The exhibition and project was a part of the Wellington Asia Residency Exchange (WARE) 2015. At Toi Pōneke Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand. Below is a press release for the exhibition called “Steal This Book”. Later the project continues to produce and exhibit in many places, such as in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Melbourne, Australia;.and recently at Hallery VER, Bangkok, Thailand.
Steal This Book reimagines the content of a banned book as an art exhibition and is a response to limitations on freedom of expression in Thailand following the military takeover of 2014. Consisting of both new and earlier works, Steal This Book reinterprets the infamous publication ‘Steal This Book’ by American social activist Abbie Hoffman, which was banned in 1971.
Supaparinya did not read Hoffman’s book but instead used the title as a provocation for creating content that is in her own narrative, and she says she imagined she’d begin this project by presenting it in a country where the banning of books was not such a pertinent issue. “It was quite interesting; the concept of the exhibition gave me a lot of room to imagine situations, but then when I arrived I also discovered that a book (Ted Dawe’s Into the River) had recently been banned here.”
Supaparinya is exploring the possibility of restaging Steal This Book upon her return to Thailand, although given the political situation in her home country and the likelihood that the works will be exhibited in a Bangkok library, the connotations will be vastly different.
“In Thailand so many books are banned. Since 2006 there has been a lot of change. Before that, a small number of people cared about politics, but now people question what’s happening in our country, she says. It’s like our world was an illusion, but now people are looking for the real content, looking at the history—they are addicted to politics, monitoring every movement—so when the government announces a book is dangerous, everybody wants to read it.”
Co-founder and director of the artist-run initiative Chiang Mai Art Conversation, Supaparinya has a BFA in painting from Chiang Mai University and studied media arts in Germany. The WARE residency is the artist’s first visit to New Zealand, and her impressions are positive.
“What I like most about Wellington is the walkability; it’s designed for walking. There are lots of paths with benches to sit and watch things. It’s a short walk from the mountains to the sea, says Supaparinya, “And I like the wind. It has a lot of energy. When the exhibition is over maybe I’ll do a wind-inspired project…”
Through the WARE program, Wellington City Council, in partnership with the Asia New Zealand Foundation (Asia:NZ), offers Wellington-based arts organizations wanting to work with an Asian arts practitioner or Asian artists wanting to visit and develop work in Wellington opportunities to connect. Successful applicants receive full support, including return flights, a daily allowance, and accommodation for up to 3 months at Bolton Street Cottage.
Steal This Book opens to the public on October 30 and runs until November 14.
Opening – 5.30pm Thursday 29 October
Artist Talk – 5.30pm Friday, 13 November, Toi Pōneke Gallery
61 Abel Smith St, Te Aro, Wellington
