Time forming in this space splits off in moments in the landscape of emptiness. The vague quietness immerses us in the space of time, moving towards emptily until it vanishes and becomes mist, falling like grains on the ground and waiting for its rebirth. It leaves only fragments of memory of time.

Sanitas sets off on a journey into a new frontier in the space of the truth of time into the emptiness, revealing some sort of truth in the meaning of life and things. It creates poetic lines of truth and emptiness so that we can engage in the moment of time and the specific space, which the artist creates and carefully selects. The audience is no longer passively watching but directing the movement through the mist of truth, through soil, light, darkness, wind and air. These create a new space of perception and awareness of emptiness in the landscape of existence and dissolution.

Landscape of Emptiness is an expression of the empty land and sky, embraced and nurtured by passing time through the truth. The emptiness creates space and time in our mind to review and observe the state of existence and disappearance. Truth transforms into new truth, which appears, lives momentarily and then perishes. The mist of time collides with the stability of truth until it crumbles into dust. The landscape of time gradually breaks out while the truth changes its form into a vanishing truth and becomes a mist of the state of truth. The status of truth then transforms into a new definition, leaving only fragments of memory in the shadow of truth flickering vaguely in the emptiness.

Landscape of Emptiness, a solo exhibition, by Sanitas Pradittasnee

Curated by Kritsada Duchsadeevanich

at the Art Centre, Silpakorn University (Wangthapra)

The exhibition will be on view from 22 March to 8 June 2024.

Mon - Sat 9 am to 6 pm (closed on Sundays and public holidays)