The Layers

My works are influenced by my Thai culture and the many different designs seen in Thai fabrics. Shapes, lines, colors and spaces are the important elements of making these fabric designs. The development of the primary structure and their meaning are characteristics in these artworks which interest me.

In my works, I borrow those simple shapes, lines, colors and spaces to represent my self. I use these elements in a new arrangement and give them a new perspective to create a painting. In comparing my self to those shapes, lines, colors, and spaces, I also explore aspects from my old culture. A new arrangement aims to identify my life with new rules, societies and environment that I have found in Australia.

My recent work was developed from a mask that I bought in Thailand in 2005. When I was young I learnt how to make this object – it might be a toy or it could be used in a play at school. When I came to Australia the mask reminded me of my childhood. It also became a metaphor for human behavior for me to explore in my work. When I was a kid we played the character of the animal that we wore on our head. In my latest work I have changed the meaning of the mask to reflect the character of human beings around me. In this way I am trying to express that people protect themselves, entertain themselves and even harm themselves by wearing a disguise. I choose to use the image of an animal face to portray this human disguise. For example, the swan is a symbol of beauty, but when humans act it out it can become a conceit. Is it unreal or natural?

I chose to use only paper and glue to build these forms because where I came from in the country these were the only materials available for young kids. I use the cardboard tube to enlarge the mask size so that the viewer can face them. Some sections are painted and others reveal the materials from which they are made. This half finished approach transforms the awkwardness of many of the figures/animals into a reflection on the imperfect, improvised nature of the spiritual.

2007