Special Exhibitions

Pic…torial

Artist: Somlak Maneemai
Selected by: Special project’s BACC pop⋅up
Principal Supporter: Seacon Development Co., Ltd.
Media Partner: GroundControl, Bangkok Art City
Opening ceremony: 10 May 2025Additional activities: Art corner from 17 May – 1 June 2025

Learning through creation is an integral part of the artistic journey of Somrak Maneemai. His diverse body of work and techniques highlight his creative process, sources of inspiration, and his connection with the world around him. These elements converge into stories rich with humour, conveyed through striking brushstrokes, satire, and parody—often realised through carefully selected found objects. Maneemai combines experience with experimentation, breaking down rigid notions of “form” to embody a continual process of learning through art.

The exhibition “Pic-torial” (Baep…Rian) presents a wide range of artistic techniques and formats, woven together through the 44 Thai consonants. This solo exhibition reflects the artist’s journey of lifelong learning, explored through the imagery of language and the language of imagery, as envisioned by Somrak Maneemai. When visuals become part of language, they not only communicate internal narratives but also convey meaning in ways akin to spoken or written language. Through a variety of materials and techniques, the artist seeks to dismantle language barriers using visuals that spark imagination, humour, critique, and observation of the world around him. His works become a kind of visual diary—an exploration of learning and understanding that extends far beyond the confines of the traditional Thai textbook.

About Artist
Somrak Maneemai (Yen) was born and raised in a small village in Krabi, southern Thailand, in a family of rubber farmers. At the age of 16, he left home to pursue his studies in art at Nakorn Si Thammarat, and later at Silpakorn University in Bangkok, where he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting in 1999 and 2004, respectively.

Following the death of his mother, Maneemai found himself revisiting his childhood memories and began exploring the concept of cloud gazing. Over time, this exploration led to the development of a new artistic style, one that continues to evolve. He shifted away from his earlier realist approach, embracing a freer, more abstract form of expression.

In 2010, Maneemai co-founded the Phuket Art Village. Shortly thereafter, he relocated to Australia with his family, where he continued to exhibit his work and was represented by the Salamanca Gallery. He returned to Thailand in 2017 and resumed his practice at the Phuket Art Village, where he is currently based. Currently, he has started to take an interest in and incorporate waste materials, especially marine debris, into his artistic creations.

Maneemai’s works have been displayed in galleries and museums in both Thailand and Australia. His art is represented in numerous public and private collections.