WORKING THE 7-ELEVEN
Between Nov 30 and Jan 19 at Bangkok CityCity Gallery on Sathon Road, local artist Miti Ruangkritya returns with his latest solo photographic exhibition “A Convenient Sunset | A Convenient Holdup”, where the artist invites visitors to see the different sides of one of the most favourite convenience stores in Thailand.
In Miti’s new exhibition, the familiar orange, white and green neon logo sign of 7-Eleven is portrayed as an image in the Thai urbanscape. The collection of bright, hyper-vivid images of near-identical 7-Eleven stores, alongside pixelated CCTV images taken during the golden hour and some of unexpected robbery attempts.
The juxtaposition of the tranquil, properly composed photographs of the stores forms the conceptual work of Miti’s new show that teases our expectations, provokes interpretation, and above all hints at the inevitability of chaos even in the environment as controlled and manufactured as those brightly-lit stores frequented by almost every Thai every day.
Raised in the UK, and returning to Bangkok in 2010, the artist is known by his work that produced immaculate photography focusing on the urban city, its development, and impact. A subtle sarcasm has also informed his commentary work on politics. Notable works from Miti includes Imagining Flood (2012) and Thai Politics (2006- ongoing), both of which have been shown in international exhibitions and festivals. In 2014, Miti started working on “Dream Property”, an ongoing project that examines the nature of property development and its relationship to the city. In 2016, he was selected as one of the finalists of the Sovereign Art Prize.