Optimism is Ridiculous is the first solo exhibition of Natee Utarit in Korea. Born in 1970, Utarit is one of the most aspiring artists in the South Eastern Asia.
The current exhibition presents the artist's new series in which he oscillates between reality and fiction in regard to today's political and social problems. Under the same title as the exhibition, the series is created upon the artistic method of the 16th and 17th century Western painting. While Natee Utarit calls himself as an existentialist and pessimist, he has a belief and a corresponding attitude that a slightly pessimistic view can lead one to see the reality as itself, ironically because the society of today is too chaotic and complex to see it with an optimistic and positive view. With this in mind, Utarit creates works based on his artistic investigation that focuses more on his inner confusion and irony against the exterior conditions than the very conditions outside of himself, which are the recent political and social chaos and change of Thailand. Utarit's works as resulting outcome of such a way of artistic investigation are then seen as gentle, yet with lingering affect that is more than simple sentiment.

Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai