Installation Views
Overview

That's Cute begins with the demonstrative. There is something indubitable about our sense of cuteness. Apparently, it’s biological: something to do with an evolutionary desire to care for adorable children and animals. But it also has much to do with the present historical moment: no longer the preserve of subcultures, the cute has become popular and pervasive, with a well-developed database of cat videos, uWu, cottage-core and the coquette. Today, the issue of subjective judgement concerns not the cute thing itself, but our reactions, which can range from being utterly charmed to acute repulsion. 

This exhibition deals with the moment of encounter between the viewer and the cute. It features works by eight contemporary artists where the cute appears but then unfurls wildly. Some of these artists are studied veterans of the cute; they deliberately harness its neotenous forms and its comforting familiarity to complicate its repertoire, and our relationships with technology, religion, and society. For others, cuteness is part of a practice of playfulness as well as a means of sensitising our gaze into the world. 

That's Cute is an open invitation to reconsider how obvious visual and symbolic qualities can translate into uncertain feelings, and to encounter the cute’s powerful provocation to embrace the furry and the fuzzy.

 

Angie Fan
Apichaya Wannakit
BUDDHAANDZ
Ella Wijt
MM. Kosum
Unchalee Anantawat
Vu Dieu Huong
Wiyoga Muhardanto

In collaboration with RUBANAH Underground Hub and Neu Contemporary 

Works
That's Cute begins with the demonstrative. There is something indubitable about our sense of cuteness. Apparently, it’s biological: something to do with an evolutionary desire to care for adorable children and animals. But it also has much to do with the present historical moment: no longer the preserve of subcultures, the cute has become popular and pervasive, with a well-developed database of cat videos, uWu, cottage-core and the coquette. Today, the issue of subjective judgement concerns not the cute thing itself, but our reactions, which can range from being utterly charmed to acute repulsion.

This exhibition deals with the moment of encounter between the viewer and the cute. It features works by eight contemporary artists where the cute appears but then unfurls wildly. Some of these artists are studied veterans of the cute; they deliberately harness its neotenous forms and its comforting familiarity to complicate its repertoire, and our relationships with technology, religion, and society. For others, cuteness is part of a practice of playfulness as well as a means of sensitising our gaze into the world.

Comprising mediums ranging from VR installations, animated dolls, ceramics, to airbrush paintings, That's Cute invites us to reconsider how obvious visual and symbolic qualities can translate into uncertain feelings, and to encounter the cute’s powerful provocation to embrace the furry and the fuzzy.


