As a Muslim woman raised in a suburb of Bangkok, Mariem Chantachua grew up fascinated by the diverse cultural makeup of her community.  Taking inspiration from Islamic architecture and theories of sacred geometry, she combines embroidery with other media to compose structural forms that examine the complex interweaving of ethnicities, cultures and beliefs across physical spaces.

In association with 16albermarle Project Space Sydney, Mariem’s back-to-back residency–exhibitions at nthspace Adelaide and Fabrik Arts + Heritage Lobethal will see her collaborate with several South Australian artists and community groups, including the Muslim Women’s Association of South Australia, the Thai Australian Association of South Australia and the Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia.  

Mariem graduated with a BFA in Painting and an MFA in Visual Arts from Silpakorn University, Thailand’s leading art school.  Since then, she has exhibited prolifically across Asia and Australia, including at Art Expo Malaysia, Singapore’s Art SG, and as artist-in-residence at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan, as well as four solo exhibitions in her native Thailand.  In 2022, Mariem was one of 12 artists invited to exhibit and lead workshops at Other Possible Worlds: Contemporary Art from Thailand at Sydney’s 16albermarle Project Space and Delmar Gallery.  Her experiences touring her work have only heightened her interest in migration, multiculturalism and displacement, inspiring the new works to be seen at nthspace Adelaide.

Mariem Chantachua is represented by SAC Gallery, Bangkok.

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