Output details

Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 'Primitive', multi-platform research project

Newman was lead commissioner and curator for the ‘Primitive’ project by filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which expanded Newman’s curatorial research into the relationships between media and collective memory. Primitive pioneered a new type of artists’ practice with outputs across multiple exhibition formats while providing vital R&D towards Weerasethakul’s feature film ‘Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives’, which won the 2010 Palm d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.

The imperative was to commission a new, multiplatform artwork that explored violent clashes between communist farmers and Thai military from the 1960s-1980s, and to curate a major international touring exhibition of the commissioned outputs (a nine-screen HD video installation, music video, short film for cinema, short online film, and an artist’s book published by CUJO). Newman commissioned Apichatpong to work on-location, documenting personal stories with film, photography and sound, developing these into screenplay for ‘Primitive’ and ‘Uncle Boonmee’.

Curatorial research included exploration of the artist’s previous works, dialogue with the artist throughout production, providing feedback on edits, leading exhibition design and curation of public programme. Curatorial decisions included layout of artworks in the gallery and the decision to add a sculptural tower, synchronised lighting and a wall drawing to orchestrate audience experience by creating an exhibition environment that amplified ‘Primitive’s’ political motivations. Curatorial research was printed in the Exhibition Guide and the published essay ‘A Man Who Can Recall His Past Lives’ for the monograph ‘Apichatpong Weerasethakul’ (Austrian Film Museum Vienna, Ed. James Quandtt, Museum/Wallflower Press, 2009).

The exhibition at FACT toured internationally including Haus der Kunst, Munich, New Museum, New York and Musee d’Art Modern, Paris and was reviewed by Art Forum and Third Text among others. As a result, ‘Primitive’ has brought new public attention to political conflict in Thailand, securing the artist critical recognition within contemporary art and cinema.