In the distant village located in Suphan Buri, the central part of Thailand, there was an ordinary boy. PT or Pawnthep Chitphong, arrived on earth in the middle of 1976 without knowing that he would become an artist who drew his own fate.

“During my childhood, one of my interests has always been drawing.” He explained his former self. Chitphong knew it from the very beginning like the other artists in the world.

“I started to draw my favorite comic characters, imaginary adventures in the golden fields of rural areas. And after drawing for a while, my interest changed from time to time according to age and constantly changing residences.” He continued.

Spending not much time in his birthplace, Chitphong had to move frequently. Places he had been automatically went to memories. Suphan Buri, Mae Hong Son, Chiangmai, and Bangkok as well.

Rice Field (2018) – An abstract piece of art carved from his early memory when he spent his life in Pai.

“I still recall the scenery of the golden field in Pai district in Mae Hong Son, where I lived for a while before moving to the capital, every place I have been is a small part of my memory lasting for almost fifty years.”

According to his dynamic interest, Chitphong managed to leave the countryside and move to downtown to find his real self. Coming to Bangkok, he stayed with his relatives who opened a photo shop at the time. With this situation, Chitphong learnt a lot of photography stuff from being an assistant for his relatives.

“For many reasons, I became interested in minimalist photography, both from people who inspire, things seen in daily life, and self-asking questions.”

“Every wall I walk by has its own meaning, everything happens for a reason, identical to stop and look at things more closely. That is a meaningful ordinariness of living a life of value.” Chitphong elaborated being a photographer who captured every moment like he used to do with his memory since childhood.

With his abstract philosophy in working and interest in photography, he resumed drawing to capture his own moment by himself at the age of 18. As a result, he left his comfort zone and started to draw his own journey.

Chitphong drawing his cartoon-like portrait postcards in 1999.

“After I moved out, I started to live like a backpacker. That was when I started to realize that my proficiency is painting. So I decided to become a street artist, drawing postcards near Zen shopping mall, Ratchaprasong, Bangkok.

“From my fondness for drawing a contour pen style that flows freely and practice drawing lines in various forms until I found a style that I like and unique, similar to writing a book.”

The initial style in the beginning of Chitphong.

One thing that is different from all the other famous artists in town, Chitphong is a self-taught artist. He didn’t study art directly.

Apart from selling his paintings, he sometimes thought of going to art college properly to pursue his career in this pathway, but he turned that down eventually stating: “I use art as a representation of life at different ages for growth. Therefore, art is like food that nourishes the body and mind.”
Art is unable to be separated from his life. That is why he cannot stop learning art, art college therefore is not his answer at all. Four years in art college is incompatible with his self-written life-long art journey.

“Inspiration for art comes from both Thai and foreign artists, including inspiration from things around the place I sold my artworks.” After having been accustomed to Khaosan road and the area, In 1999, he held his first solo exhibition “Time” at Comme Restaurant in Bangkok.

Comme, Phra Athit rd., Bangkok, the place where his first solo exhibition ‘Time’ was held in 1999.

Most of his works are abstract art that can be interpreted freely, no different with his intention of starting this art journey because of the desire to destine his own life and depend only on himself as his artworks depend on his own experiences.

In 2002, he turned his attention to abstract and figurative arts. Until now, he lives and works in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and continuously creates many abstract art pieces whilst pursuing photography in his spare time. However, he has kept his street artist identity, consequently shaping him into the artist he is today.

“ศิลปะคือส่วนหนึ่งของการดำเนินชีวิต และศิลปะกับชีวิตก็เป็นส่วนเดียวกัน”
“Art is a part of living life, at the same time, art and life are one.”

Awards

• 2009-2010 : THE 2nd BANGKOK TRIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL PRINT AND DRAWING EXHIBITION

Solo Exhibitions

• 2019: FLOW inspired by nature @ Issue Gallery , CHIANGMAI
• 2017: AROUND @ Enough for Life , Chiangmai
• 2011 : SHARE BLUE @ BAANMAI-PLAMAN GUESTHOUSE, PAI, MAE HONG SON
• 2010 : THE MONSTER 2 @ ANGKRIT GALLERY, CHIANGRAI
• 2009 : DOTS LINES COLORS CIRCLES @ MINIMAL , CHIANGMAI
• 2007 : RAINY SEASON @ ALL ABOUT COFFEE , PAI, MAE HONG SON
• 2006 : LOVE IS EVERYTHING @ ART CAEF SLABBERAS, OSLO, NORWAY
• 2004: BEAN SPROUT @ SEAMEO SPAFA, BANGKOK
• 2003 : SUMMER LOVE @ RAN BARN RAO , BANGKOK
• 2002 : I AM NOT ARTIST @ RAN BARN RAO , BANGKOK
• 2005 : UTOPAI @ REFLECTION HOTEL , BANGKOK
• 2001 : BLACK SHEAR @ TOHKIM RESTAURANT , BANGKOK
• 2001 : PATE @ CONTEMPORARY GALLERY , BANGKOK
• 2001 : DUDE SWEET PARTY @ TOHKIM RESTAURANT , BANGKOK
• 1999 : TIMES @ COMME RESTAURANT , BANGKOK

Selected Exhibitions

• 2021 : NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE @ Galeria De Panthera , Chiangmai
• 2021 : CHIANGMAI ART FOR AIR , Chiangmai
• 2021 : REBIRTH AND CO-EXISTENCE Art Exhibition @ TCDC , Chiangmai
• 2020 : NW! MINIMAL Photography exhibition @ Silpa Bhirasri Place , BANGKOK
• 2015 : LINKER @ CHIANGMAI CHAIYO HOTEL, CHIANGMAI
• 2014 : NOMAD @ RANLAO BOOK SHOP , CHIANGMAI
• 2013 : DESTINATION CHIANG RAI @ ART BRIDGE CHIANGRAI , CHIANGRAI
• 2013 : BIRD THEM CAT @ ANGKRIT GALLERY , CHIANGRAI
• 2009-2010 : THE 2nd BANGKOK TRIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL PRINT AND DRAWING EXHIBITION
• 2009 : THE MONSTER 1 @ PAI TALAY GUESTHOUSE, PAI, MAE HONG SON
• 2008 : WHITE CAT & BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER @ 1000 THANKS , BANGKOK
• 2006 : LIKELY @ CAFÉ BANGRAK, BANGKOK
• 2006 : FREAKS @ BAAN PITTALEW, PAI, MAE HONG SON
• 2003 : ART WAY @ NAPHALAN RESTAURANT , BANGKOK
• 2003 : LUCK KA PAINT 1 @ MES AMIS FOOD & WINE , BANGKOK
• 2003 : LUCK KA PAINT 2 @ MES AMIS FOOD & WINE , BANGKOK
• 2003 : CONVERSATION @ HOLY PIZZA , BANGKOK
• 2002 : BEGIN @ PHATAVADI THEATRE, BANGKOK