- Denise Lai 
  • Marble Table
    Apichaya Wannakit
    Marble Table, 2023
    Oil on canvas
    53 x 80
  • Pool in the Garden
    Apichaya Wannakit
    Pool in the Garden, 2023
    Oil and gouache on canvas
    58 x 86 cm
  • Old Chair
    Apichaya Wannakit
    Old Chair, 2023
    Oil on canvas
    30 x 40 cm
  • Poi Sian
    Apichaya Wannakit
    Poi Sian , 2023
    Oil on canvas
    30 x 40 cm
  • Speedy Horsie
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Speedy Horsie, 2024
    Acrylic on canvas with airbrush
    80 x 100 cm
  • Fat Ciggie
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Fat Ciggie, 2024
    Acrylic on canvas with airbrush
    80 x 100 cm
  • Time told me, 'This is Ho Rui An'
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Time told me, 'This is Ho Rui An', 2024
    Acrylic on canvas with airbrush
    100 x 80 cm
  • Gassy Gas Station
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Gassy Gas Station, 2024
    Acrylic on canvas with airbrush
    119 x 149 cm
  • Cigarette's fingers
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Cigarette's fingers, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    15.9 x 14.8 cm
  • It was a mountain rock before.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    It was a mountain rock before. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    15 x 23 cm
  • Opinionated Doggo
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Opinionated Doggo, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 10.5 cm
  • Somying
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Somying, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • Is this a dog or a bear?
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Is this a dog or a bear?, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • A corner of Mr. Lynch's set.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    A corner of Mr. Lynch's set. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Dogg with anger issues.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Dogg with anger issues. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    29 x 21 cm
  • I don't want to believe.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    I don't want to believe., 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    19 x 26.5 cm
  • Sausage with some leaves
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Sausage with some leaves, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • Day time flower field
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Day time flower field , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Hipster fountain drawing #02
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hipster fountain drawing #02 , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • Hipster fountain drawing #5
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hipster fountain drawing #5, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    22.9 x 14.8 cm
  • Hipster fountain drawing #1
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hipster fountain drawing #1 , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Tumours
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Tumours, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • You are beautiful one.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    You are beautiful one. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    11.4 x 15 cm
  • Combat Mode On
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Combat Mode On, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Hand holding a glass rock.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hand holding a glass rock. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • Annoyed Doggo
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Annoyed Doggo , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Sea side car driving
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Sea side car driving , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Hello, Mr. Dust
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hello, Mr. Dust, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    22.7 x 15.6 cm
  • Moving coconut tree on a pick up truck
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Moving coconut tree on a pick up truck, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Pandemonium muah
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Pandemonium muah, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 31 cm
  • Plastic Doggo Lamp
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Plastic Doggo Lamp, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 14.8 cm
  • Earthworm in the hoo hoo
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Earthworm in the hoo hoo, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 31 cm
  • Cloudy Hee Hee
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Cloudy Hee Hee, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    31 x 21 cm
  • Lazy Coconut Tree
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Lazy Coconut Tree, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    23 x 15 cm
  • Hipster Fountain Drawing #03
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Hipster Fountain Drawing #03 , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Badly drawn Phoenix birdie
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Badly drawn Phoenix birdie, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    21 x 13.8 cm
  • Super Power Doggo on the sky
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Super Power Doggo on the sky , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    19.5 x 28.7 cm
  • Night time flower field.
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Night time flower field. , 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • Roger
    Unchalee Anantawat
    Roger, 2023
    Soft pastel on paper
    14.8 x 21 cm
  • What I Want to Be
    Ella Wijt
    What I Want to Be , 2023
    Watercolour, pencil, pen and dried flower on paper in custom hand-painted frame with acrylic sheets
    22.5 x 22.5 x 5 cm
  • A Will of Strength
    Ella Wijt
    A Will of Strength , 2023
    Watercolour, pencil, pen and dried flower on paper in custom hand-painted frame with acrylic sheets
    22.5 x 22.5 x 5 cm
  • Stargazer
    Ella Wijt
    Stargazer, 2024
    Acrylic paint and pencil on raw canvas with clear gesso
    60 x 60 cm
  • Moon Gathering
    Ella Wijt
    Moon Gathering , 2024
    Acrylic paint and pencil on raw canvas with clear gesso
    145 x 102 cm
  • Wu Kong F U
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Wu Kong F U, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Found Object
    14 x 24 x 24 cm
  • The Buddhizt Scripture
    BUDDHAANDZ
    The Buddhizt Scripture, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay
    7 x 23 x 17 cm
  • Monkey in Mountain
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Monkey in Mountain, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Magnet
    29 x 29 x 26 cm
  • Wu Kong Enlightenment
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Wu Kong Enlightenment , 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay
    22 x 14 x 16 cm
  • Wu Kong
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Wu Kong, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Wood
    36 x 20 x 14 cm
  • Fire Mountain
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Fire Mountain, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Magnet, Wood
    36 x 32 x 32 cm
  • Sam Jang on Horse
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Sam Jang on Horse, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Found Object
    24 x 14 x 24 cm
  • Dragon King of Ocean
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Dragon King of Ocean, 2023
    Epoxy Clay, Acrylic, Wood
    15 x 30 x 14 cm
  • SamJang and Crewz
    BUDDHAANDZ
    SamJang and Crewz, 2023
    Mixed Media Sculpture, Epoxy Clay, Wood, Acrylic
    30 x 24 x 15 cm
  • Wu Kong on Wall
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Wu Kong on Wall, 2023
    Epoxy Clay, Wood, Acrylic
    30 x 24 x 15 cm
  • Buddhistz Someone
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Buddhistz Someone, 2023
    Epoxy Clay, Acrylic
    18 x 28 x 13cm
  • Katyayana Buddhistz
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Katyayana Buddhistz, 2023
    Acrylic on Epoxy Clay, Found Object
    44 x 16 x 8 cm
  • Dragonz
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Dragonz, 2023
    Epoxy Clay, Acrylic
    20 x 20 x 25 cm
  • Tigerz
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Tigerz, 2023
    Epoxy Clay, Acrylic, Wood
    20 x 20 x 16 cm
  • Buddha vs Demons
    BUDDHAANDZ
    Buddha vs Demons, 2023
    Mixed Media Sculpture, bronze, epoxy clay, wood, acrylic colour
    32 x 32 x 36 cm
  • Sleep Walk
    MM Kosum
    Sleep Walk , 2024
    Pigment powder and pastel on paper (back); Pastel, oil pastel and graphite on paper (front)
    109.5 x 78.9 cm
  • Fireworks
    MM Kosum
    Fireworks, 2023
    Pigment powder, spray paint, and pastel on paper
    109.5 x 78.9 cm
  • Echo
    MM Kosum
    Echo, 2023
    Pastel and spray paint on paper
    109.5 x 78.9 cm
  • Palm
    MM Kosum
    Palm, 2023
    Spray paint on paper
    109.5 x 78.9 cm
  • Imagine flavor
    MM Kosum
    Imagine flavor, 2021
    Ceramic
    23.7 x 16.8 x 0.5 cm
  • Cake fountain #2
    MM Kosum
    Cake fountain #2, 2024
    Ceramic
    27 x 20 x 20 cm
  • Volcano
    MM Kosum
    Volcano, 2020
    Glazed stoneware
    13 x 13 x 13 cm
  • Lightweight Conversation
    Wiyoga Muhardanto
    Lightweight Conversation, 2024
    Pigmented resin, fiberglass, PVC foam board, plastic figurines, automotive paint and acrylic paint
    20 x 60 x 10 cm
  • Muamalah (The Dealing)
    Wiyoga Muhardanto
    Muamalah (The Dealing), 2023
    Resin with cast and 3d print technique, acrylic paint, & automotive paint
    7.4 cm x 41 cm x 17 cm
  • Boid II
    Vu Dieu Huong
    Boid II , 2023
    PLA, Screen
    41.4 x 36.1 x 9.33 cm
  • Farewell to Misha
    Vu Dieu Huong
    Farewell to Misha , 2023
    Servo, Ultrasonic Sensor, PLA, Fabric
    45 x 17 x 10 cm
  • Applied Cuteness Research
    Angie Fan
    Applied Cuteness Research, 2023
    Virtual Reality Installation
    Compatible with Oculus Quest 3


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