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In his book Why the World Does Not Exist, philosopher Markus Gabriel questions what truly exists and the meaning of existence itself. He doubts whether there is a single, all-encompassing world. He famously stated, "Everything that appears has a background that is not visible" and "There are unicorns on the dark side of the moon." In reality, each of us perceives the world differently, and our perspectives shift with life's events. We encounter rain showers, toothaches, indecision about dinner, and loneliness—a feeling that arises when we cannot understand others or even our own thoughts.
We often generalize based on personal experience, believing we grasp the nature of reality. While the world may not exist, Pak Koeng's world transcends its own boundaries. His drawings feature not only people but also spirits, fairies, angels, and monsters. They might be the "unicorns on the dark side of the moon"—they could be anything, or nothing at all. Perhaps they are merely a collection of kind and angry cartoon characters. Yet, in their existence, even if only in fantasy or within Pak Koeng's own perception, they become part of this world.
Wait, there are no unicorns on the moon, right? These "Lonely Tones" cartoon characters aren't real humans, are they? Within the realm of scientific explanation, they do not exist, but in Pak Koeng's work, they undeniably do. Ultimately, seeking meaning in a world that seems to both exist and not exist can lead to an endless sensory journey. This exhibition aims to offer viewers a new perspective from which to embark.
The title "Lonely Tones" is a clever play on the American animation series Looney Tunes, with "Looney" replaced by "Lonely" and "Tunes" by "Tones." Through this naming, Pak Koeng presents an ontological viewpoint that challenges the concept of Golden Age cartoons like Looney Tunes, where characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck were designed purely for laughter. This subtle twist renders the idea of comedy absurd. "Lonely Tones" suggests that existence itself is a farce, an enigma—as is our own existence, a truth life often reminds us of.
In the video installation, the rapid switching of masks representing the protagonist's multiple personalities reinforces the same concept: everyone is born from loneliness. Viewers witness these masks attempting to seduce, dominate, and replace one another—all ultimately futile endeavors. In the end, these cartoon characters cease to be mere cartoons. They become our mirrors, reflecting the honest and poignant self-portraits present throughout Pak Koeng's body of work.
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