Jakkai Siributr

MM20 and HC20 (both 2023) are part of Siributr's Outworn series, which includes large-scale and free-hanging tapestries. Works in the series are made with uniforms from the tourism profession, rendered obsolete during the pandemic, that were collected through monetary exchange as a way to assist those financially impacted at the time. The uniforms were disassembled and remade into tapestries, bedecked with Buddhist symbols, beads, artificial Marigold flowers and other found and talismanic objects. These adornments reflect Siributr's consistent examination of the interaction between Buddhism and materialism in modern life. 

These works were created as a dialogue with my mother by meditatively stitching her old clothes together with mine in the tradition of quilt-making. It is an homage to all the quilters of the American South and from around the world whose crafts have inspired me since my university days as a textile student. These constructed pieces were then meticulously embellished with beads and imageries. Our conversations centered around current world events that include the pandemic, racism and violence against minorities, right-wing politicians and toxic masculinity. These issues are similar to the ones my mother cared deeply about in her days.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) hashtag appeared everywhere on my social media feed for weeks, even from friends who could care less about Thai politics showed interest in the BLM movement. With all the noise and awareness, I wonder why the brutality against and the murder of black transgender people and other transgender people of colour at the hands of their own men persist in silence, seemingly excluding the LGBTQ community. The faces that appear on this quilt are but a fraction of those whose lives were cut short in 2020.

‘White Plague’ points fingers at world leaders (mostly straight white male) and their (mis)handling of the pandemic. It takes inspiration from the presidential and patriotic quilts that honour and remember past presidents and their history. Far from honouring these men, on this quilt is a history I chose to remember and to never forget the stories of men and women, young and old who died lonely deaths, and those left behind who never had a chance to properly say goodbye.