Exhibitions
From 2010 to 2014 Pha Tad Ke collaborated closely with Project Space • Luang Prabang to organize exhibitions in their beautiful space in town. The following selection has information and links to catalogues you can download for free to share:
Tcheu Siong “The genie behind the scissors” – December 2010 / February 2011.
We were proud to open our gallery with a première of the until then unknown work of Tcheu Siong and have been her worldwide representatives since then. Recently we published a catalogue with her works 2010/2020.
Tcheu Siong has participated in several Biennials and international exhibitions over the last years:
2021 – 13th Gwangju Biennale in South Korea – “Minds rising, spirits tuning”
2020 Niagara Gallery – Melbourne (with support from Elevations Laos)
2019/20 – Asian Art Biennial in Taipei
2018/19 – 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT9)
2018/19 – “Depths: Others, Lands, Selves”, a group show curated by Erin Gleeson at i:cat gallery in Vientiane, an initiative of, and supported by Elevations Laos. 2016 – Singapore Biennale “An Atlas of Mirrors”
2016 – Chapman Gallery, Willard Hall, Kansas State University, USA
2016 – H. Williams Gallery, Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, USA
Phaa Hom– March/May 2011.
Blankets of various Tai groups – Traditional weaving or Contemporary art?
Phasao Lao – May/July 2011 – Phasao Lao is the husband of Tcheu Siong, a shaman and an artist in his own right. His work has more graphic and textual elements, but is always dealing with the history of the Hmong and their long journey from the northern Chinese plains to Laos.
Portraits – August/September 2011 – Our first photo competition with young Luang Prabang talent in collaboration with @ My Library.
Spirits – September/October 2011 – An extraordinary exhibition that brought together three different realms: works from the Hmong photographer Ka Xiong, the funky Spirit Houses from Ken Yarbrough and photos from the “Sacred Rituals of the Yao” by Kees Sprenger.
Across the Mekong – October/November 2011 – A group show with works from: Tanupon En-on, Suwit Maprajuab, Maitree Siriboon, Chusak Srikwan, Pornprasert Yamazaki. Curated by Maitree Siriboon and Paul Ulan-Taylor, “Across the Mekong” is an exhibition of thought evoking works presenting questions and perceived truths on today’s social, cultural and environmental issues. The exhibition intends to foster a developing relationship of artistic exchange and cultural debate between the Thai and Lao art communities.
Palatteu Champassak – December 2011/February 2012 – Drawings & Puppets by Somphone Vongsouvanh, Master from the Champassak Shadow Theatre.
Prasert Yodkaew – February/April 2012 – “Science faith” is a group of art works based on the fusion of ideas from logical thinking and ideas from idealistic reasoning. The point is to examine reasons one gives for his or her own beliefs. Answers definitely are many and vary with each persons background. The logical explanations that everybody gives to support their idealistic belief is obviously the true nature of human beings. The artist claims that he has no intention to provide reliable answers, but rather prefers to stimulate the viewer in a Zen-like manner with his paradoxes of style. What realizations shall the viewer find?”
This exhibition by Prasert Yodkaew shows sculptures and drawings made during his stay in Luang Prabang in November 2012. Accompanied by the “31+4= an angel” video installation a fascinating and thought-provocative glimpse into this artists’ imaginary world can be discovered.
Maitree Siriboon – May/June 2012 – “Tree of Life”
Laos Today – July/August 2012 – An overview exhibition with young professional Lao photographers in collaboration with the Lang Korng Photo Club, with support from the Lao Journalists Association and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and made possible by a grant from the Fund for Innovation in Public Diplomacy from the US Embassy in Vientiane
My Life – August/September 2012 – Our seond photo competition with young Luang Prabang talent in collaboration with @ My Library.
Yao Mien Fang – December 2012/February 2013 – The Mien are a branch of the Yao tribal family that live in South China, North Vietnam, Laos and North Thailand, they adhere to a School of Southern Chinese Taoism that goes back many centuries. The ceremonial paintings from this popular art tradition are rare and little has been written about them. A set of these Mien Fang paintings is central to the Yao Mien belief, and they are an essential piece of religious paraphernalia used in their rituals of purification and the righting of wrongs. The Yao revere these icons quite literally as the abode of the gods. Each set contains specific deities that have their own ritual function and are displayed in different parts of ceremonies. The works are painted on vertical scrolls, on average 140 by 50cm, and depict deities from the Taoist Pantheon.
This very unique set has all 17 pieces from the same master, as well as the large horizontal scroll of 20 by 250cm, that shows the whole Pantheon in procession – Tom To Luang Tsiau – “The Dragon Bridge of the Great Tao”. The exhibition was completed with a beautiful series of photos of Kees Sprengers who had an unique access to these intimate ceremonies.
Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden @ Project Space – May/June 2013.
As the Gardens are still under construction we decided to bring a preview to Luang Prabang. Architectural studies from Jean-Pierre Dovat and Rintala Eggertson Architects. Photographs from Albin Duzer, Alain Menoni and Ka Xiong and Taleo’s from Nithakone Somsanith. Pha Tad Ke senior staff: Xaisamon Inthavhong, Somdi Oudomsack and Khamphat Thongchan, created a bamboo installation with life butterflies, a whole rice field throughout its three-months growing cycle and endemic Lao orchids in full bloom on beautiful driftwood from the Mekong.
Hsu Box – July/August 2013 – Two months of creative workshops for Luang Prabang youth with Richard Hsu, Globetrotter and Animator par Excellence.
Sarah Cheesbrough – December 2013/February 2014.
A presentation of Sarah’s Beautiful book “In Buddha’s Garden”, with over 190 photographs, published in a limited edition of 100 signed and numbered copies. Accompanied by original photos on the walls, printed by Bloom Pro Lab in Bangkok, in digital pigment print in signed and unlimited editions.
Future Plans – Project Space • Pha Tad Ke
In 2019 the combined synergies from Jean-Pierre Dovat and Rik Gadella started this new and exciting phase to create Project Space • Pha Tad Ke. Beautifully restored wooden Lue houses will host exhibitions, workshops and multi-disciplinary projects in the heart of Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden. A small study room will house a research library and a contemporary building will house and showcase our budding collection of contemporary Lao artists.
An important part of our resources will be used to provide scholarships for art students, and to build a comprehensive collection of contemporary art from the 1960’ties till now. Accommodating residencies for contemporary artists, designers and writers to open new pathways for research and creation we will put in place an exciting series of workshops and lectures from local and international artists, researchers and designers to engage international visitors and to open and stimulate creative paths for young talents from Laos.
We completed 90% of the construction of the first two buildings, but with the arrival of covid we had to halt the construction and are now looking for funds to continue building the future for a true creative Lao Contemporary Art Centre.
