Dancing Ham Reunites With His Favorite Fishball sketch | Photo: Mickey Napatr PAKA IS AN OIL PAINTER WHO CREATES ART FREELY WITHOUT CONFINING THEMSELVES TO ANY GENRE AND PROUDLY PRESENTS HER IDENTITY THROUGH HER WORKS, FORMING THE UNIQUE STORY IN EACH CREATION
TEXT: PAKA
PHOTO: BLOOM PRO LAB EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
WHO
I’m PaKa, and yes, I was born on Monday (‘Paka’ is one of the lucky names for Monday babies).
WHAT
I make art. My main focus is oil painting. I’ve done some writing, zines, and videos as well. I’m also interested in printmaking.
WHEN
I’m 27 years old. I think this is the time when I feel like myself the most and understand myself the most. It’s only recently that I’m beginning to feel like things are falling into place.
Blueberry mee kwammhai mhai?
WHERE
New York City. It’s a cliché answer. I tried to think of someplace else but decided to go with the first answer that came to mind.
WHY
It’s like the city of my dreams. I was really eager to go there, and I eventually managed to make it happen. I spent four years living there while I was in college. It was a transformative period that broadened my view of the world in every way. Embracing being alone far from the close-knit family I was raised in, exploring new food, and trying new tastes instead of the comforting flavors of homemade dishes I’m familiar with.
Baby Banana Transformation
How would you describe your work?
I don’t specifically want to frame what I do into a single style. My creations are a fusion of different genres and disciplines.
What is your inspiration and guiding principle for each creation?
The majority of my inspiration stems from real-life situations, stories that I feel compelled to share, or that have left a lasting impression on me. I draw inspiration from the world around me, paying close attention to the things that capture my attention. There isn’t anything in particular. When I worked on the AfterTaste series, I envisioned it as a film. The sketch I made resembled a storyboard, with all the elements arranged in chronological order. When I put on a show, I aim for viewers to observe everything in the order I intend. However, with the series I’m currently working on, I’m approaching it as if it were an album. Every canvas has its own unique story, all coming together to form a cohesive set.
What project are you most proud of?
Last year (2023), I had an exhibition called AfterTaste at Baan Trok Tua Ngork. This was my first solo exhibition, where I single-handedly curated and handled everything. I hadn’t intended to do that, but I couldn’t find a suitable gallery to exhibit this show at. However, it turned out to be the show that has opened up numerous opportunities.
Which stage of the design process do you like the most?
When I get to name my work.
If you could invite a ‘creative’ to coffee, who would you invite and why?
Rei Kawakubo is the first name that comes to mind. But I think I would be too nervous to have a conversation, so I’m going with Greta Gerwig. I would tell her how much I liked the dialogue in her film. The scene in the movie Frances Ha where Frances folds her name tag is absolutely fantastic. And from there, I hope we’ll get to have a great, meaningful conversation.
Scene From the Right Shade of Green