EXPLORATION OF FREE WILL

Thammatat Saithong, better known as Karms, has created striking and unique works since his undergraduate days at the Faculty of Decorative Arts, Silpakorn University.

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His distinctive work caught the eye of Trendy Gallery owners, who purchased many of his paintings. Thammatat is now Trendy Gallery's number one artist in terms of high value pieces.

Although Thammatat's collections have received a positive reception since his debut exhibition "Room 063" in 2021, the road to success was not smooth. Thammatat struggled when he had to create a collection after graduation as he felt that it was a time of identity crisis.

"I was thrilled Trendy Gallery was interested in my work, but I did not aim to be a painter at that time. I planned to work in an office or as a freelancer for five years before having a solo exhibition. While working at home alone, I questioned who I was in this community. I felt I had lost my identity and felt insecure. I was worried about other people's expectations and questioned if my paintings would sell," said Thammatat.

Thammatat created paintings with a character named Oge, which depicts a boy with big eyes, a long pointed nose and a deranged smile. Oge's two hands hold up his head which is separated from his body. The name Oge is derived from the word ego, due to Thammatat's identity crisis at the time.

"When I created Oge, I didn't mean to design a character. I was inspired by a person who works as a mascot who has to entertain people and after a long day, he feels exhausted and wants to take off the costume. After taking it off, there is nothing. This can refer to atta, or self, and anatta, or non-self, in Buddhism," explained Thammatat.