Introduction

Apichatpong Weerasethakul (b. 1970, Bangkok) grew up in Khon Kaen in north-eastern Thailand, having graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago with Masters in Filmmaking, works and lives in Chiang Mai now. He began making films and short videos in 1994 and completed his first feature in 2000. He has also mounted exhibitions and installations in many countries since 1998. Weerasethakul is recognized as a major international filmmaker and visual artist. His works are characterized by their use of non-linear storytelling, often dealing with themes of memory, loss, identity, desire, and history.

His works have won him widespread international recognition and numerous awards, including the Cannes Jury Prize in 2021 for Memoria, his first film shot outside of Thailand. He also won the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2010 with Uncle Boonmee, Who Can Recall His Past Lives. His Tropical Malady won the Cannes Competition Jury Prize in 2004 and Blissfully Yours won the Cannes Un Certain Regard Award in 2002. His art prizes include the Artes Mundi Award (2019), Yanghyun Art Prize (2014), the Sharjah Biennial Prize (2013), and the Fukuoka Prize (2013).

Recent solo art exhibitions include Night Particles, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France (2024); Periphery of the Night, Fabra i Coats: Contemporary Art Centre of Barcelona, Spain (2022);  A Minor History Part I & II, 100 Tonson Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand (2021, 2022). In the recent years, he has also participated in Thailand Biennale 2023, Aichi Triennale 2022, Guangzhou Image Triennial 2021, 58th Venice Biennale 2019. His works are internationally collected by Tate Modern, London; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; SF MoMA, San Francisco; M+ Museum, Hong Kong; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; Singapore Art Museum, and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, Chiang Mai and more.