PP GROUP TALENT CONTEST 2024 - THE ILLUSTRATOR NEXT GEN
The final pitch featured 10 talented illustrators presenting their work under the theme "Creatively Thai" - exploring Thai culture and heritage through innovative and modern perspectives, blending traditional art with contemporary creativity. Their unique interpretations offered a fresh look at what it means to be Thai today.
Winner: Nuttee Chotraweethanasiri
"I want to present Thai identity through the concept of 'The Market,' which means enhancing the market experience in Thailand. I view markets as a melting pot of various Thai cultures, blending warmth and busyness while being vibrant and lively. They beautifully reflect Thai culture and can be categorized into three types based on different aspects of Thai life: the Floating Market - traditional Thai culture, the Walking Street Market - local Thai life, and the Night Market - modern Thai culture."
1st Runner-up: Thiraphat Kansomjitt
“Young ‘Dren’ embarks on an adventure and encounters a land known as Thailand. Dren wants to create artwork that tells a story through the feelings experienced from observing what he encounters. The project explores how perception changes the environment. It focuses on Thai street culture, which is visible all around us every day and is an integral part of daily life. By paying attention, we can see the images of environmental issues, lifestyle, and creativity 'all at once.' The three artworks will present the environmental stories that embody Thai street culture, aiming to highlight the importance of our surroundings. They will showcase the inspiring aspects of daily life and the small beauties along the streets, which help alleviate the impact of problems. Join Dren in opening the yellow door”
2nd Runner-up: Shareef Ruangthong
"Sisan Haeng Thai” – The Colors of Thailand - This image captures the essence of Thai culture by blending old and new in a vibrant and lively manner. Iconic Thai architecture, such as Wat Arun and the Giant Swing, is presented in a stylish and playful way. The tuk-tuk, powered by the energy of Bangkok’s streets, is full of vibrancy, while cultural symbols like the Emerald Buddha stand alongside modern elements such as motorcycles and airplanes. The use of bold colors and playful shapes reflects the creativity and liveliness for which Thailand is renowned. "Talat Nam Hansaa" – Joyful Floating Market - This image conveys the charm of Thai floating markets, known for celebrating the colorful everyday life of the people. Smiling vendors in traditional attire paddle boats filled with a variety of fruits and foods, showcasing Thailand’s agricultural abundance. The use of pastel colors and whimsical star shapes adds a playful touch, making this image a delightful representation of the country’s cultural diversity. The floating market, a symbol of Thai tradition, blends old with new in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh. "Phajonpai Nai Dong Paai" – Adventure in the Sign Jungle - This image captures the movement and vibrancy of traveling through Thailand’s streets. The main character, ready for adventure, faces a flood of signs, with a design that plays with the colors and shapes of the signs. It adds a playful and unexpected twist to the experience of traveling through this culturally rich country. Each sign acts as a gateway to unique experiences, encapsulating the essence of Thailand in an engaging and exciting way.”
2nd Runner-up: Thanyapat Doungklad
“Recognizing the importance of lifestyle and the wisdom of Thai society, which has been absorbed from the past to the present, reflected in every stage of life. This encompasses beliefs, notions, and art that embody a distinct and prominent uniqueness. Every aspect of life involves creating things that harmonize with the environment or surroundings through current perceptions, such as traditional Thai games, toys from the past, and living conditions. Although these aspects may fade momentarily from our minds, having been a part of that lifestyle, modernity and societal changes, along with other factors, have led to their transformation. This project aims to present a narrative that blends Thai cultural elements by showcasing what can be perceived through the absorption of experiences, observation, and reinterpretation in creative works. It tells the story of traditional Thai life and passes on this understanding to contemporary Thai society.”
Popular Vote Award: Punika Areegarnlert
“Thais Mean Freedom’ - this quote doesn’t nonsense. The Thai way of life means just chilling, even in serious situations. Thais can solve problems in surprisingly creative ways. While we can’t say it always works, it shows the creativity of Thai people. No other country can quite imitate it.”
Artist: Ladamas Pitisant
“Concept : By your sign (By your side) - Street signs, or “soi” signs, are something we often overlook, only paying attention when we need to know where we are or if we are nearing our destination. In Thailand, these signs can be particularly distinctive. Upon closer observation, street signs in different provinces and areas have unique shapes and designs. Some incorporate patterns or shapes specific to the region or important landmarks of the province to indicate that you have arrived at a particular place. These signs are intriguing, and I wanted to illustrate them to highlight something we often overlook or notice only occasionally, making them the focal point of this artwork.”
Artist: Oomthong Yamsadtham
“Join Our Club ! - The creativity of Thai people is incredibly diverse. We've divided this diversity into three categories: Thai Food Club, Thai Architect Club, and Go Around Thai Club. Creativity can be found in everything from the food we eat to the small inventions that many Thais might overlook, but they are truly creative and impressive! And we can't forget the diverse ways to travel across Thailand, each with its own unique mode of transportation! This is what makes Creative Thailand!”
Artist: Matus kaewdum
“In Thailand, the concept of luck and lucky items is deeply ingrained in our beliefs, ideas, and contemporary culture. It’s common for Thais to transform ordinary objects into something special or into amulets, reflecting a charming aspect of Thai society where we imbue everyday objects with positive meanings by adding familiar gestures or symbols. These three artworks expand on this idea by incorporating the gesture of "Nang Kwak," a well-known symbol of luck in Thai society. The artist has included this gesture in everyday items such as a "Jaa Choi" (a local term for a stern-looking policeman) and "Gai Yang" (grilled chicken), which are familiar in both contemporary society and culture. To Thai eyes, adding the gesture of Nang Kwak to these ordinary items makes them extraordinary, inviting viewers to imagine what other items might be enhanced with this gesture and what kind of luck they might bring. In addition to the central elements of Nang Kwak, Jaa Choi, and Gai Yang, the surrounding details of the artworks feature items commonly associated with rituals or lucky charms, such as marigold garlands, colorful beverages, and unusual animal figurines with decorative cloths. Overall, these three pieces aim to blend belief and humor in a distinctly Thai way, encouraging viewers to explore the potential for luck in the objects around them.”
Artist: Naphob Chaowanaphoonphon
“Concept: This series of works aims to convey Thai identity through a deep familiarity with the environment of my hometown. As someone from the Northern region, I have absorbed various cultural elements from childhood to adulthood. These include traditional clothing, such as the distinctive "phasin" (a traditional Northern Thai skirt), the "Hong Kom" pattern that is emblematic of Chiang Mai, and the "Singha" or "Mom," mythical creatures commonly seen at temples in the North. I want to express the beauty of these cultural aspects through my own perspective.”
Artist: Mahisorn Chanakarnjanachai
“THAI CHRONICLE: The beauty of every Thai Hour - What impresses me most about Thai tourism culture is the "beauty found in each different time of day." Whether it’s "morning," "afternoon," or "evening," Thailand offers something special to experience around the clock. There’s never a moment when the country is asleep, with activities available from dawn till dusk. This continuous vibrancy is the charm of Thai tourism that I wish to highlight by weaving together the beauty of each time of day into a series of works titled “Thai Chronicle.” This series will showcase to the world that "our tourist spots never sleep, and each time of day holds its own unique charm." Therefore, "the culture of Thai tourism throughout different times of the day" defines my interpretation of “Creatively Thai,” which I wish to share with others.”
