Thai Art Exhibition

A Charity Art Exhibition : Discover . . . ‘Life’
by Guido Hillebrand Goedheer
on March 12 - 28, 2010
at Siam City Hotel, Bangkok

Discover . . . ‘Life’
by renowned Dutch artist . . . Guido Hillebrand Goedheer
A Charity Art Exhibition @Siam City Hotel
March 12th – 28th, 2010
Proceeds will benefit the Foundation for Slum Child Care (FSCC)
Under the Royal Patronage of H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana
Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda

     Gossip Gallery, one of Bangkok’s leading contemporary art galleries located on the 3rd floor of the Silom Galleria, in conjunction with Siam City Hotel Bangkok, is hosting a charity art exhibition, ‘Life’, by renowned Dutch artist, Mr. Guido Hillebrand Goedheer, from March 12th to 28th, 2010. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of paintings will be used to purchase milk for underprivileged children under the care of the Foundation for Slum Child Care (FSCC), a charitable foundation under the Royal Patronage of H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarinda.
     In general, people from other parts of Thailand view Bangkok as a city of opportunity. This is especially true of the rural poor, who harbor the belief that they will find jobs and better lives in the Thai capital. Many find work, but the jobs are usually unstable and the wages are poor. The situation is even worse during the current economic meltdown when people from many walks of life are struggling to make ends meet. As the result, people who enter Bangkok’s slums as a short term refuge, often find it impossible to leave. While working long hours to put food on the table, they are forced to live in an extremely crowded community where they find themselves deprived of all, but the most basic necessities of life. Children grow up without access to proper health care, daily supervision, nourishment and basic education. They are exposed to assaults and abuse, both mentally and physically, in an environment where drugs and crime are prevalent.
     As a slum dweller herself at the age of 16, Kru Prateep Ungsongtham, realized that the children in her community were the victims of their environment. She was particularly concerned that that they were not going to school, mostly because they had to be home attending to their younger siblings. In 1968, hoping to improve the quality of life of these children, Kru Prateep turned the open ground around her small wooden home into a classroom, which became known as the ‘one bath a day school’. She became more involved in her students’ welfare and the problems in her community; often acting as a spokesperson when dealing with local authorities.

          Kru Prateep’s work among the poor has been recognized both nationally and internationally. Among the numerous awards she has received is the John D. Rockefeller Youth Award for Outstanding Contributions to Mankind. With funds from the Rockefeller award and with the support of other founding members, the FSCC was established in 1981.
          As a strong believer in the proper care of children, the work of the Foundation for Slum Child Care first came to the attention of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra when she read a newspaper article about the Foundation’s work.
          In 1983, after a visit to the slums, Her Royal Highness graciously placed the Foundation under royal patronage. Since then, Her Royal Highness has taken an active role in helping the FSCC continue its work.
  Through four Daycare Centers, the FSCC begins early to help children avoid the dangers they encounter growing up in the environment of the slums. They provide care and education for children aged from four months to five years while their parents are away from home, working to put food on the table. FSCC volunteers also reach out to slum babies and infants in their homes. The Foundation supports nearly 2,000 children daily.
          Today, beside the generous donations received from general public, the FSCC is also supported by the government and private sectors, and well-known charities like the Bernard van Leer Foundation (a Dutch charity foundation that has been supporting the FSCC for the last 10 years).
          Speaking recently about the ‘Life’ exhibition, Siripa Chotchung, the managing director of the Gossip Gallery, offered the following observations ‘when Khun Ninloubon Channong, the former secretary general and coordinator of the Wishing Well Foundation, approached me on this project a few months back, I was a bit reluctant to get involved, as I had a very little knowledge about the Foundation and its work. However, after my first visit to their facilities gave me a chance to witness the dedication and tireless effort that FSCC volunteers give to these underprivileged children, I decided to do something to help. Each year the Gallery organizes an event to raise funds for a worthwhile cause and return something to society. This year we are very happy to support the work of the FSCC. I am very excited that we have the opportunity.’
          From March 12th to 27th, 30 of Guido Hillebrand Goedheer’s best works will be on display at Siam City Hotel’s Lobby area. ‘Guido’s works have been selected for exhibit during this event because his unique painting style, CoBra, clearly demonstrates innocence and the purity, qualities that the slum children still possess, even while surrounded by the harsh environment that that they have to face on a daily basis. I believe that everyone who sees this collection will agree with me that this colorful collection illustrates the simplicity and freedom from care that we wish for all children’, Khun Siripa added.
          Khun Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, Executive Vice President of Siam Hotels & Resorts, expressed the hotel’s enthusiasm to be involved in this event: ‘as one of the major members of the community, we’re constantly extending our hand to those in need. When Khun Siripa (Pop) called and asked me if Siam City Hotel would help to sponsor this charity art exhibition, I jumped at the opportunity without hesitation. Our hotel has a reputation as a promoter of music and art. This exhibition will further establish our commitment to support art, and it will do so in a way that benefits society. I would like to thank Gossip Gallery for choosing Siam City Hotel as it’s first choice of venue to showcase Guido’s exquisite art collection and at the same time support a worthy cause.’
‘Life’ by Guido Hillebrand Goedheer will be officially opened for public viewing by H. E. Mr. Tjaco van den Hout, the Royal Netherlands Ambassador to Thailand, on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hotel’s City Lounge. The charity art exhibition will be on view until March 28th.
          ‘As one of the organizations behind this project,’ Khun Siripa of Gossip Galley said that ‘I would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Siam City Hotels & Resorts, X Company and Y Company. Without them, this exhibition wouldn’t be possible. I also would like to invite all art lovers and collectors to discover Guido’s vision of ‘Life’, support this charitable cause and strengthen our future generations. The proceeds from sales will provide nutritious milk to underprivileged children in the slum Klong Toey and eliminate a major expenditure that the Foundation faces every month.’

