Please tell us about yourself. I am a Thai-born Australian artist, currently residing and creating in Naarm/Melbourne on the ancestral lands of the Bunurong people, belonging to the Kulin Nation. I've been fortunate to call this incredible country my home for nearly 30 years. I share my life with two brilliant Burmese cats who love to go for walks and sometimes play fetch.
Your ceramics are full of colour, detail and joy. What inspires them? I make works in series. Each series has a different theme and ideas behind it. Sometimes it is about my cats (well... my works are often about my cats), gardening, love, and sometimes about the change of culture or spiritual meaning. I like making work that is accessible, uplifting and beautiful.
How does your Thai heritage influence your art? Thai culture is in my blood, so no matter what I do it will just come out. Sometimes, I try to make art that isn't too influenced by my cultural heritage, but those gold colours and detailed surface decorations still find their way in.
But it's not just Thai culture that shows up in my work. Australian culture and its fun, laid-back vibe also plays a role. I get inspired by many colourful characters | meet while exploring Melbourne city, especially when I'm on the hunt for the best ice-cream and donut shops in town. These experiences blend together in my art, making it a unique reflection of who I am.
What is your project Happy Australian about? It's about capturing the portraits and the identity of happy Australians! Happy Australian is a series of 10 ceramic portraits inspired by selected submissions from people who designed their most 'Australian Eleganza Extravaganza outfit' to wear during the happiest event of their life. The stories I received were reallv deep and personal.
I incorporated elements into the portraits based on their design and story, but also included my own interpretation, imagination and story into the works. Happy Australian was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery as part of Portrait23: Identity - a major exhibition celebrating the gallery's third decade.
What kinds of tools do you use to create your works? Mostly, rely on my hands to craft my art, but occasionally, I experiment with toothpicks, satay sticks and cotton buds, depending on what I'm creating. Once, I even gave cat toys a try to achieve a distinct imprint on clay, but my cats didn't approve, so I had to abandon that idea. Among all the tools, my absolute favourite is a potter's knife I got from Korea. It's incredibly sharp and makes the process of cutting clay a joy.
Your ceramics often explore the concept of wellness, but you also engage with wellness in your daily life. Why is that important to you? I think wellness is important to everyone. I enjoy my life so much, so I make it a priority to take care of myself, ensuring that I live a long and fulfilling life. I meditate for 40 minutes almost every morning. It helps me focus and start the day on a positive note. Usually, one of my cats will climb on my lap and sit with me throughout the period, making it a beautiful bonding experience.
What's your advice for artists who are struggling to look after their wellbeing? Get a cat. Or better yet, get two cats! Embarking on a social media detox can be an excellent way to kickstart your journey to improved wellbeing. While I enjoy social media, I've learnt to use it with intention and purpose, rather than mindlessly scrolling through it as I've done for the past decade. Reading is also a good way to look after your wellbeing. And if you don't fancy any of the above, try a 20-minute walk outside without your phone.
Where can we see more of your work? For the best experience, explore my website, vipoo.com. If you're interested in behind-the-scenes content and more of my artwork, follow my Instagram account @VipooArt. I will have a maior exhibition in Banakok in December at SAC Gallery. If you are in town, please drop by.
