calling home: artists on the road

The artists Kong Lee & Bounkhong Osy

 " Every sketch tells a story, every painting a reflection of the places we visited, every photograph a memory " 

Bounkhong Onsiyom and Kong Lee set off on their Yamaha Spark & Honda motorbikes in 2021.

Graduating from the National Institute of Fine Art in Vientiane, in 2020, they set about planning a trip through the provinces of Laos; on their motorbikes, with sketch books and pencils in the luggage, tied to the back of their bikes..

Kong Lee had the idea for this trip a few years before graduating. He asked friends if anyone was interested in joining him. It was Bounkhong who said yes !  So they began their preparations. Working on the logistics of budgets for food and accommodation, gasoline costs, a tent and most important art supplies. They studied maps, secured supply boxes to the back of their bikes and set up hand phones for recording.

Kong Lee and Bounkhong left Vientiane on 7 January, 2021 and returned on 27 March. In three months they covered these provinces: Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong, Salavan, Savannakhet, Khammoun, Bolikhamsai, Xaisomboun Province, Xiangkhouang, Houaphanh, Oudomxay, Phōngsali, Luang Prabung, Bokeo, Sainyabuli, Vientiane Province.

During the trip they filled their sketch books with over a hundred drawings each.

They returned to Vientiane & spent one year painting their reflections of the journey.

Their paintings & sketches were exhibited @ i:cat gallery 2022

Published by i:cat gallery & project space . pha tad ke, 2023. Limited edition, 100 signed copies. Poster by Vilakone Phachanthavong