GET TO KNOW TANYA PHATTIYAKUL
Q: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST?
A: I went to film school where I spent most of my time falling in love with photography. Shortly after graduation, I found myself lost and uninspired. I stopped producing work and immersed myself in exploring my spirituality and identity. Years later, while reviving my creative spirit, I was craving an intimate and tactile outlet and gravitated towards painting materials. It felt scary, liberating and right. Being self-taught in drawing and painting has been instrumental in helping me navigate my process. It elevates my self-trust and empowers me to define what failure means. Most importantly, it fulfills my appreciation for living in the sweet spot between instincts and the unknown .
Q: CAN YOU ELABORATE ON HOW SPIRITUALITY CONNECTS TO YOUR WORKS OF ART?
A: Existence is intense. I trim external noise in an effort to hear myself. My Buddhist upbringing inspires me to navigate life by quieting my mind. A quiet mind nurtures awareness, ridding oneself from toxic mental states and giving way to wisdom, compassion and inner freedom. This introspection is the catalyst for why I create. My art practice is reactive, impulsive and ritualistic. It is a dialogue of self-examination akin to journal entries. Repetition within each body of work lures out internal discourse. Through this process, an idea moves from my conscious to my unconscious helping me grow and expand as an individual. Each series begins and ends as a source for personal contemplation and reflection.
Q: WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM?
A: I am drawn to the tension between the confines of our thoughts and the vastness of our minds. I am inspired by the relationship between self-discovery and nature. I am inspired by impermanence.