BIOGRAPHY

Surasak Sonsena was born on January 13, 1987 in Thailand. He is currently a lecturer at the Department of Visual Arts and Communication Design. Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts Khon Kaen University. graduated with a bachelor of arts degree 2nd class honors from Chiang Mai University Master of Arts in Visual Arts (Printmaking) from Silpakorn University and a doctorate degree in culture, fine arts and design from Khon Kaen University .His works have been exhibited both in the country and abroad such as Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, India, Japan, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria.
Surasak Sornsena is a print artist whose specialization is in woodcut relief printing. Deliberately he prints without the printing press, but uses hand-made tools to apply pressure on a matrix and paper. For example, he uses a piece of heavy iron bar with round caster wheels mounted underneath as a press. The chosen materials of the matrices are usually hard woods such as teak whose grains are clearly visible on the paper when printed. In terms of content, he explores the subjects that remind him of his hometown in Isan, the northeastern region of Thailand. For example, he created a series about large trees in the urban landscape showing their distinct features as if they were portraits of individuals. Drawing inspiration from objects that made him nostalgic, Surasak also explores the Isan temple murals also called “Hoop Tam,” animals and fauna of the rural landscape, buddhist iconographies, and personal references such as the plans of the plots of land he inherited from his ancestors. Sornsena’s use of colors are muted earth tones which connect to nature, the unornamented beauty of the countryside, and nostalgia. Sornsena’s has been featured in many solo and group exhibitions. He also received many recognitions and awards such as Bronze Medal in The 67th National Exhibition of Art, 2022; Silver Medal The National Exhibition of Art, 2023; The First Prize in The 35th PTT Thai Contemporary Art Competition, 2020.

STATEMENT

Surasak Sornsena has played a role in Thai printmaking, both as a lecturer at Khon Kaen University and as an artist who has been continuously working in printmaking. He graduated with a second-class honors degree in Graphic Arts from Chiang Mai University with a thesis in Mezzotint technique. He received a master’s degree in Visual Arts from Silpakorn University with a thesis in Woodcut technique in a realistic style, which has brought the traditional aspect of the technique to use in an interesting way. and graduated with a doctorate in creative arts from Khon Kaen University. It is an art work that has continuously developed his expertise in woodcut techniques. His works are large in size, with meticulous detail in weight and details on wooden blocks that are real wood panels. Then he used the Rubbing (hand printing) printing method from tools that he invented and tested himself. His early works told of the beauty of nature, the environment, and the forest in a peaceful atmosphere, creating awareness and concentration for himself, which is the basic philosophy of Buddhism. After that, his works were continuously developed in terms of both concept and form. Techniques, methods, and concepts still maintain the Buddhist philosophy that is conveyed through the shapes of nature, the environment, and symbols of art and culture of Thailand in a simple way, expressing both realism and surrealism. He has combined various techniques of printmaking into his artwork, such as Linocut, Paper block, Stamping, and applying gold leaf to the actual piece of work, which is considered a form of expression that shows the value and cultural prosperity of Thai art. His works are more complex and more difficult to construct than before, but with the artist’s expertise, he is able to convey the beauty in his works in an astonishing way.

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