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Pearapong

"Light keeps us warm, brings brightness and gives life to everything, anywhere. The use of light is important in my work – it shows what I am.

"Sawasdee krab! My friends call me Jacky, but my full name is Pearapong Kiriwong. I was born on February 10, 1972 in Phangnga, and have an elder brother and a younger sister. Our family is a warm and loving one.

"I've been interested in art since I was three or four years old. I loved collecting posters and handbills, and I like open air cinema. I collected film art to study the drawing and painting techniques. I started by copying them. Then, when I grew up, I developed my own style.

"In school, my grades in art were always good, but in other subjects they were only fair. I wanted to major in art, but my parents hoped I'd have more stability in my work. So I did my drawings away from home or at the theater, which was full of painters. There, I only cleaned paintbrushes and set up, helped to teach drawing technique a bit. I also secretly helped one painter draw the posters. I could earn 30 baht per picture. And on Saturday and Sunday, I attended the theater performances.

"By the time I was 11 or 12 years old, I could draw on ply board and earned 100 baht per board. While attending middle school, I was earning 700 to 800 baht per month and seldom asked my parents for money. When I started the high school, I again asked to major in art, but my parents disagreed so I dropped out and began painting in earnest. After two years, I had saved enough money to study art in Bangkok. I was 17 years old.

"In Bangkok, I met Mr. Thongdee Panumas who had painted the movie posters I collected. He was a follower of the celebrated Thai movie director, Peak Poster. I lived with him for three years.

"When I was 21, Mr. Thongdee stopped painting to make the movie Morgan. But I wanted to learn more, so I continued Mr. Thongdee's work. I was painting book covers for Lanlookmai, Muek Jean's book printing company. We became acquainted and I was accepted. In 1982, I designed many book covers and was well paid for them.

"Then, in 1985, I went to work as an illustrator for an advertising company. But I felt it wasn't the work I really wanted. I knew that there are many artists in Chiang Mai, so I moved there in 1987.

"Phanthong Sangjan, a Novica featured artist, introduced me to Mr. Prasong Luemueng, a very famous Thai artist who encouraged me to learn philosophy and taught me to know myself. He never taught me art techniques, but let me think about how to be an artist and how to live as an artist. Meeting him was a major change in my life.

"Mr. Prasong said, 'Draw what you want to draw' but I didn't know what I wanted to draw. I stopped doing anything for a year. I was so confused – I thought only of how to earn money from my pictures. But the way of art doesn't depend on money.

"One day Mr. Prasong told me a story about a woman who believed and prayed until her wish came true. I went home and spent three days deciding what to do with my life and I chose to paint once more. The story taught me that we can paint anything we like, but we must have faith and believe in what we do. We must do our best and everything else will follow.

"And so I found my way and it brings me happiness. I never think about money anymore. Dharma cured my heart and today I live peacefully, creating my best paintings. I want to continue the tradition and culture from our forbears and pass it on to the next generation.

"I am so grateful to everyone who helped me along the way."

Since 1998, Pearapong has held three solo exibits and has participated in ten group shows. Among his many awards is Best Painting in the exhibit honoring the Queen's 60th anniversary in 1992.