Tuesday, 4/15/97 The Immortal Woman Artist Paradee Chularee
explores changing ideas about feminism in ‘Immortality,’ a new
exhibit at UCLA’s faculty center.
By Nerissa Pacio Daily Bruin Contributor Oversized rectangular
heads. Piercing slanted eyes. Sharp triangular teeth. Broad
outstretched arms and vibrant round breasts. All in scintillating
primary colors or subterranean earth tones on a black backdrop.
These are the images of "Immortality," a series of 30 paintings by
emerging artist Paradee Chularee, four of which remain in her
homeland of Thailand and 26 of which are currently on display at
the UCLA Faculty Center until June. Representing the combined
strength of a woman’s mind and soul, the exhibit "Immortality"
bears striking characteristics similar to Native American art
despite Chularee’s Thai heritage. "When you are willing to do
something with your entire being, the inhibiting part of you – your
ego or intellect– must symbolically die. Only then can an energy
overtake you so that your true self will live on forever," says
Chularee of the exhibit’s significance. "When I created these
paintings, the part of me that over-intellectualized had to die so
that I could feel and experience a true birth of artistic
expression," says Chularee. As Chularee’s first formal exhibit,
"Immortality" consists of individual paintings that combine two
separate square canvases. In each painting, the head is painted on
the top canvas while the neck, upper arms and chest are on the
bottom canvas. Chularee says it was only after she had created the
series of paintings that she realized the reason for her choice of
two separate pieces forming the whole image. "The unification of
the two halves represents the integration of the mind with the body
and soul. I wanted to show that a woman’s strength is not generated
merely from her sexuality, but from everything in her head and
heart as well," says Chularee, clutching her hands to her chest.
"It’s the combination that gives a woman her power and
self-reliance," beams Chularee as she spreads her arms as if to
encompass the space around her, "For example, I see the open mouths
and large teeth as a symbol of a woman’s power of voice." As part
of the inspiration for her message of a woman’s true source of
strength, Chularee recalls a frustrating moment while observing an
exhibit at the Armand Hammer Museum one day. "I remember seeing
young children being shown this exhibit on feminism (in which)
female genitals were photographed or sculpted into ceramic plates.
I was so shocked and disappointed to see adults mindlessly exposing
children to the exhibit. These children might go away associating
feminism and the strength of women with sex – and that is just not
what women are about," says Chularee. Despite growing up female in
a patriarchal Asian culture, Chularee knew the capabilities of
women. Born into a family of strong-willed lawyers and graduating
law school in Thailand herself, Chularee knew that her family’s
dream for her was not her own. Retaining that female strength to
find her true calling, Chularee finished law school in her homeland
as a pact with her mother, and fled to the United States to pursue
a dream to find her vocation. Having worked at UCLA for 10 years,
Chularee searched for fulfillment. Now, at the age of 37, with her
first complete exhibit displayed at two local galleries and now at
UCLA, Chularee has found her calling as an artist. "I know what I
want to do now. I know that I must continue my business work here
to be practical and make a living, but my true aspiration is to one
day become a full-time artist. I’m at the edge of jumping off that
cliff in order to free myself from all limitations," Chularee says.
Although Chularee sees herself as somewhat limited in her quest as
an artist, others surely do not feel that way about her work. "It’s
amazing how Paradee just lets go in her art," says Sandra Green,
owner of Fine Arts by Nuri, a local art gallery where Chularee was
a featured artist. "She has a brilliant light around her and she
displays this in her tolerance with art. ‘Immortality’ reveals
women who all basically look the same, but are all very unique at
the same time," Green says. Chularee also aspires to create a
non-profit organization called "Art Angels,"as a program to teach
children art in an effort to keep them off the streets and to help
with their personal development. "I want to use art as a medium to
share energy and compassion with children who really need it,"
Chularee says. Chularee already enjoys working with children once a
week as a volunteer art instructor at the Marina del Rey Middle
School. "Seeing Paradee’s amazing enthusiasm and natural rapport
with kids shows that she is definitely the kind of person with the
drive to create ‘Art Angels,’" says Michael Moon, an art instructor
at Marina del Rey Middle School. "Her vision to use art as a
vehicle to help kids relate and create together instead of just
work as individuals is what makes it so unique." With a blueprint
already finished, Chularee is also currently searching for a public
park in L.A. to permanently exhibit a bronze peace sculpture. "If I
can get the funds from a grant, my ideal would be to have children
contribute to the formation of this sculpture to truly symbolize
the innocence and peace that this world needs," Chularee says. "I
know I sound like a complete idealist," chuckles Chularee, "but
there is just so much that needs to be done." During the time she
created the paintings (within an amazingly short time span of one
month – an average of one painting a day) Chularee did not have any
Native American or African art influences in mind. "They just came
out that way as my vision of women and humanity," says Chularee.
However, Chularee now practices Native American drumming with a
woman’s group which formed after a group of male drummers refused
to let her participate, and she now uses a Native American song as
the essence of the message behind her work. "Beautiful woman, there
is a power in your love," whispers Chularee, "Beautiful woman there
is a power in your struggle." ART: "Immortality" by Paradee
Chularee is currently on display in the UCLA Faculty Center near
Murphy hall until June 1997. For more info, call (310) 825- 0877.
Artist Paradee Chularee’s exhibit, "Immortality," is currently on
display at the Faculty Center. CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin Artist
Paradee Chularee’s exhibit, "Immortality," is currently on display
at the Faculty Center.