Circle Of Life

UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award winner Sukit Choosri talks about life as he paints it

- Sukit Choosri

Sukit Choosri is the first Thai artist to win the UOB Southeast Asian Painting of the Year Award, the bank’s flagship art programme, since the regional competition launched in 2013 across Indonesia, Malavysia, Singapore and Thailand. The work was selected as the overall winner by judges from the four participating countries: Dr Agung Hujatnika (Indonesia), Beverly Yong (Malaysia), Dr. Bridget Tracy Tan (Singapore) and Amrit Chusuwan (Thailand).

The artist emerged victorious with his artwork, ‘One Life’, which depicts a Bodhi tree shedding leaves, casting an ominous shadow on a young woman. She holds a greying lotus pod in her right hand that appears to underline the apprehension that the youth in Thailand feel about their future. At the same time, a pink hibiscus flower in full bloom tucked behind her right ear coupled with a quiet grin seem to express a modicum of optimism that things will work out after all.

Following the artist’s big win, ART REPUBLIK spoke with him about his career, his winning artwork and plans for the new year.

Could you tell us a little about your background in terms of where you trained as an artist, as well as highlights of your career so far?

I have been passionate about drawing since I was a young child. Since then, every stage of my life has revolved around art. When I was a child, I spent most of my time practicing my drawing skills by replicating pictures from magazines and billboard posters. At 15, I began to study art full time. I later enrolled into the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University and graduated with second class honours.

What are the recurring themes in your work?