About the Artist & the source of inspiration . . .
          Born in the town of Ede, the Netherlands, Guido (also known as ‘Guyido’), is a famous Dutch artist whose works have been heavily influenced by CoBrA. This art movement was initiated by a group of renowned European artists (including Karel Appel, Asger Jorn, Corneille, etc.) in the late 1940s in a small café in Paris, France. True to the CoBrA method, Guyido's latest collection, ‘Life’, incorporates art styles that range from primitive works, to children’s art, to the art created by the mentally ill. In ‘Life’, he portrays the coexistence of human beings and animals through unique compositions that use a combination of strong, vivid colors. These colors are used to dramatically express a high degree of intensity, but the moods portrayed in each painting are diverse. Art critics have characterized Guyido's expressionism masterpieces as child-like, yet powerful.
          In the past, Guyido has donated pieces of his work to various charitable organizations, including the War Child Charity supported by Bono from U2, to help raise money for the needy.
          Today Guyido is one of a few active artists in the world that remain faithful to the CoBrA style of art. His works have been exhibited to rave claims in major cities around the world. Art collectors and auction houses engage in heated battle to acquire each new piece of Guyido's art as it becomes available. Guyido now spends most of his time working on his art in France.



About CoBrA Art Group
          The name CoBrA is an acronym derived from three major European cities: Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam. The CoBrA Art group was formed in November 1948 in a local café in Paris, France
          Following the great depression of the 1930’s and the subsequent Second World War, the founding artists were driven by the need to encourage political reform through their art. Departing from the tradition that called for art to portray beauty and harmony, their works were highly expressionistic, usually incorporating figurative elements and symbols in a style inspired by a wide variety of competing styles and techniques. CoBrA artists tended to paint directly and spontaneously. Just like children, they wanted to work expressively without a preconceived plan, using their fantasy and vivid color. They rebelled against the rules of traditional art academies and created without constraint of rules. They also liked to work with many kinds of materials. The works of CoBrA artists, therefore, were often executed in thick, heavily applied oils and often involved splattering, dripping and smearing.
          The core founders of the CoBrA Group consisted of some of the world’s most renowned artists: Asger Jorn, Christian Dotremont, Karel Appel, Constant A. Nieuwenhuys and Corneille (Cornelis Guillaume van Beverloo). From all the core founders, Corneille is the only member from the original group who is still alive. The group was joined by not only painters, but also sculptors, poets, photographers and filmmakers who were drawn to CoBrA’s aims. Even though the movement was officially disbanded in November 1951, CoBrA was one of the most important art movements in the second half of the 20th century in Europe.

About Gossip Gallery
          Gossip Gallery has been dedicated to bringing Thai and International contemporary art to the world since 2006. Located on the 3rd floor of the Silom Galleria and known for its space and its ability to identify artists with immense potential in this arena, Gossip Gallery takes pride in having held exhibitions that feature the renaissance of contemporary works featuring design, painting and photography. It has represented more than 20 Thai and International artists; some of whom are already established, and some are still young but full of promise.
          Gossip Gallery carefully selects from the many available candidates and always works with the artists directly to ensure authenticity. The Gallery constantly travels throughout Thailand and aboard, always on the look-out for the next big discovery.
          Gossip is known to take art viewing to another level, setting a fun atmosphere for people to experience art in a casual yet artistic environment.





          For more information please contact: Khun Siripa Chotchung at (089) 812-2589; Khun Chonticha Choochart at (02) 637-7878 or (081) 440-3896 Khun Ninluobon Chonnang at (081) 625-2558 or Siam City Hotel’s Public Relations Department at (02) 247-0123 extension 1917
         For media contact: Chalida Trutassanawin , Vero PR at (081) 346-0505 or email: chalida@veropr.com