ABOVE: Dutch artist Daan Botlek poses in front of a mural he painted in Siam Square in 2013 as part of the Bukruk Street Art Festival. Photo: Bukruk Festival
An artist whose curious murals appeared to the delight of many during 2013’s Bukruk Street Art Festival will spread his brand of weird and wonderful at three Chinatown venues later this month.
A full-blown neighborhood block party will kick off “Inhabited Hypercube,” where large paintings, posters, prints and other objects by Dutch artist Daan Botlek will be scattered throughout three venues to be connected by his street wall paintings.
Botlek sees a slightly different world than the one most inhabit, which his work clearly communicates to surprise audiences and leave them feeling something between amused and disturbed.
“From miniature drawings to huge wall paintings Botlek’s mysterious and fascinating imagination is immediately recognizable. In the lineage of Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, Botlek plays with architecture, perspective and impossible spaces with a humorous acid twist,” wrote curator Myrtille Tibayrenc of the former Toot Yung Art Center.
Botlek was in residency at Toot Yung’s Ekkamai location before it disbanded in apparent acrimony late last year, and his show was put on hold while Tibayrenc found a new space to partner with as Toot Yung Nomad.
Factor in extensions, delays and the requisite visa runs, and Botlek said working here has been a uniquely frenetic experience.
“It’s been very chaotic in a sense because the idea was one month, then exhibition,” he said. “It’s not like i’ve got my desk and studio for three months and just work there.”
Enter the folks behind Cho Why, Food Court and El Chiringuito – part of that whole Chinatown thing – where the event will play out from March 14 through March 22.
For his show there Botlek said he’s finally found a way to interest him in working with canvas, and revisited his earlier pattern-based work to discover a new approach with it that will result in some kind of “3D puzzle game.” He’ll also join daily workshops to school the youth at Hub Sai Dek in the code and values of street art along with Toot Yung soundsmith Marine Caillat and artists Rg86, Thibaud Tcherchian, Jeff Ross and Jesus A.D.
Spanish tapas and Thai street food will be available at the opening block party starting at 6pm on March 14 at Cho Why on Soi Nana in Chinatown.
Photos: Courtesy Daan Botlek / Toot Yung Nomad
FIND IT:
Inhabited Hypercube
6pm, March 14 – March 22
Cho Why
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