The current series, on view at the gallery, is a continuation of his previous explorations on the pictorial language of Western painting techniques. Earlier series, such as Pictorial Statement (2000), connected reproductions of old masters with Thai landscapes, or The Last Description of the Old Romantic (2005) used copies of floral still lifes. For him, the multiple facets of reality are best depicted through these means.
Natee Utarit was born in 1970 in Bangkok, where he lives. He studied at the College of Fine Art, and graduated in Graphic Arts at the Painting and Sculpture Faculty at Silpakorn University, both in Bangkok. During his art studies at Silpakorn University, he was influenced by classical art, but also by theories of postmodernism that deconstruct classicism connecting it to modern concerns.
His international career dates back to the late 1980's, participating in group exhibitions such as the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art Brisbane (1999), Next Move: Contemporary Art from Thailand at La Salle College of the Arts (2003) or Traces of Siamese Smile: Art, Faith, Politics and Love at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (2008). Recent solo exhibitions include The Amusement of Dreams, Hope and Perfection at the Art Center of Chulalongkorn University (2007) and Natee Utarit: After Painting at the Singapore Art Museum (2010). His work is part of renowned collections, such the Bangkok University, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Singapore Art Museum, as well as private collections in Europe and Asia.