Philosophy behind the Stroke

From Tradition to Multiculturalism, and Globalization

Being a Thai-Japanese, multidisciplinary artist, I have a passion for both cultures which influence my art style. The calligraphy art I make, which I call Traditional Manga; inspired by Hokusai's Manga book released 400 years ago in the Edo period.

At that time, not only Hokusai but hundreds of Japanese printmaking artists also created their own artwork and sold them at the Art shops as part of entertainment of the old world. Thousands of prints were produced and served the high demand of people in a metropolitan called ‘Edo" (Tokyo, present).

Scenery, landscapes, portraits, pornography, shunga, etc. are all available to purchase, and after using the paper it will be reused as a “wrapper" for ceramic or porcelain that exported to Europe. Once these products were being sold at a shop in the Netherlands, Vincent Van Gogh who appreciated Asian art unwrapped a pot he bought and found amazing art on the paper, his story began by starting to reproduce those prints with his own painting style. This is how globalization happened in the art world and it truly inspires me as a multicultural born artist.

Not just to find peace, but also to find the algorithm of my life

Traditional manga; the very first Japanese pop culture, has been motivating me to create artwork that represents the philosophy and aesthetic behind the brush stroke. The way I started using the brush has guided me to who I am. The volume and pressure creates strokes and lines on the paper, always has its own meaning and story behind the style. Less is more, like the concept of Zen. This process helps open my eyes to simplicity, and the brushwork itself leads me to peace of mind.

I’m learning everyday that calligraphy art is not just philosophy or only how well you can draw on paper. It also requires physical practice; muscle memory, moving your wrist along with translating your imagination to the canvas, controlling the pressure and volume, the way to keep going when the mistakes occur. I continue practicing again and again, improving my skills and style, learning to grow, and having a deeper understanding of my own creations.