3. Juni 2012 - New Ceramics

PROFILE
His practice is strongly influenced by his fascination
for coral reefs, and the damage being
done to these vital marine habitats by shipping,
unregulated dive-tourism, pollution,
and human impact.
has turned it into something of a visual cliché. “Making work
in this ongoing Lai Krarm series, and making them differently,
keeps me excited and inspired. I have to keep moving,
developing and researching. Also, it does not allow me to
become overly reliant on certain material, processes or technical
aspects".
In a sense, Srivilasa has always been drawn to an international
perspective, one which was enhanced by his decision
to pursue a masters degree at the University of Tasmania, and
to remain in Australia after completing it in 1998. Australia's
long established regional friendship and cooperation with
Thailand has undoubtedly made Srivilasa's assimilation easier.
“I feel very supported by both countries. Nowadays, I really
can't tell what the cultural differences are between our nations,
as both cultures seem to merge together nicely in me,
and by extension into my work", he observes. “When I show
in Bangkok I meet a lot of Australian expatriates there, and
when I show in Australia I also get a lot of feed-back from
the local Thai audience. The boundaries sort of blur and blend
together". Srivilasa now keeps his studio in the vibrant inner-
left Patience Flower IV, porcelain, 24 x 21 x 13 cm, 2010
below Patience Flower V, porcelain, 24 x 15 x 13 cm, 2010
photo Terence Bogue
city coastal suburb of St. Kilda, in Victoria, with forays back
to Bangkok to visit his family. “Melbourne is the best place to
live in my opinion, not as busy as Bangkok but it is still lively
enough that it can keep me entertained every day and night.
It's also a city of the arts, there is so much good art here!"
If Srivilasa appears to move seamlessly between the two
cultural identities, it is because his work thrives on making
any wider disparity, misapprehension, or point of issue into
a subject of subtle contemplation. Occasionally this can be
subsumed by the more overtly playful and exuberant decorative
aspects he so delights in. “Most of my works have strong
and serious message behind the often bright colours and camp
affectation. Sometimes it's about political views, sexual orientation,
duality and difference. Other themes include subverting
authority and the pressure to conform, environmental degradation,
and our bizarre inability to really ‘hear' each other
in a world which fetishises digital communication", Srivilasa
contends. “I want my work to deliver a commentary on global
culture, but in a disarming way which focuses on the inherent
commonalities between East and West".
36 NEW CERAMICS May / June 2012