Press Release: The Impermanence of Life

Prince Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith of Laos opens The Impermanence of Life exhibition at ArtXchange Gallery

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Opening Thursday, July 11th, ArtXchange Gallery presents The Impermanence of Life, the first Pacific Northwest exhibition of artwork by Prince Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith of Laos, and the first time his work has been for sale in the United States. This special three-week exhibit brings Somsanith’s delicate embroidered leaves, a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Lao court art form of gold and silver embroidery to Seattle.

Using nature as a source of inspiration, Somsanith gathers fallen leaves, often broken and pierced with irregular holes, on his daily walks.  The artist meticulously transforms them into embroidered objects using the traditional Lao methods of gold and silver embroidery on the leaf while keeping the stem intact. The final works are precious, jewel-like sculptures that symbolize life and its fragility, representing the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of beauty.

Somsanith’s commitment to artistic preservation of heritage and culture is further exemplified by his work using intricate cut-paper and stencil-printing techniques to recreate the famous mural paintings of Vat Had Sieo, a Buddhist monastery located within the UNESCO World Heritage protected area of Luang Prabang, Laos.

As a child of royal lineage in 1960’s Luang Prabang, Laos, Somsanith (born 1959) grew up surrounded by courtly arts, such as painting, lacquer, embroidery, dancing, and flower and banana leaf arrangements.  He watched his grandmother and mother patiently practice this aristocratic art, making traditional triangular pillows, royal sashes and sabai, jackets, collars, and dowry pieces.  When the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party took power in 1975, Somsanith was forced to flee Laos during the takeover and to seek political asylum in France. He received his master’s degree from the Institute of Visual Arts at Orleans University in 1988, and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from La Sorbonne University in Paris in 1998.

When Somsanith returned to the Lao PDR in 2005, he revived the ancient court costumes by embroidering the collars of their vests and blouses, and skirt hem with vegetal designs and mythical figures that today are back in fashion among the elegant Lao women in the circles of power.  He also brought back the Buddhist tradition of offering religious accessories ornamented with threads of gold and silk to monasteries.  He offers alms bowls with golden strappings to the monks, and creates panels illustrating the lives of the Buddha and donates them to temples. 

Somsanith is well-known as an international embroidery artist with his contemporary creations rooted in the traditions of his youth. Through the incorporation of non-traditional elements, Somsanith expands upon the traditional arts of Laos while the Buddhist notion of impermanence remains an undercurrent of all his work.  In the last decade, he has exhibited his works in England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. 

ArtXchange Gallery is honored to host Prince Somsanith for The Impermanence of Life exhibition opening reception on July 11th, 5-8pm.  There will also be an Artist Talk and Community Reception on July 20^th at the gallery.  A portion of the proceeds generated from the exhibition will benefit the Lao community to support and encourage preservation of Lao culture in the Pacific Northwest.

Please email info@artxchange.org for further information and interview requests during the Prince’s time in Seattle.