Untitled: two acts II

Montien Boonma, who trained in Thailand, France and Italy, combined knowledge of international conceptual art with his Buddhist faith, particularly in the last years of his life. Many of Boonma’s works reference the alms bowls carried by Buddhist monks and nuns that are filled by the community in an act of mutual exchange – by giving,
blessings are received.

Boonma was influenced by the Italian art movement arte povera (‘poor art’) and believed in the power of art to connect and heal. The interior of 'Untitled: two acts II' features impressions of Boonma’s teeth and at the base is a scoop cast from the inside of his mouth. He made the objects around the rim by squeezing lumps of clay until they took on the shape of his fist. These were then cast in brass. Boonma offers these imprints from his own body in a spirit of generosity and sharing.