Chotirost Techapanwanit was born and raised in Bangkok. Throughout her school life, she found she never could take a huge interest in her studies, but found a solace in drawing and art. As her self-control in study got better, she focused her energies on art, learning to draw in a realistic style. This effort and talent paid off, as she was able enter the College of Fine Art, Lad Krabang, and continued to study art further at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. Upon starting university, her artistic output flourished, and she began attempting to avoid drawing in a realistic style – instead drawing on deep metaphysical themes in her work. It was an urge to express the workings of her subconscious, an expression of different states of mind. It was a shift in style coming from a change of perspective, believing that in art it is important to communicate and express the trueness and honesty of the artist, rather than simply emulate reality on the canvas. Chotirost likes the idea that creating artwork is a way of keeping a distinctive diary. After experimenting in various ways when creating her art, its distinctive character has ultimately ended up as being described as ‘semi-abstract art’. As her style changed, it seemed to naturally lean away from painting and drawing, with the artist instead feeling sculptures were the most effective way for her to express her ideas. was born and raised in Bangkok. Throughout her school life, she found she never could take a huge interest in her studies, but found a solace in drawing and art. As her self-control in study got better, she focused her energies on art, learning to draw in a realistic style. This effort and talent paid off, as she was able enter the College of Fine Art, Lad Krabang, and continued to study art further at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. Upon starting university, her artistic output flourished, and she began attempting to avoid drawing in a realistic style – instead drawing on deep metaphysical themes in her work. It was an urge to express the workings of her subconscious, an expression of different states of mind. It was a shift in style coming from a change of perspective, believing that in art it is important to communicate and express the trueness and honesty of the artist, rather than simply emulate reality on the canvas. Chotirost likes the idea that creating artwork is a way of keeping a distinctive diary. After experimenting in various ways when creating her art, its distinctive character has ultimately ended up as being described as ‘semi-abstract art’. As her style changed, it seemed to naturally lean away from painting and drawing, with the artist instead feeling sculptures were the most effective way for her to express her ideas.
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Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Chotirost Techapanwanit. I was majoring in sculpture and graduated from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts at Silapakorn University. Currently, I’m a freelance sculptor-artist and simultaneously running my own business.
Could you please tell us what was your inspiration and the concept behind a series ‘Love nest’?
The inspiration of the two sculptures came from my dreams, my imagination and from my memory. In practice, I decided to use the repetitive method to create these artworks because it would help me to consider and understand more clearly my self-consciousness and inner mind. And I use shapes of women to indicate myself.
Why did you use metals as your artistic materials? Were there any particular reasons?
The fact that I cut metal into small pieces is because of my physical capability. I’m a woman. The technique of using metals is not easy for me because metals are solid and thus I think it’s difficult for girls to use them. So, I decided to cut them into small pieces to make them easier to work with. And then I welded them together piece by piece to make a complete sculpture.
Does it take long time to finish each piece of artwork?
They usually take several months to finish, although it does depend on the size of the sculptures.
How do you normally get inspired to create artworks? And what is the difficulty for you in creating works of art?
Creating artworks is the way that I write my diary. A piece of artwork is like a personal diary. An artwork could signify actual happenings of the moment when the artist created it. It could imply the personality of the artist. So, artworks are the tools that I use to communicate with other people. I can tell them what and how I think and act.
What about this particular series ‘Love Nest’? What were you thinking about?
During the time that was I creating this series, I spent a lot of time thinking about the old days. These memories provoked me to consider the combination of strength and delicateness in women, including myself. The two elements are strongly contrasted. In this series I used the woman’s form to symbolise its delicateness whilst using the solid materials, the metals, as a symbol of strength.
How would you relate your artworks to the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and its design?
My artworks are situated in the lobby. The lobby is a common space where people come and go all the time. The movement and power of the display space and my sculptures seem to go along together very well.
What do you think about the online art museum project undertaken by the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok to collect artworks of emerging Thai artists and then publish them on the website?
I think it’s a great opportunity for us artists and also for the public. Artists may promote themselves more widely and the public enjoys easy access to these artworks. I think this is a really good project.
What are the key factors in creating artworks?
I think honesty is the key factor. Artists need to be honest with themselves. They can show what they actually thinking more precisely when producing artworks. This is the value in artworks for me.
What is the most challenging part of being an artist?
The utmost challenge is to be able to survive merely by creating artworks. To be honest, it’s tough to be ‘just’ an artist who only creates artworks. There are not many artists that can to afford to live a life. Because in order to be like them, an artist need to put in a lot of effort and be concentrated. Thus, in order to be an artist, we should be patient and concentrated.
What do you think about the today’s Thai art circle?
The younger generation tends to think out of the box better than my generation. They use a variety of artistic techniques and they also seek for alternative mode of presentation. I think it’s great. I want to see more and more new Thai artists.
How much has art in Thailand changed and developed over the last twenty years?
I think that artists have improved the way that they focus on the concept of artworks more than their aesthetic forms. This is an alternative way of creating and appreciating artworks.
What would you say about the art market in Thailand where it seems that art collectors tend to collect artworks from other countries more than those from Thailand?
I would say that artworks in Thailand seem to be constrained somewhat, within a framework? I see it that way There seems to be a particular standpoint that shapes how artworks in Thailand should look. There is quite a narrow range of art appreciation here. People are not interested that much in art. I mean if the younger artists could create artworks in different style and were not limited by specific interests of the masses they could create artworks autonomously. Thus, there would be more international art collectors that would want to purchase artworks produced by Thai artists.
Do you have a message for younger Thai artists?
I want them to focus on working and to keep on fighting. I also want them to note that they do not need to be the best artist in the world. So, I would say they should find their own work-life balance, and don’t give up on being artists.
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-Interview by Art Consulting Thailand
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, August 2017
