独立映像：你好鲁索恩，你从小就对绘画感兴趣吗？你第一次画画是什么时候？
鲁索恩·鲁吉阿努拉克：我已经记不清第一次画画是什么时候了，但我开始认真的思考艺术是在差不多20岁的时候。那时我更喜欢装置和观念艺术。23岁时我搬去了纽约，在那里看到许多好的绘画。我是指，那种在曼谷从没看见过的绘画。21世纪的今天绘画能走多远，是一个相当有意思的话题。从此，我决定开始画画。

独立映像：你说，“绘画从现代艺术时期起就停滞了”。你认为如今的绘画面临着哪些问题？你是否打算在你的作品中讨论或者解决这些问题？
鲁索恩·鲁吉阿努拉克：好吧，尽管我这样说过，但事实上，今天我们也有很多才华出众的画家，比如理查德·普林斯，马克·格若贾恩。作为一名画家，我认为，绘画面临着两方面的问题。
第一个是如何处理与数码屏幕的关系，比如手机和电脑屏幕。我们花费很多时间看着这些光滑的平面。当然，你不能在手机上看到完整的画作，因为它的大小尺寸有限。对我来说，数码时代让我不再想去画平坦的画了。许多画家把厚重的颜料涂抹在画布上，制造出不光滑的肌理。我也会在不光滑的表面上画画。
第二个问题是关于观念艺术之后的理念。我的意思是说，我很喜欢索尔·勒维特的绘画，但观看真实的作品比读他的阐释更好。我觉得，我们不应该去问每幅画背后的观念。画就在那里，我们可以欣赏它，无需任何解释。绘画不需要指向外部世界，它本身就是完整的。

独立映像：你在《重看》上展出的作品，拼贴了不同的材料，比如棉制油画布、布里斯托尔纸、吸墨纸、薄纸和木板。这似乎告诉我们，你的作品不仅是关于二维平面的绘制，更多的是关于立体的综合媒介的创作。你希望让观看者产生这样的认为吗？
鲁索恩·鲁吉阿努拉克：是的，我不希望人们感到无聊。我们使用社交媒体的时候，只是不停地滑动刷图，可能只要一秒钟就会对一张图感到厌倦。我希望观看者能够先在一定的距离观看我的作品，然后再走近了看，再考虑哪一层是在前，哪一层在后。
人们花时间去观看艺术品，总是一件好事。

独立映像：哪些艺术家影响了你对艺术的认知？在哪些方面？
鲁索恩·鲁吉阿努拉克：许多艺术家影响了我的创作。但如果只能选一位，我会选弗兰克·斯特拉。
“你看到的就是你看到的。”

独立映像：疫情期间，你有些什么新的思考或新的想法吗？新作品怎么样了？
鲁索恩·鲁吉阿努拉克：我想这场疫情影响了每一个人。它改变了你的生活方式，如果你的生活方式改变了，那么你对艺术的理解也会改变。疫情开始的时候，我在思考“勿忘你终有一死”（memento mori）的说法，但还不确定它对我的作品会有多大的影响。
我想，我们还得等待，看看全球共同度过疫情之后艺术世界会怎样。

Artist Interview: Ruthorn Rujianurak

Independent & Image Art Space: Hi Ruthorn. Have you always been interested in painting since you were a child? When was your first time started to paint?

Ruthorn Rujianurak: I don’t remember exactly when did I make my first painting but I start seriously thinking about art when I was nearly 20. At that time, I preferred installation and conceptual art to painting. But, when I was 23, I moved to New York City and found many good paintings there. I mean some kind of painting you have never seen in Bangkok. It is super interesting how far painting can go in the 21st century. So, I decide to be a painter since then.

Independent & Image Art Space: You said, “painting is a standstill since modern art”.According to your opinion, what problems do the painting of today are facing? Do you intend to discuss or solve the problems in your work?

Ruthorn Rujianurak: Well. Even though I said that but the truth is today, we have many talented painters like Richard Prince and Mark Grotjahn. So, in my opinion, I, as a painter, think that painting is facing two problems.

The first is how to deal with a digital screen. Like your phone or computer mirror screen. Because we spend a lot of time looking at these smooth screens. Of course. You cannot completely see a painting via your phone. Because of a size and scale. but for me the digital age makes me don’t want to paint a flat painting anymore. so, many painters start to put a thick paint on canvas to create a non-smooth texture. I also paint on a non-smooth surface.

The second we are facing is the idea after conceptual art. I mean I like Sol Lewitt’s painting too but it is better to see his real painting than only his instructions. so, I don’t think we should ask for the concept behind every painting we see. The painting is there and we can appreciate it without any explanation needed. The painting does not need to refer to the external world. It can complete by itself.

Independent & Image Art Space: Your creations now exhibit at RE-SEE are works collaged with a variety of surfaces, like cotton canvas, bristol paper, blotting paper, tissue paper, and wood panel. It seems that they are not just about to paint in two-dimensions, but more about mixed media in three-dimensions. Is it an impression that you expect from your viewers?

Ruthorn Rujianurak: Yes, I don’t want people to get bored. Like when we use social media. We just scroll past pictures that boring away in a second. So I want viewers to look at my painting in distance and then move close to look at it again and then start to wonder which layers are front or back.

It always a good thing to see people take time to look at artworks.

Independent & Image Art Space: Who are the artists that influence your understanding of art? In what aspect?

Ruthorn Rujianurak: Many artists influence my work. But if I have to choose one, I will choose Frank Stella.

“What you see is what you see”

Independent & Image Art Space: During the pandemic, do you have any new reflection or new ideas? How is going with your new works?

Ruthorn Rujianurak: I think this pandemic affects every people. It can change the way you live. and, if the way you live changes it will change your perception of art as well. At the start of the pandemic, I was thinking about ‘memento mori’ but I am not sure how much that affects my works.

So, I think we have to wait and see an art scene after this global pandemic together.