La Lanta Fine Art is delighted to present “APA KHABAR? HOW ARE YOU?”, a captivating solo exhibition by Kusofiyah Nibuesa. This narrated showcase invites viewers into the vibrant, everyday rhythms of life in a Southern Thai market, a cultural crossroads where diverse religions, ethnicities, and traditions converge. Through the delicate interplay of paper-cutting, printmaking, and stenciling, Nibuesa crafts rich, dimensional scenes that pulse with the warmth and energy of community and commerce. Her unique use of pigments, derived from both traditional and unexpected sources such as mangosteen peel, imbues each piece with a tactile, organic beauty, reflecting the textures and stories of her personal experiences.

Apa Khabar is a greeting in Pattani Malay, a widely-spoken dialect in the region, that translates to “How are you?” The phrase is a mainstay of the market, the gathering place of a diverse community of vendors and shoppers who routinely meet and strike up conversation. The greeting– which Nibuesa has heard since childhood– is an expression of closeness and belonging among family and friends.

The centerpiece of the collection is a tableau of three market regulars: “Dear Uncles,” a piece inspired by Nibuesa’s childhood memories of her father and his friends gathering to share stories and laughter. The imagery of middle-aged men engaged in lively conversations with their relaxed postures, warm smiles, and exchanged glances, reflects the deep bonds of friendship among people from diverse backgrounds – Thai Buddhists, Muslims, and Chinese-Thai.

About the Artist

Born in 1992, Kusofiyah Nibuesa lives and works in Pattani, one of Thailand's three southernmost provinces often referred to as the red zone. Her childhood memories revolve around local market visits with her mother. Witnessing the beauty of human connections and unity within diversity, Kusofiyah came to realize that outsiders may perceive things differently when she had a painful experience during a trip to Bangkok eight years ago. Her encounter with stereotypes ignited her passion to showcase genuine harmony among people of various races and beliefs through vibrant marketplaces. As an insider, she utilizes paper-cutting, printmaking and stenciling techniques to celebrate overlooked lives and challenge prevailing narratives with the marketplace as her primary canvas

Kusofiyah's past exhibitions proudly present a series of remarkable showcases, not only in Thailand but across the world. These exhibitions include:

 • Gotong Royong at the 16albermarle Project Space in Sydney, Australia (2024)

 • Living The Days at the Yu-Hsiu Museum of Art in Nantou, Taiwan (2023)

 • Other Possible Worlds at Delmar Gallery in Sydney, Australia (2022)

 • Muslimah Collective: Shaping Geographies, Art/Women/Southeast Asia at Gajah Gallery, Singapore (2019)

“APA KHABAR? HOW ARE  YOU?”  Exhibition reception will be organized on Thursday, October 10th, from 6 - 9 PM and will be on display until November 6, 2024 at La Lanta Fine Art. 

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm.

Address: 3rd floor, 2198/10-11, Narathiwas Rajanakarin Road Soi 22, Chongnonsi, Yannawa, Bangkok.