Apichatpong Weerasethakul "The Last Years (Blue)"
This work is a companion piece to The Last Years of the River. Both pieces shed light on the Mekong River’s relevance in Apichatpong’s art, as well as its portrayal as a symbol of environmental destruction caused by human activities. He concentrates mostly on the river area bordering Thailand’s northeast and Laos. The construction of hydro-electric dams upstream has had a long-term ecological impact, culminating in bio-organism collapse and flooding. In this artwork, a boot represents man’s desire for expansion, which leaves tracks on his path, even on the moon. In the image, the flaming boot is separated from the river (which can be seen in the companion piece) and rests alone on an empty space, which could be the sky or underwater. The isolated boot provides an open interpretation in reference to larger narratives about humanity’s relationship with nature, technology, and our place in the natural world.
- Year
- 2016
- Material
- Lambda digital C-type print mounted on aluminum
- Size
- 53.5 x 80.5 x 4cm (frame)