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Seksan Unma

"Hello. My name is Seksan Unma, or you can call me Tom. I was born in a rural area of northern Thailand. Our family's income came only from my father, who is a manual laborer. He worked hard to support his family – my mother, my older brother and me. But I never thought about his weariness or helped my mother with the house work. I didn't even study. And so I didn't pass the entrance exams to study the career I wanted.

"I attended a technical vocational school. Because I missed the exam for a major in fine arts, I studied product design instead. I hung out with my friends and partied a lot, just living life day to day. I wrote reports and theses for my friends to earn some money. After graduating from technical school, I went on to the university and, as usual, didn't pass the exam for an art major so I studied computers instead. I've just realized what life is about now that I'm an adult and have to earn my own income.

"After graduation from the university, I didn't go into computers but instead went to work with a friend who had a pub. It didn't go well, but fortunately there was an art studio across the street. I visited the owner and we became friends. Since he needed help with his work, I took a job with him in the morning and worked at the pub at night. I'm not a smart guy but I learned more and more about art work and I enjoyed that job very much.

"In 2002, the pub closed and my friends opened another in a new location. But I decided not to join them and remained at the art studio. By the beginning of 2003, I had the confidence to open my own studio. It's a dream come true for me and I'm giving it my best effort."