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[title]Bangkok’s art scene is buzzing with character-driven exhibitions. In a world that’s already chaotic, perhaps it’s no surprise that we’re drawn to art that offers an immediate, joyful connection.
At first glance, Eternal, the new show by Japanese duo MOTAS at Curu Gallery, seems to fit this trend. Its walls are covered in a colourful utopia of whimsical animals and a curious, finger-shaped protagonist named Bleye.
But this silent world is more than just cute. It’s a deeply personal vision of harmony, inspired by one of the artists' upbringings with hearing-impaired parents. I sat down with the duo, Boya and Tomo, to find out what’s behind their peaceful universe and why they chose Bangkok to introduce a brand-new character.
Where two minds create as one
Before heading to the exhibition to interview the artists, I honestly had no idea who MOTAS were. All I knew was that they’re a Japanese artist duo whose work draws inspiration from everything from tattoo art and anime to punk iconography and American sign painting. I pictured two hip guys teaming up to create together.
But when I arrived and finally met them, I learned that MOTAS is actually a loving couple who have been creating side-by-side since 2012. Boya is a former tattoo artist, while Tomo once worked in stop-motion film. United by their shared love of drawing, they built their creative world together.
Since they couldn’t speak English, a translator joined us for the interview. Despite the language gap, their warmth and creative energy spoke louder than words.
Once I learned that they’ve been working together for over a decade, I couldn’t help but ask about their creative process and whether working so closely ever leads to disagreements.
‘Tomo usually starts by coming up with the idea. Then Boya sketches out the concept and after that, Tomo paints everything. So the process always begins with Tomo and flows from there.’
When asked if they ever argue about creative decisions, Tomo laughed and shook her head. ‘No, not really.’ came the reply. ‘We talk through everything from the beginning, so disagreements almost never happen. We respect each other’s ideas. That’s why there’s no problem.’
Bleye and utopian world
Before we get to the exhibition and the cat, one thing that immediately stands out in their work is a recurring figure that’s hard to miss. A bent middle finger, to be exact. That’s Bleye, the main character in their universe. With no mouth and an oddly human shape, it was, as the artists describe, ‘simply born that way’.
But the story behind Bleye runs deeper than its playful form. The character was inspired by Boya’s own upbringing with hearing-impaired parents. At home, communication was built through sign language, hands moving fluently where words might have been. Outside that space, however, came the weight of people’s assumptions and stares. Bleye became a quiet reflection of that world, a symbol of how easily appearance can lead to misunderstanding.
‘That’s why Bleye has fingers, even though it doesn’t have a mouth,’ Boya explains. ‘When I was young, people would sometimes make assumptions about my parents because they couldn’t speak or hear. So I wanted to create something that shows, even if we’re all different, we can still live peacefully together.’
That message flows through every brushstroke of MOTAS’s work. What looks at first like a colourful animal-filled dreamscape is actually a reflection of their ideal world – one where everyone belongs, no matter how different they are. ‘The world we draw is like a utopia. It’s peaceful, full of kindness, with everyone helping and supporting each other. That’s how we wish real life could be.’
In Bleye’s universe, animals such as birds, dogs and bears aren’t just cute background characters. They’re friends, part of a shared world where differences disappear and connection reigns. ‘It’s an extension of Bleye’s world. Each animal adds to that idea of living together.’
That same spirit inspired their latest Bangkok exhibition, Eternal, a show that ties their utopian vision to something deeply human – family. ‘We were inspired by how connected Thai families are,’ they explain. ‘It’s not just one household. It feels like everyone belongs to everyone. That closeness really resonated with us.’
So, Eternal became their way of celebrating togetherness, a reminder that harmony doesn’t have to be imaginary. ‘Every character in our world is connected,’ they say. ‘They live together peacefully and we want that feeling to last forever. That’s why it’s called Eternal.’
A new feline friend joins the MOTAS universe
What makes this exhibition extra special is the arrival of a new feline character. When asked why Bangkok was the place to introduce it, the artists had a simple answer: ‘Because you can see cats everywhere.’
The cat represents the diversity of human nature – cool, a little distant and not always easy to read, yet somehow able to get along with everyone. ‘The Cat sometimes disappears. It can survive alone, but sometimes it comes back to hang out peacefully with other friends. You can find it in some of the works – suddenly showing up, wandering around or just being there quietly. And somehow, everyone loves it.’
In that way, the cat becomes an icon of diversity – free, unpredictable but always welcome. It’s a mirror of how we move through the world, sometimes together, sometimes apart, yet always connected.
And that’s exactly why Bangkok felt like the right place to introduce the new character. The city embraces diversity like few others, especially within its LGBTQ+ community. ‘We wanted Thai audiences to feel that Bleye and the cat represent how everyone is connected. No matter who you are, where you come from or what you look like, there’s always a way to live together peacefully.’
Finding inspiration in Bangkok
Surprisingly, this was Tomo’s first time in Bangkok. ‘I really don’t like flying,’ she admits. Though she didn’t know much about Thailand beyond her love for Thai food, the moment she landed, she felt something spark.
She sees Bangkok as a city bursting with warmth and colour. ‘It feels peaceful but full of life. So this time, I wanted to use more colourful tones, the kind of warm colours I got inspired by here.’
When not working on the exhibition, Tomo made sure to see the city for herself. She spent the morning wandering around Wat Pho, admiring temples and soaking up the rhythm of daily life. ‘I really enjoy walking through the streets here. There’s so much art to see – street murals, small galleries and every corner has a new view.’
For Boya, however, the capital wasn’t new but remained deeply inspiring. Before working together as MOTAS, he was a tattoo artist fascinated by Buddhist sculpture. ‘I was inspired by how Thai artists sculpt everything by hand,’ he shared.
While you won’t find tattoos in MOTAS’s current works, you might notice echoes of another art form: stop-motion film. That influence comes from Tomo’s earlier career in animation. ‘I worked at a stop-motion company before. That’s why our paintings have that layered, frame-by-frame feeling like motion frozen in time.’
If you look closely, you’ll spot details of Bangkok embedded within their dreamlike world including a bright orange bus, the elegant curve of Rama VIII Bridge, even a floating lotus. Subtle hints of the city that inspired it all.
When asked what they hoped Thai audiences would take away from Eternal, the answer was simple yet profound.
‘For us, it doesn’t matter what country you’re from. The message is always the same – respect and understand each other’s diversity. But this time, we added motifs from Bangkok because this place inspired us deeply. So no matter where you’re from, you can feel connected to the artwork, but there’s still a little piece of Bangkok in it.’
And when asked what Bleye would say to the world if it could speak?
‘Nothing,’ they smiled. ‘Bleye doesn’t need to say anything. It’s just living in its own world peacefully.’