Visiting Artist Series: Luce Goutelle

On 14 February, Luce Goutelle, a French artist, visited Asian University to demonstrate some of her work, to meet the students and talk with them about her work, and theirs.

Luce Graduated and was awarded a Visual Art Diploma with Honours from the Ecole Superior d’art de Grenoble in 2007. She has been in Thailand for six months on an art scholarship and an internship with Tang Fu Kuen fine arts.

Multimedia lecturer, Will, introduced Luce to the audience of University and College students, and their teachers. Luce then spoke about here work, with plenty of illustrations, and was also very open when answering questions.

She explained how she collects information, in the way you would collect ingredients to prepare a meal. Then she studies and digests the information, before starting on the creation process. She gave more details about three recent projects: “Essai 1” an art performance mixing art, movement and dance, using rugby players as her models. The second project was “Dog racing”, and the final exhibition included photos and drawings of the dogs as well as the jackets worn by the dogs to identify them during the races. The last project was “Pollution Masks” which she undertook in Bangkok. This included a collection of masks, crocheted by Luce many in irregular patterns and styles. Luce explained how in each case she had started knowing nothing about the subjects (rugby, dog racing and crochet) and had learnt to crochet in Bangkok when she bought her first yarn and hook.

Luce showed examples of some of her other work before Will thanked her for sharing her work and stories with everyone. Thanks to Ajarn Robert for the photos of Luce.

The next Visiting Artist series will be later in February when a Filipino film specialist will come to Asian university. Award-Winning Festival of Filipino Films Outreach Tour Sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with the Asian Public Intellectuals Fellowship Programme.

On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 February starting 7pm, there will be a mini film festival at Asian University. Both evenings are expected to last about two hours. The programmes planned are as follows:

Day 1: Wednesday 27 February: Six short films with short introductions to each. Followed by a reception to meet our guest, Edward Delos Santos Cabagnot.

Edward is an award winning lecturer from the Filipino Cultural Centre, whose expertise is in Asian Cinema.

1 Mansyon (Mansion) by Joel Ruiz

A middle aged couple, Ambo and Dolores, are hired as caretakers of a large opulent house for three months. The couple has fallen into a psychic rut, mechanically doing their housework. Until one day Dolores finds a red perfume bottle …

2 Kultado (Boiling Point) by Lawrence Fajardo

Life in a wet market in the provinces spells danger. A young vegetable vendor and his family are oppressed by the market thugs. But things always have a breaking point.

3 Gabon (Cloud) by Emmanuel Dela Cruz

The mystifying tale of a Muslim lass who is determined to attend her classes .. No matter what.

4 Durog (Smashed) by Tara Illenberger

A beautiful maid goes to work for a spaced-out, spoiled addict. But there’s more to this than meets the eye.

5 Doble Vista (Double Vision) by Nix Lanas, Nisha Alicer & Caren Crisologo

A witty and visually exciting tribute to Godard and the Nouvelle Vague centering on a lovelorn writer and his mystery lady.

6 Putot (Small Fry) by Jeck Cogama

A young boy cares for his mentally challenged father in a slum area that is about to be demolished. While trying to make a living selling shellfish, he meets Mayang, a girl slightly older than him. Soon he finds himself enamoured with the lass.

Day 2: Thursday 28 February (Two award winning full length films, with an intermission)

1 Ang Pagdadalanga Ni Maximo Oliveros (The blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) by Auraeus Solito & Michiko Yamamoto.

An international film festival favourite; about a delicate young boy who falls in love with a handsome cop. Winner 2006 Berlinale Kinder Festival.

2 Kubrador (The Bet Collector) by Jeffrey Jeturian.

Another world film festival mainstay; about a woman (played stunningly by much awarded actress Gina Pareno) from the slums, who collects illegal gambling bets for a living. Cinemalaya 2006 Opening Film.

Entry to both the evening events is free. For more information please contact Khun Yao on 038 253 700, extension 2722 or email Will at wsmith@asianust.ac.th

There is more information on the film festival on the web site at www.asianust.ac.th/bam/filmfest.htm