Songs for Living / Songs for Dying

Part survey, part artist’s book and part visual essay, this volume embodies the Thai multimedia artist’s passion for expansive storytelling Bangkok-born, Brooklyn-based multimedia artist Korakrit Arunanondchai (born 1986) probes the thresholds of birth, decreation and death through his video, painting and installation works. In his series Songs for Dying / Songs for Living, Arunanondchai processes personal tragedy in two video installations along with paintings and other pieces. Arunanondchai takes up canonical mythological references and symbols for grief – such as ghosts, shamans and a dying sea turtle – and investigates the social and political realities of Thailand. This volume embodies the spirit of Arunanondchai’s practice by complicating art book categories; part survey, part artist’s book and part visual essay, the book contains a tripartite structure and boasts a dynamic cover design, full-bleed images and numerous critical essays.