Bounpaul Phothyzan

Born in Champasak, Laos, 1979
Lives and works in Laos

Lie of the Land, 2560/2017
Installation: aluminum, soil, and seeds
Dimension variable

Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth Launched me on a journey of discovery and rediscovery. In researching and conceptualising a work for the exhibition,I was drawn back to the outlying areas of Laos and ‘landed’ on the shores of Thambak Village in Bolikhamxay Province. Bordering Vietnam to the east, conversations with the residents in the area provided me with invaluable lessons in history, social-politics, and human psychology. Lie of the Land, my commissioned artwork for Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth, was created to reflect on humans’ tenacity in the face of conflict. In my numerous visits to Bolikhamxay Province, I had the opportunity to speak to several villagers to understand their experiences of living through the many wars that have plagued Laos. Below is an extract from my conversation with Thambak villager, Mr Inta Chuangmixay.”

Bounpaul, a contemporary artist from Laos, turned his attention to the remote Thambak Village in Bolikhamxay Province while researching for an exhibition. Through conversations with locals, he gained a deep understanding of the region’s history, social-political landscape, and the enduring human spirit.

Inspired by these encounters, Bounpaul created “Lie of the Land” for the “Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth” exhibition. This artwork reflects on humanity’s resilience in the face of conflict. During his visits to Bolikhamxay Province, Bounpaul interviewed villagers to learn about their experiences with war. One such interview was with Mr. Inta Chuangmixay, who expressed gratitude for being part of the project and highlighted the ongoing suffering caused by unexploded bombs in the region.

Bounpaul graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Lao PDR and received a Master’s degree in Visual Arts from Mahasarakham University in Thailand. He is a contemporary artist who specializes in presenting ideas through art in the forms of Land Art, Installation Art, and Video Art.