Narisara Jirojananukun

Supermodern Romance II

Curated by Charmaine Wah

Narisara Jirojananukun is delighted to present Supermodern Romance II at Joseph Wales Studios in Margate, UK. Open from 16 August to 25 August, her second solo exhibition consists of new and existing works blending illustration, fine art and photography.

In Supermodern Romance II, Thai artist Narisara Jirojananukun continues the quiet, heartfelt journey that began with her first show in London. Starting as a photographic investigation of Waterloo Station, Jirojananukun captured fleeting moments of connection, interrogating the busy train station classed as a ‘non-place’. In French anthropologist Marc Augé’s text ‘Non-places: An Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity’ (1992), he posits that non-places, such as train stations, are transient spaces designed to lack specificity in our supermodern landscape, characterised by overabundance and excess. These are spaces where people remain anonymous and lonely.

Jirojananukun’s work challenges the notion that non-places lack connection and collective meaning. A friend waits for another, holding two coffees; a parent cradles their baby’s hands; strangers read the same departure board, sharing their anxiety and anticipation.

After moving to Ramsgate, Jirojananukun’s inquiry shifts to public spaces in Margate, from the beach to its streets. On the street, a barefoot boy relishes his ice cream while his father holds his shoes; a man walks his dogs, all gazing in the same direction; a family passes chips between them. Altogether Supermodern Romance II asks, do the significance of connections change depending on where we are?

By reproducing her photography through painting, etching, photoetching and lithography, she slows down these everyday split-second sparks. Adding her physical touch to the digital, the colour and backgrounds are stripped away, leaving only the warmth of the images behind. Jirojananukun’s romantic methodology weaves a loose web of vignettes: scenes that feel both familiar and just out of reach.

Exhibition programme:

Saturday, 23 August 2025

1:00 pm - Tea with the Artist and Curator

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Drawing Workshop by Narisara (Sign-up necessary)

Narisara Jirojananukun is a Thai illustrator, photographer, and visual artist whose work bridges storytelling, printmaking, and photography. Her practice explores moments of human connection in everyday and transient spaces, capturing the subtle beauty of touch, gestures, and interaction. Her ongoing research focuses on how printmaking and photography intersect to create tactile and visual narratives that reflect shared human experiences. She aims to create works that are simple, accessible, and uplifting, drawing inspiration from small, beautiful moments in the world. She has completed an MA in Illustration (Distinction) at Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London, where her practice-based research focuses on connection and humanity. Prior to this, she earned a Bachelor of Medical Education Technology (First Class Honors) from the Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand.

Website: www.pgnarisara.com

Instagram: @pgnarisara

Charmaine Wah is a curator, researcher and producer based in Singapore and London, UK. Her practice focuses on mediating conversations about heritage, subcultures, archival practices, and the sonic. She is a co-curator of Shoes Off, a London-based collective that values platforming Southeast Asian artists, collaboration and rest. She has curated exhibitions and curatorial programmes worldwide, from Peckham Levels and PEER Gallery in the UK to the 60th October Salon (Belgrade Biennale). Charmaine recently completed an MA in Curating and Collections (Distinction) at Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London. She also holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology (Distinction) from the National University of Singapore.

Instagram: @charcharwah

Email: charmainewah96@gmail.com