MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum | The Unfaithful Octopus - Fyerool Darma

MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum is delighted to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, "The Unfaithful Octopus," curated by Roger Nelson. This distinctive showcase, running from 9 March to 15 July 2024, features an international ensemble of artists who delve into the concept of adaptation in art, transforming various inspirations into new creations.

 

All the artworks in The Unfaithful Octopus can be considered “adaptations,” meaning that they respond to stories that the artists have taken from elsewhere. For example, some artworks are inspired by works of literature and cinema. Other artworks take their cue from historical paintings, sculptures, and designs by other artists. Some artworks are also inspired by writings by scholars and theorists. 

 

Despite this, all the artworks in the exhibition transform the stories they respond to into something new. In this way, while they can be considered “adaptations,” they are not trying to be exact copies of other artworks or literary or cinematic sources. Instead, they are deliberately “unfaithful” kinds of adaptation, meaning that they use their artistic license to freely change the look and feel of the stories they are responding.

 

Featured Artists: Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook (Thailand), Mieke Bal (Netherlands),  Fyerool Darma (Singapore), Ian Tee (Singapore), Diem Phung Thi & Thao Nguyen Phan (Vietnam), CAMP (India), Ricardo de Baños & Alberto Marro (Spain), Chulayarnnon Siriphol (Thailand)

 

Originally exhibited at Nanyang Technological University's ADM Gallery in Singapore, this exhibition was made possible with the support of Jim Thompson and Quu Hotel.

 

Exhibition period:
9 March - 15 July 2024