The Bigger Picture of Life Through Art - Artist Sudaporn Teja

Sudaporn Teja was originally born and lived in Chiang Mai. The artist moved to live and work in Bangkok 6 years ago. She describes the city as fast-paced, chaotic and highly-competitive, which is opposite to her hometown. 

“I sometimes still didn’t get used to it, until now”.

After finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (Painting) at the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna and Master of Fine Arts Degree (Painting) at Chiang Mai University she then joined an artist residency program in Chonburi for a year.

Sudaporn’s main concepts are Human psychology, human rights, social movement and inequality in society.

Oil, acrylic, and charcoal are always used in the paintings. After 2017, she started using other mixed media to express herself apart from just painting.

“From taxidermied moths, pins, nails, mirrors to woodwork in this exhibition to symbolize some of the messages. Also, films, photography, and installation art are now a part of the artworks”.

Your current show RAMPANT is about the lockdown and the happiness you found with your cats, can you explain how you portrayed this in the works shown?
Abstract paintings and woodworks are portrayed in this exhibition. It talks about the priority of emotional diversity and the bigger picture of life when we were quarantined and had plenty of time to ponder. Emotional balance allows simple happiness that we sometimes overlook to be enjoyed.

What is great about your relationship with artist Pichai? How is it to work together?
We’ve known each other for a couple of years – meeting and talking at art exhibitions. One day, Pichai came to me and said that he was interested to have a duo exhibition. I said yes right away. Our working process has things in common. It usually requires intensive research and employs selective media into artworks. It has been a great experience working with him for RAMPANT exhibition.

What do you enjoy about abstract painting rather than realism or expressionism?
I started with figurative painting like everyone else. But while I was in college, I had clinical depression for years. Painting figurative couldn’t serve my complex emotions in that period of time. It gradually became surrealism, non-representative, and abstract at last.

What artists inspire you and who should people be following in Thailand?
My father is an art teacher who teaches handicapped and special students as well as an amateur artist. What I learnt from him is that art isn’t only for yourself, but for others.