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Phanthong Saenchun

"My name is Phanthong Saenchun. I was born on March 14, 1965 in Chiang Rai, a beautiful land that gave birth to many famous artists. I have three sisters and am the only son. Our parents are farmers. Rural children help with the family's work and I am one of them – I'd wake up at sunrise to help. I was lucky to be born in this family because my parents supported my studies as though I was an urban child. As the only son, I was raised to study and work hard, be polite, and be a good and gentle person.

"My eldest sister is a teacher and supports us all in everything. The middle one helps our parents with their farming because she studied agriculture. The youngest is working and doing business in Chiang Mai. We are all very close, sometimes traveling together to the beach, etc. We were all lucky to have our parents love us, take care and support us, especially with our studies. They wanted us to be successful, but also to enjoy fulfilling lives. So they went along with our wishes. For my part, as I love art, they agreed with my following this path. If the family is warm and supportive, I think you will have a good personality and feel good about yourself. The family is also important because it teaches you to be a good person.

"When I was a boy, I dreamed of being an artist. I would draw in my books and my classmates asked me to draw on their book covers. When I graduated from high school, I went to on to graduate with a fine art diploma from Rajamangala Institute. There, my artistic mind opened wider. My good friends loved art and my teachers were art professionals. Everyone created art seriously, and my art skills became better in that ambience. I studied a couple more years and received a bachelor's degree in fine arts. I lived in Chonburi province, where I had a great social life. I regularly went to nearby Bangkok to attend and participate in art exhibitions and contests.

"I began working in an advertising agency but just couldn't do this kind of work. So I resigned and started creating artwork full time. Now I am back in my hometown where I work easy and loose in my studio everyday. My faith in Buddha, nostalgia for the ancient kingdom, and the curves and lines that compose sculptures and architecture inspire me much. My work is mostly based on these images and symbols that are strongly impregnated with Buddhism. I also teach children in the neighborhood on weekends. I try to preserve ancient Thai sculptures and architecture by teaching the next generation about their history. I live with my beloved wife and children. I live with my passion. I create art. I love my life and my profession. Life is wonderful."

Saenchun has exhibited is work throughout Thailand as well as in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (2001), and has won numerous awards.