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Wisit

"My name is Wisit Jareankulpiwat but my original name is Mee Saewa. I am from the Hmong hill tribes. My parents have seven children; I am the second. My parents are farmers, and our family lives in harmony and happiness. We are Christians. During my childhood I copied cartoons and used my spare time to draw. I did not know any art basics, but I loved art.

"I trained and drew continually until I passed an entrance exam at the Fine Arts of Chiang Mai Vocational College. I graduated with a diploma in International Fine Art in 2003. After I graduated, I worked as an artist in the Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai for two years. Now I work in a hill tribe village. I paint murals depicting Hmong people's life, our culture and traditions. I am generally easy-going but very serious when I work.

"I am a Hmong and am running my life according to our culture and traditions, which are different from those of other people. We've got a different language, garments, beliefs, festivals, culture and traditions. But when I had the chance to study in the city, it opened my mind and vision of the world. I am highly influenced by Thai culture and traditions. I have incorporated them into my daily life, but I still preserve my own Hmong culture and traditions too.

"I once participated in an art competition in 1995 and won first prize. I was very glad and proud because it was the first success of my life. It also encouraged me to continue creating artwork. My favorite subject is nature, and my favorite medium is watercolor. I have been using watercolor since I was very young. It is easy to use, dries fast, and requires high accuracy and skills. Some day I will create artwork relating to the Christian religion.

"I wish everyone could see my art. It would make me proud, and perhaps even make the viewers appreciative and happy. So I would like to thank Novica for giving me and many other artists the opportunity to show our culture and artistic visions to the world. I would like to thank Novica for making my works, my tribe, and my country travel around the world."