THE BOOTLEG SHOW
- EXHIBITION DATE : APR 5 - JUL 20, 2025
TAGS
The Bootleg Show emerged from the inherent distortions that occur during the manufacturing of art toys, where the artist observed a notable gap between factory-produced versions and his original designs. This observation raised an important question: where does true originality reside?
MRKREME (Varagun Chongthanapipat), a Thai-Hong Kong artist born in 1993, combines his background in industrial design with a unique creative vision. His artistic journey began with art toys, later expanding into painting to push the limits of his imagination. Central to his work is Mushkin, a furry monster whose development was shaped by unintended distortions encountered during the manufacturing process. In mass production, limitations in the factory—whether from human error, design flaws, or material constraints—inevitably lead to variances and imperfections. These distortions became a key theme of The Bootleg Show, prompting MRKREME to reimagine Mushkin and its monstrous kin through various forms, questioning what constitutes originality and how viewers interpret these creative shifts.
The official version of The Bootleg challenges conventional notions of originality. MRKREME invited collaborators to reinterpret Mushkin through their memories, resulting in unexpected designs that he brought to life. In this series, MRKREME employs plasticine clay as the primary medium. The distinctive qualities of plasticine—its vibrant colors and malleability—allow for boundless creative possibilities. However, plasticine also represents a symbol of temporality. Its soft, moldable nature means that it is constantly changing, susceptible to the slightest touch or pressure. This ever-shifting material mirrors the fleeting and impermanent nature of creativity itself. What is shaped one moment can easily transform into something entirely different the next, making plasticine the perfect medium for exploring the fluidity of artistic expression.
Plasticine was first used by MRKREME to create prototypes for his art toys, and now he returns to it as a means of intentional distortion. This manipulation of form, enabled by the pliability of plasticine, is reflected across MRKREME’s multidisciplinary works, including paintings, sculptures, and video installations. These works often incorporate elements of parody and appropriation, further blurring the boundaries between original creation and transformation.
The Bootleg Show presents the factory not only as an industrial process but as a space for creative deformation. The mass production of Mushkin and its variations across mediums and sizes embodies how factory limitations can lead to unexpected artistic possibilities. The imperfections inherent in mass production are not seen as flaws, but rather as opportunities for innovation and reinterpretation.
The exhibition celebrates bootlegging as a dynamic creative force, turning distortion and reinterpretation into powerful tools for artistic growth. MRKREME embraces both accidental and intentional bootlegging, dissolving the distinction between originality and reinvention. Audiences are invited to rethink the meaning of originality and imperfection, engaging with The Bootleg Show through their own unique interpretations and imaginative respons
The Bootleg Show emerged from the inherent distortions that occur during the manufacturing of art toys, where the artist observed a notable gap between factory-produced versions and his original designs. This observation raised an important question: where does true originality reside?
MRKREME (Varagun Chongthanapipat), a Thai-Hong Kong artist born in 1993, combines his background in industrial design with a unique creative vision. His artistic journey began with art toys, later expanding into painting to push the limits of his imagination. Central to his work is Mushkin, a furry monster whose development was shaped by unintended distortions encountered during the manufacturing process. In mass production, limitations in the factory—whether from human error, design flaws, or material constraints—inevitably lead to variances and imperfections. These distortions became a key theme of The Bootleg Show, prompting MRKREME to reimagine Mushkin and its monstrous kin through various forms, questioning what constitutes originality and how viewers interpret these creative shifts.
The official version of The Bootleg challenges conventional notions of originality. MRKREME invited collaborators to reinterpret Mushkin through their memories, resulting in unexpected designs that he brought to life. In this series, MRKREME employs plasticine clay as the primary medium. The distinctive qualities of plasticine—its vibrant colors and malleability—allow for boundless creative possibilities. However, plasticine also represents a symbol of temporality. Its soft, moldable nature means that it is constantly changing, susceptible to the slightest touch or pressure. This ever-shifting material mirrors the fleeting and impermanent nature of creativity itself. What is shaped one moment can easily transform into something entirely different the next, making plasticine the perfect medium for exploring the fluidity of artistic expression.
Plasticine was first used by MRKREME to create prototypes for his art toys, and now he returns to it as a means of intentional distortion. This manipulation of form, enabled by the pliability of plasticine, is reflected across MRKREME’s multidisciplinary works, including paintings, sculptures, and video installations. These works often incorporate elements of parody and appropriation, further blurring the boundaries between original creation and transformation.
The Bootleg Show presents the factory not only as an industrial process but as a space for creative deformation. The mass production of Mushkin and its variations across mediums and sizes embodies how factory limitations can lead to unexpected artistic possibilities. The imperfections inherent in mass production are not seen as flaws, but rather as opportunities for innovation and reinterpretation.
The exhibition celebrates bootlegging as a dynamic creative force, turning distortion and reinterpretation into powerful tools for artistic growth. MRKREME embraces both accidental and intentional bootlegging, dissolving the distinction between originality and reinvention. Audiences are invited to rethink the meaning of originality and imperfection, engaging with The Bootleg Show through their own unique interpretations and imaginative respons
