Objects as Concepts: A Comparative Study of Meaning-Driven Creative Processes in Painting Thesis, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Abstract

This research article has two objectives: 1) to analyze the conceptual art characteristics present in the art thesis works of Pornnapin Khumkaew and Chalisa Chuathao, and 2) to compare the meaning-driven creative processes employed in both works. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing document analysis and artwork analysis within the theoretical framework of the Object as Meaning-Carrier and the conceptual art theories of Sol LeWitt and Joseph Kosuth. Two undergraduate thesis works from the Painting Department, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University were selected as comparative case studies, namely Ceramic Glass Painting Art with Autistic Children by Pornnapin Khumkaew and Objects of Bonds in Memory by Chalisa Chuathao, both conducted under the supervision of Instructor Dr. Pasutt Kanrattanasutra. A four-dimensional comparative analytical framework was applied, examining: 1) core concept, 2) the function of objects, 3) social issues addressed, and 4) the relationship between process and outcome. The findings reveal that despite differences in subject matter, media, and creative context, both works share a conceptual common ground, namely the use of objects and processes as vehicles for social, emotional, and humanistic meaning, which stands as a defining characteristic of conceptual art in contemporary artistic practice.