How does art get younger while we get older? Part II

On Saturday, I set my alarm clock in the early morning as it was the day that I planned to visit his studio located in the outskirts of the city. I arrived a little early, so I had a chance to explore his studio before the meeting. His studio has a transparent roof. His art supplies and artworks are scattered on every corner of the room. It was the third time that I had visited this place and his things are placed in different spots each time I visit. As I sat down, I saw paper, brushes, pens, paints, and a statue of ‘Thep Tum Jai’ on a wooden table. His studio is surrounded by lush trees and the birds’ whispered their songs into my ears.

“Being a stand-up comedian in Thailand is like wearing a mascot costume. Sometimes, you are sweating inside and it feels so itchy. However, a person inside will never complain and will continue to be lively for everyone who wishes to take a photo with him”, Udom stated. “Art is a way to create balance in my life.”

At the present time, Udom makes art without any rules or expectations. He would rather make it for his own pleasure. It has become his main job just like he always said that making art is his full-time job and being a stand-up comedian is a hobby as no one could wear a mascot costume every single day.

Udom began to find balance in his life. When he paints, he doesn’t need to wear a mascot. Society may expect the comedian to remain cheerful no matter what happens. But in this peaceful studio, Udom is simply an ordinary person who can express himself via painting, even though the story may be unacceptable to tell when he is dressed as a mascot.

While stand-up comedy allows him to tell people about his life, he has discovered art as a language through which he can express his life story. When the end of a relationship makes socialising too difficult, he would create art. When confronted with heartbreaking situations, he would produce art. He makes art to reflect on life’s lessons. Or sometimes he just feels like doing it, so he does it, paints it, and realizes while doing so whatever sensation makes him want to produce that artwork.

‘It’s my life journal,’ he said, and I agree.

There is no rule, and no one can see it. As a consequence, his journal is full of fresh experiments; a large piece, a tiny work, baked clay, ceramic, paint on canvas, paint on wood, and all the attempts to discover new techniques to produce the work.

“I never stand still. I’m constantly looking for stuff to do.” As a result, his art seems never-ending, as though the voyage is continuously ongoing. You do realize that life is the same, don’t you?

After that, I wait a few seconds for Udom to pass through the glass door. He joyfully informs me that the enormous monsters in the studio have been transported to storage and are getting ready to enter the stage.  He envisions the stage of the stand-up comedy show “Diew 13” being entirely filled with these monsters.

He carries a monster and places it on the table. After an hour of chatting, he takes a break, relaxes, and looks at his artwork. When it comes to art, he feels at ease. He is not compelled to wear a mask or restrain himself. He discusses about his artworks, which include the epoxy monster sculptures that will be on Diew13’s stage, with sparkling eyes. He’s been doing it for the past two years. He had no idea how many sculptures he would make or why he would make them. He made one, and it expanded to two, ten, and a hundred, and the paper size swelled to fit on his knee and became human.

What I like about those monsters is that each one is imperfect. There’s a miserable shark that can’t swim and must wear a swim ring, a chubby hippopotamus wearing very large high heels, as if stealing mommy’s shoes, and a cheerful-looking chameleon with a saw tooth on its neck. Despite their flaws, all monsters appear to be joyful. It is not difficult for me to become engaged with them. Everyone, like those monsters, is flawed, and everyone wants to be happy. This is, after all, life, isn’t it?

Because Udom developed such monsters from elements of his own life. I’m not surprised that when Udom removed his mascot outfit, it was filled with hundreds of monsters emerging from within, and I’m not surprised that the mascot uniform we all wear will also include a monster’s hide.

“How can art grow younger as we get older?”I asked him this question at first, and then understood it wasn’t about going back to being a kid. It’s progress. Growing up and learning until you encounter the difficulty of becoming an adult, which may be different for each individual. Udom’s weakness was his attempt to be someone he wasn’t and trying to control what couldn’t be controlled in life. When he discovered these facts, he returned to creating artwork with no limits or expectations, just like we did when we were children.

As a result, Udom grew up and continues to thrive.

Under the wrinkles, he seems older than I recall seeing on television. However, I knew that his soul would never grow old.

October 2020

Pasinee Pramunwong