Pirmpoon

"When I was 13, I tried to draw a portrait of a close friend but it turned out really bad. Before she moved to another school, she promised, 'If we met again, I'll model for your portrait.'

"Sixteen years later, we met again. I drew a portrait of her. We fell in love and dated for six months but then she disappeared. I found her married to another man; the portrait that I painted became her wedding gift.

"I decided to hide my sorrow in my work and use my sadness and loneliness to create unique paintings.

"My name is Pirmpoon Puongsuwan, but you can call me 'Woon wai' like y friends do. I was born in Chiang Mai in 1984.

"I've loved to paint since I was very young. I practiced drawing a lot and studied art in college, where I had the opportunity to learn from a professional art teacher. I then continued to study painting in the University School of Fine Arts, and graduated in 2007.

"Even then, I wanted to know more, so I studied with one of the great Thai artists. Then I worked in Thai painting with Roitawarabarn Baandhawalai and kept training as a painter until 2014.

"Now I'm a painter and I participate in many collective shows. My favorite techniques are drawing and oil painting.

"I was offered a position managing a community art space. This is the art gallery that opened my vision of contemporary art and I am also able to teach art to village people there.

"One day, I dream of holding solo exhibitions because I have many paintings I'd like to show. I believe NOVICA can help by exhibiting my art to people in other countries. I hope you like my work." The artist has exhibited his work throughout Thailand and has received a number of awards for his work.