“P O E S I S”An Exhibition That Weaves Poetry into Abstract Painting by J.JAMES

The art exhibition “P O E S I S” by artist J.JAMES, presented by ODEM at River City Bangkok, officially opened on 6 December 2025 and will run until 4 January 2026.

This exhibition marks a conceptual and methodological continuation of J.JAMES’ previous solo exhibition. The title “P O E S I S” is inspired by language itself and by the artist’s creative process.

Poesis: From Creation to Being

In Ancient Greek, “Poesis” refers profoundly to “bringing something into being” or “the act of creation”. It is the linguistic root of the English word “poem.” This meaning is eloquently conveyed through J.JAMES’ paintings, which use poetry as a conceptual foundation before transforming into abstract paintings on canvas.

The artist explains:

“My work begins with the abstraction of simple life… I start from ideas expressed through poetry—carefully woven—before translating them into paintings on canvas.”

Key Works on Display

The new works presented in this exhibition are part of the Self Portrait Series, reflecting inner psychological tension through varied textures and color palettes:

P A R A N O I D 01

Concept: 
The first work in the Paranoid series, corresponding to the opening verse of the Self Portrait poem:
“Paranoid: contemplating collapse; falling into our own psychological traps.”

Expression:
The piece employs contrasting textures to represent the tension between a rational self and an emotional self. Notably, the asphalt-like black surface evokes dark thoughts and anxiety rooted in paranoia.

A W E S T R U C K 01

Concept: 
The first work in the Awestruck series, inspired by the second verse of the Self Portrait poem:
“Awestruck: the wondrous beauty of the world revealed in spiraling colors.”

Expression:
This work also reflects internal tension through contrasts in texture, color, and surface treatment. A sudden surge of intense magenta-purple conveys the overwhelming intensity of awe at its extreme.

Other Notable Works

‘Self’

This work examines the contrast between personal isolation and the complex, boundless nature of the mind, which forms the foundation of identity. It is based on a four-line poem titled “Self,” translated visually into an abstract triptych.

‘The Irony’

A meditation on contradictions in experience and perception, originating from a minimalist poem composed of a single word per line:

dreaming
becoming
being
ceasing

These four lines are interpreted through a single canvas in the form of a quadriptych, symbolizing the cyclical nature of truth and existence.

All artworks in this exhibition are poetic reflections translated into abstract paintings, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of human experience, nature, life, identity, and the cycles of truth. Through this process, audiences are able to deeply engage with and connect to the underlying concepts behind the work of J.JAMES.

A B O U T   J .   J A M E S

J. James (Justin J Bartlett) is a British artist and designer based in Bangkok. His work incorporates and expresses poetry and philosophy through abstract form in digital and traditional mediums. https://sites.google.com/view/jjamesdesign/h-o-m-e