Chitti Kasemkitvatana
Untitled (cosmo axis), 2023

Untitled (cosmo axis) is originally a part of Kasemkitvatana’s installation Cinematic Ensemble of Kailash, presented in the 2023 Silpa Birasri Creativity Grants exhibition at Art Centre Silpakorn University, Bangkok. It explores the sociocultural and geophysical dimensions of Mount Kailash, seen as the earthly manifestation of the mythic Mount Meru—the cosmic axis in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. The project examines the mountain’s physical aspects, such as geology and ecology, in relation to human beliefs, using the concept of “bhava” (becoming, existence) and its Thai counterpart, “Bhap” (image, view). Untitled (cosmo axis) is a replica of a srog shing, a Tibetan Tantric object that symbolizes the central axis, nucleus, core, backbone — the element that holds everything together. It is regarded as a central pillar, a tree of life, or a spiritual axis. Traditionally, it was used as the core inside Buddha statues and stupas in Tibetan Tantric Buddhist practice. In the original 2023 installation, seven srog shings were displayed across two walls, positioned next to the series of drawings Untitled (Cinematic Ensemble of Kailash).