Thep Thavonsouk
Artist Statement
"My paintings are inspired by light and shadow. I am moved by striking moods in the clouds, rain and mist as well as the flow and folds of monks' Saffron Robes. There is a palpable hush of wonder with no fixed perspective in my works. My paintings grow out of silence; a dreamlike morphology suggesting tranquility and a sense of spirituality as figures dissolve into landscape. The fleeting passage of their quiet moments seen on my canvas and rice paper shines the light on the immensity of our universe and the insignificance of human beings" - Thep Thavonsouk
Biography
Born in Vientiane, Thep grew up in French occupied Laos. He was educated in French at the Lycee de Vientiane in Laos and was exposed to French painting, literature and classical music at a very young age. Marc Leguay was his memorial teacher from his early school days and has influenced him greatly. Monsieur Leguay was himself an artist, highly revered in Laos. He portrayed Lao life on canvas in the style of the times, and under his tutelage Thep came to know the Impressionist painters.
Thep obtained the Baccalaureat from the Lycee de Vientiane and looked across the Pacific for higher education. He left Laos in 1967 when he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York where he studied and earned a degree in Diplomacy with a minor in Art. Following his graduation and armed with eight languages, Thep aspired to become a diplomat for Laos and later to work with the United Nations.
Shortly after graduating, he returned to Laos and obtained a position in a field he believed was along his chosen career path.
In 1972, three years before the end of the Vietnam war, Thep emigrated to Canada. He settled in Lethbridge, Alberta where he taught French at the University and English as a Second Language to new Canadians to help them assimilate into the new life they have chosen. During these experiences there was still something missing from Thep's life - what he really wanted to do was paint.
Thep's works are represented globally by various galleries. His paintings are in corporate and private collections in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia as well as in the permanent collection of the Glenbow Museum, Canada and the Singapore Museum, Singapore. In Oct 2007, Thep was a guest on the French-Canadian CBC television for an interview on his inspiration and his paintings.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007 Saffron Robes in Light and Shadow, Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
2006 Saaifone Contemporary Gallery, Laos
Axis Contemporary Gallery, Canada
Glenbow Museum, Canada
The Alliance Francaise, Canada
2005 Phou Vao Pansea, Laos
Glenbow Museum, Canada Francis Engelmann Gallery, Laos
2004 Newsom Delorme, Bragg Creek, Alberta
2003 A Fleeting Passage of Quiet Moments, Settha Palace, Vientiane, Laos
2002 Monks in June Rain, Bhuran Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2001 Nostalgia, Ecole des Beaux Arts, Vientiane, Laos
2000 Impressions of a Monsoon Country, Artfolio Gallery, Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
1999 A Canadian Context, Artfolio Gallery, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
1998 Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1997 Pleasure of Living Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
1995 Royal Riverside Garden Marriott Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
1994 Sojourn Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1993 Kobayashi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1992 Villa de la Rosa, Vientiane, Laos
1991 Skyline Plaza Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
1990 A Touch of Ginger, Calgary, Alberta
1988 The Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1987 The Sterkman Jones Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1986 The Honolulu Academy of Contemporary Arts Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
1985 The French Institute of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
1984 The Hiraya Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii
1983 The Lahaina Arts Society, Maui, Hawaii
1982 The A.R.T Beasley Gallery, San Diego, California
1981 The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1979 The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1978-80 The Lethbridge Theatre Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
Selected Corporate Collectors
Amoco Canada Petroleum, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Gulf Oil Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Simmons Drilling Company Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Agriteam Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canadian Airlines International, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bay Isle Financial Corporation, San Francisco, California
Swedish Forestry Corporation, Vientiane, Laos
Brownlee LLP Barristers and Solicitors, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Selected Private Collectors
Honourable and Mrs. Ron Ghitter, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
His Excellency and Mrs. Hartwick, U.S. Ambassador to Laos
Gary Pollock and Patricia Frame, Oakland, California
Maurice and Ratsamy Viphakone-Szafran, Paris, France
Mr. Senjaku Nakamura, The Grand Kabuki of Tokyo, Japan
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Krasner, New York, New York, USA
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Overgoor, Amsterdam, Holland
Ms. Jean A.H. Smith, London, England
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Secter, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ackroyd, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Bruno de Taste, Melbourne, Australia
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes Brown, Washington, DC
Dr. and Mrs. F.E.L Priestly, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Foord, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bob Brown and Joyce Miyashita, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Mr. Edwin Coylor, Manchester, England
Mr. and Mrs. Christian Lagrange, Singapore
Mr. and Mrs. Neil Smith, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
