Dance of Dreams

Dance of Dreams inspired by Vipoo's story, 2024
Ceramic and mixed media
$7,500

With seven sculptures completed, the artist Vipoo Srivilasa decided to add an eighth piece to capture his own experience of immigrating from Bangkok to Melbourne in 1996.

Vipoo used a blue and white porcelain button belonging to his grandmother as the starting point. The button reminded him of the time spent with his grandmother, who encouraged his love for Thai traditional performance. It now holds his old dream of becoming a Thai classical performer. Rediscovering the button made Vipoo realise his love for blue and white ceramics might have started with it.

The figure he created is posed in a classic Thai dance, arms stretched out to form a half-circle. One hand holds a flame, the other a lump of clay, both vital for his creativity. The heart-shaped eyes symbolise the love he found in Australia nearly 30 years ago. At the top sit two of his beloved Burmese cats. He turned the button into a pendant for the sculpture. The base of the work is decorated with figurine motifs representing the friends he found in Australia.

This artwork intertwines past dreams and present passions, blending cultural heritage with personal experiences and relationships.