Montien Boonma interview :
Reaching beyond tradition (1991)
Alfred Pawlin
artdesigncafé | café library | Published 01 November 2009
This interview was previously published in Asian Art News, Nov/Dec 1991, pp. 29-31.
artdesigncafé | café library | Published 01 November 2009
This interview was previously published in Asian Art News, Nov/Dec 1991, pp. 29-31.
Alfred Pawlin: A German art historian has written that you seem to be trying to escape from established art genres. Would you agree with this?
Montien Boonma: It is not that simple. I am not so much concerned with the new image or style in my work but more about how I can transmit or express the images and the ideas in my work. They should be clear, concrete. And they should be in accordance with my original idea. I never think my work should be more advanced that that of other artists. But I do think artists should know what is going on in the art world in particular and the world in general. If we understand the situation of the world today then everything we talk about and think about will help us to create concrete, real things. I think, at times, that I am actually more interested in the life of contemporary people than I am in the views of contemporary art.
Alfred Pawlin: Do you see your interest in people over contemporary art views as a yardstick for contemporary art?
Montien Boonma: In some ways, yes. My work is about real situations in my society, my personal problems, and the situation of life today. Since I live in the present world, I am inspired by it and draw inspiration from my true environment. Today, almost every place has technology, international news and information and easy access to it. So I think more on a world and life perspective than simply art-specific.
Alfred Pawlin: Where does technology fit into your ideas and art?
Montien Boonma: New technologies support mankind and constantly point him in new directions. We once had fire to cook by, but now have microwaves for that. But even though we’ve moved from primitive to high-tech forms, we are still concerned mainly with cooking. The development from primitive to high-tech looks complicated, and many times it is, but there are still the same basic needs. I think man has lost his direction because he is overly concerned with his own activities, mainly in technology. I am quite worried about man’s direction in technology, and this is all reflected in my work.
Alfred Pawlin: So you are really trying to simplify your art?
Montien Boonma: I don’t want my work to appear too complicated. I prefer to create in a rather simple way. I use glue, soil and charcoal. Simple materials and a simple technique which should express my idea. I am not aiming at a new style or a new image. I am trying to express my concern for contemporary life in my society. If I can do that then my work can have an impact in a number of ways because I am not thinking only about the art form. If we understand the problems we face, then we can go further than formal art and perhaps find solutions.
My way is not to study in order to find something that no one else has done before, but rather to contribute solutions that will have an impact outside of the world of art, too. So I don’t work in a continuous manner because my work doesn’t move only in one direction. When I am working on Pagodas, I don’t want this style to become permanent. It is only one theme I am concerned with. I will try to use some other material to apply in another way because I do not want to become associated with only one style.
Montien Boonma interview - 1 | 2 | 3
Montien Boonma: It is not that simple. I am not so much concerned with the new image or style in my work but more about how I can transmit or express the images and the ideas in my work. They should be clear, concrete. And they should be in accordance with my original idea. I never think my work should be more advanced that that of other artists. But I do think artists should know what is going on in the art world in particular and the world in general. If we understand the situation of the world today then everything we talk about and think about will help us to create concrete, real things. I think, at times, that I am actually more interested in the life of contemporary people than I am in the views of contemporary art.
Alfred Pawlin: Do you see your interest in people over contemporary art views as a yardstick for contemporary art?
Montien Boonma: In some ways, yes. My work is about real situations in my society, my personal problems, and the situation of life today. Since I live in the present world, I am inspired by it and draw inspiration from my true environment. Today, almost every place has technology, international news and information and easy access to it. So I think more on a world and life perspective than simply art-specific.
Alfred Pawlin: Where does technology fit into your ideas and art?
Montien Boonma: New technologies support mankind and constantly point him in new directions. We once had fire to cook by, but now have microwaves for that. But even though we’ve moved from primitive to high-tech forms, we are still concerned mainly with cooking. The development from primitive to high-tech looks complicated, and many times it is, but there are still the same basic needs. I think man has lost his direction because he is overly concerned with his own activities, mainly in technology. I am quite worried about man’s direction in technology, and this is all reflected in my work.
Alfred Pawlin: So you are really trying to simplify your art?
Montien Boonma: I don’t want my work to appear too complicated. I prefer to create in a rather simple way. I use glue, soil and charcoal. Simple materials and a simple technique which should express my idea. I am not aiming at a new style or a new image. I am trying to express my concern for contemporary life in my society. If I can do that then my work can have an impact in a number of ways because I am not thinking only about the art form. If we understand the problems we face, then we can go further than formal art and perhaps find solutions.
My way is not to study in order to find something that no one else has done before, but rather to contribute solutions that will have an impact outside of the world of art, too. So I don’t work in a continuous manner because my work doesn’t move only in one direction. When I am working on Pagodas, I don’t want this style to become permanent. It is only one theme I am concerned with. I will try to use some other material to apply in another way because I do not want to become associated with only one style.
Montien Boonma interview - 1 | 2 | 3
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