We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Benediction No.2

1991

Artist

Montien Boonma

Thailand

25 Feb 1953 – 17 Aug 2000

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Thailand
    Date
    1991
    Media category
    Photograph
    Materials used
    three sheets of photographs with eyelets, on board; candle burn holes, gold foil
    Dimensions
    50.0 x 61.5 cm
    Credit
    Purchased 1994
    Location
    South Building, lower level 1, Asian Lantern galleries
    Accession number
    362.1994
    Copyright
    © Montien Boonma Estate

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    Montien Boonma

    Works in the collection

    3

    Share

  • About

    Montien Boonma, who trained in Thailand, France and Italy, combined knowledge of international conceptual art with his Buddhist faith, even spending time in a rigorously ascetic monastery. In this work, three layers of photographic paper were first exposed to light and then to fire in the form of a burning candle, leaving a fragile surface riddled with holes that resonate with the forms of suffering and impermanence central to Buddhist teachings.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Thailand

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

    • Modern Thai Prints, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, 08 Oct 1992–15 Oct 1992

    • Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024

  • Provenance

    Montien Boonma, Jun 1994, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, purchased from the artist by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Jun 1994.

Other works by Montien Boonma