In-Conversation: Naraphat Sakarthornsap & Nathan Beard

Join us for a special conversation with visiting Thai artist Naraphat Sakathornsap and Australian artist Nathan Beard, recipients of the 2024 Debra Porch Award, moderated by UNSW Galleries Director José Da Silva.

Naraphat Sakarthornsap uses photography and installation to probe themes of social inequality and gender discrimination. He meticulously selects flowers as central motifs, imbuing each blossom with symbolic depth. These floral arrangements serve as conduits, revealing hidden messages and reflecting deeper emotional layers.

Nathan Beard is a multidisciplinary artist who draws from his Australian-Thai heritage to unpack the porous and precarious influences of culture and memory. In exploring the slippery intersection of family history, archives and broad cultural signifiers of ‘Thainess’, Beard’s work articulates the complexities surrounding authenticity and diasporic identity.

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The Debra Porch Award is a three-year partnership between Creative Australia, UNSW Galleries, and SAC Gallery, Bangkok. Established in honour of the life and work of artist and academic Debra Porch, it supports artists in pursuing long-term engagement through international residencies and strengthening strong intercultural connections across the Asia Pacific region.