Artist Statement

I am captivated by the concept of the painted object and paint’s transformative power to elevate the unremarkable into something of perceived value through camouflage. This fascination reflects my complex journey between cultures—I was born in the United States, raised in Thailand, and now reside here again. I feel both a connection to and separation from my Thai heritage, carrying a lingering sense of shame from existing between these worlds and feeling neither fully authentic nor entirely inauthentic within my cultural identity. Paint, with its layered and often illusory nature, mirrors this experience, allowing me to connect with my origins through abstraction and to imbue what is constructed with a sense of richness.

My queerness and the fragility of my body add further layers to the cultural dissonance I navigate, prompting me to question my value. Disconnected from Thailand’s more community-centered traditions, I reflect deeply on existence, mortality, and ways to transcend beyond this lifetime. Choosing not to have children, I contemplate alternative pathways and seek expressions of my cultural heritage that might endure in uncertain futures.

In parallel, my research envisions a dystopian world shaped by human-induced environmental collapse, where survival depends on returning to cultural traditions. I critique overconsumption, waste colonialism, and cultural assimilation through paintings, sculptures, and wearable art. Focusing on Thai food and other forms of physical and spiritual sustenance, I reflect on my experience as a second-generation Thai-American and how I can contribute meaningfully to this desolate vision. In these creative endeavors, I find my value as an artist—one committed to ensuring that our cultural memory, resilience, and spirit endure beyond this time.