La Luna Gallery in Chiang Mai is organizing a major art-exhibition called “Fairytales and Folktales”. It will open on April 2, 2005, and thus the occasion will at the same time mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen.
Ambassador of Denmark to Thailand H.E. Ulrik Helweg-Larsen and his wife Christian will be the guests of honour and perform the official opening of the exhibition which promises to be a unique event with a special catalogue and a mini-exhibition on the life and work of H.C. Andersen
The exhibition will be unique in the sense, that it will feature Thai artists and foreign artists living in Thailand – no Danish artists – who will be interpreting not only H.C. Andersen material but fairytales and folktales in a much broader sense, including the famous Thai Ramakien.
La Luna Gallery was established at 190 Charoenrajd Road in Chiang Mai as a limited partnership by Danish journalist Lasse Nørgaard and his partner Sommai Lumdual in March 2004 together with Ms Joanna MacLean, a New Zealander presently living and working in Yangon, Myanmar.
Lasse Nørgaard has lived in Asia for six years and is now living in Chiang Mai. His work as a journalist has includes the writing and design of books and brochures, and the production of documentary videos.
“We decided to establish La Luna Gallery because we all love art and thought this could be a good way to promote art from Asia and the Pacific, and simultaneously to encourage and support the local contemporary and abstract art scene,” Lasse Nørgaard says.
La Luna Gallery presents an ever-changing showcase of contemporary and abstract art from local, national and regional artists. Between 40-50 artists from eight countries show their paintings, photographs, pottery and papier mache sculptures, and new artists are constantly added.
Focus is on colourful paintings reflecting and commenting on aesthetic, spiritual, social and cultural issues in our rapidly changing society. Many are by young and up-coming artists, although well-established and internationally respected artists are also featured.
“Although one artist – or a group of artists – might feature more prominently at any one time, our aim is to constantly have a wide variety of artwork from different artists for sale,” Lasse Nørgaard explains.
“Occasionally, we organise special exhibitions for a country, an artist, a group of artists or a special theme with a number of contributing artists. The “Fairytales and Folktales” is an example of just that.”
Adding another dimension, the gallery carries art photos from Thailand-based photographers as well as posters, cards, notebooks, lacquer ware and pottery from famed artists and art houses in Chiang Rai, Bangkok and further a field. On sale are also a number of posters by artists living in Thailand, including Danish/Armenien painter Elizabeth Romhild.
The opening of “Fairytales and Folktales”on 2April 2005 will be followed by a “Fairytale” dinner at “The House Restaurant”, which also has a Danish owner, Hans B. Christensen. Pending on sponsorship, which Lasse Nørgaard is requesting for a few selected prominent Danish companies in Thailand, some entertainment will also be arranged during the dinner.
La Luna Gallery was accepted as a member of Danish Thai Chamber of Commerce in December 2004.
