Museum MACAN Collaborates with Renowned Thai Artist, Mr Mit Jai Inn, for its Fourth UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space Commission

Instalasi di Encounters, Art Basel, Hong Kong, Mit Jai Inn. Planes (Electric) (2019) Cat minyak di atas kanvas, rami Gambar milik Silverlens

Jakarta, 25 October 2019 – Museum MACAN announces its fourth commission for the UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space since the Museum’s opening in November 2017. For the latest exhibition, renowned Thai artist Mr Mit Jai Inn will present his first commissioned work for children, titled Colour in Cave. It will run from 25 October 2019 to March 2020.

The UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space previously featured commissioned works by prominent Asian artists Mr Entang Wiharso (Indonesia), Mr Gatot Indrajati (Indonesia) and Mrs Shooshie Sulaiman (Malaysia).

Colour in Cave will see the UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space completely transformed. Children will be able to immerse themselves in the environment that is set up to resemble a cave – often depicted as the dwelling place for human beings when they began life on earth. The cave concept was chosen because in its bareness, it sharpens the senses and opens minds to possibilities, thereby encouraging creativity and experimentation among the children.

Prior to entering the Children’s Art Space, visitors may choose to wear a robe to participate in the activities. The young visitors will be able to paint on the cave walls and soft stone-like installations. They can also take away a piece of fabric cut from Mr Mit Jai Inn’s installation to create their own palate of colours and to compose shapes for pasting on the surfaces. Their instruments will include colour ‘fossils’ for writing and for drawing out messages from Mr Mit Jai Inn hidden on the walls of the cave.

Mit Jai Inn uses mainly bright and playful colour tones on unframed material which encourages his audience to see and to have a tactile experience of his artwork. He is the cofounder of the Chiang Mai Social Installation Project, where the like-minded share their interests in art and other disciplines through discussion forums at various public spaces. He also manages the experimental Cartel Artspace in Bangkok, a gallery offering free space to artists whose works focus on the historical and current contexts of Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Mr Mit Jai Inn, said, “I hope the conversion of UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space into a cave-like structure helps inspire young creative minds and other visitors regardless of age, to create a positive purpose in all their artistic explorations. As natural experts of play, the children will be able to gain knowledge in a fun, innovative and imaginative learning approach in the space created for them.”

Aaron Seeto, Director of Museum MACAN, said, “Mr Mit Jai Inn is a seminal figure in the Thai contemporary art scene and we are very pleased to have him be part of MACAN’s programming as the fourth artist for the UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space Commission. He considers his painting process as a form of meditation, therefore, through this space that he has (re)created he is looking to instill in the young artists, optimism as compared with what others may think laborious or time consuming, and to be part of something bigger. I really hope that children get to be free and fearless in creating beyond their imagination. The cave is designed as a shared environment for them to dream and create, and we hope that the visitors can carry the value with them.”

Mr Kevin Lam, President Director of PT Bank UOB Indonesia, said, “As UOB is Museum MACAN’s major education partner, we are delighted to be involved again in the fourth work for the UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space Commission. Our continued support is all part of our longterm commitment to nurturing art, children and education in Indonesia.

“The UOB Museum MACAN Children’s Art Space Commission is an important element in our championing of Southeast Asian art. This latest collaborative project, featuring renowned Southeast Asian artist, Mr Mit Jai Inn, encourages budding Indonesian artists to express themselves freely through experimental and conceptual thinking. We believe that by supporting the art ecosystem, we help to encourage the progress of the nation’s creative talents and artists.”

Access to the UOB Children’s Art Space is free with a valid museum ticket. All children must be guided by adults.