“My name is Pairote Sitthikaew and I was born in the province of Chiang Rai on the 2nd of May 1980. I am the youngest of 7 children. Our parents are farmers and we all grew up in the village. We were imbued with religious and local beliefs. I loved this environment and have now realized that it is the foundation of my passion for art.
Pairote at work © Ezistock Co., Ltd.
“My brothers and sisters are not interested in art whatsoever. As for me, when I was just 10 years old, I already liked everything related to art. Without having learned any techniques I started to create by myself. I was particularly awed by the beauty of Buddha images and by the garlands of flowers. I had the ability to just take a look at these subjects and later reproduce them by memory.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘In the Darkness II’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“Very fortunately my parents were supportive. They encouraged me to focus on whatever I loved. I would not have done anything not related to arts. So after vocational high school in my hometown, I enrolled in Pho Chang College of Arts in Bangkok. I was very lucky to pass the entrance examination because there were so many people who enrolled and so few who could get in. That was an extraordinary time that changed my life. It enabled me to walk the artistic path I love so much.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘Great Nuisance II’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“In college I had a really good time with my friends. I experienced good things. I practiced my artistic skills, I worked and earned some money in the process. But, although I liked the college, I did not really enjoy life in the big city. So I came back home after graduation. I returned to Bangkok a few times to visit my friends but I now spend most of my time in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘Light of Dhamma I’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“After graduation, I worked as an art teacher for about a year. But I did not like it. So I started working on sculptures and paintings for the temples, which I enjoyed much more that teaching. Working in the temples also brought back fond memories of the temples and the Buddhism of my childhood. At that time everything seemed so beautiful and so good. Everyone was kind, always speaking the truth. It was a time full of happiness, serenity, calmness and goodness.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘The Monk’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“Of course, I was a child living in a utopian world. A grown up today, I do not see things being that beautiful. Life has taught me that things may not be exactly how we see them with our eyes. There is always something lying deeper, which can also be perceived with feelings. Buddha’s teachings and principles and all other things related to Buddhism are actually so simple and so beautiful. However, people do not always follow these principles the proper way. Some people even use them to their advantage.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘Great Nuisance I’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“I have seen religious and devout people dark sides. They often hide these dark sides behind the principles of Buddhism. I have seen and felt so many things that make me feel uncomfortable. How to express these dark sides and uncomfortable feelings has been my artistic concept for over 10 years.
“Looking back at my life so far, I am very happy for having followed that path. I always do my best to create artistic works, but I am not yet satisfied with what I have done so far. So I plan to continue creating and aim to keep improving my work.
Acrylic on canvas, ‘Great Nuisance III’ © Pairote Sitthikaew
“Thank you everyone for browsing my work. Apart from my artistic concepts, there is nothing highly philosophical about it. So please do not be too serious or analytic. I would like you to simply enjoy it. What is important is for you to appreciate the art.”
Browse Pairote’s paintings.
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Text by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., 2012 – All Rights Reserved.
Image ‘Pairote at Work’ by EZISTOCK © Ezistock Co., Ltd., – All Rights Reserved.
Other images by Pairote Sitthikaew © Pairote Sitthikaew – All Rights Reserved.
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