The Songkran celebrations at Siam Paragon take on a different tweak this year as the world-class shopping destination injects an international spin on the traditional Thai water-splashing festival by bringing in the works of globally-acclaimed British pop artist, Philip Colbert.
Colbert, who is known for creating quirky sculptures featuring a cartoon lobster alter ego, has collaborated with Siam Paragon on Lobster Wonderland, an exhibition that sees these playful crustacean characters taking over Siam Paragon Ultrasonic Water Festival 2024 at outdoor space Parc Paragon. The pop artist has reimagined his lobster persona especially for Thailand, imbibing his sculptures with the lively spirit of Songkran and iconic Thai cultural elements. Highlights include a sculpture of a lobster toting a big water pistol while riding a giant elephant and an inflatable lobster disguised as an octopus.
Often referred to as the “godson of Andy Warhol”, Colbert has built a name around collaborations with leading brands such as Rolex, Montblanc, Christian Louboutin and Comme des Garçon. His masterful hyper pop works, which include paintings, sculptures, animations, NFTs and art toys, cause a sensation wherever they’re exhibited and have allowed Colbert to exercise complete freedom to unleash his unique creativity. “I became an artist when I became a lobster,” he once said.
He tells us more about his cartoon alter ego and why the lobster has earned his love.
What inspires your lobster persona?
Colbert: My lobster alter ego is really inspired by symbolism in art history. Since antiquity, lobsters have been perceived as a symbol of both life and death. They have also symbolized wealth and luxury, as seen in the Dutch still-life paintings of the 17th century. The Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí was actually inspired by lobsters. For me, lobsters seem like an alien creature from another planet and that’s what I find very inspiring. It feels like I’m diving deep into the complexity of the sea. The more I become a lobster, the more I start to know more about this creature. I constantly represent the spirit of a lobster and its relationship with humans through many art forms. And I think I have created more lobster art than anyone else in the world.
What is the main concept behind your creations for Lobster Wonderland at Siam Paragon?
Colbert: Lobster Wonderland is inspired by the Songkran festival itself. Actually, I often create lobsters sitting on a horse to reimagine historical paintings of war horses. For this collaboration, I came up with the idea of making a figure of a lobster riding an elephant, with a water gun in its hand. I want it to be a grand sculpture that reinterprets the Renaissance style of a heroic battle scene, but with a cartoonishly light-hearted concept and playful colors. As an artist, I really love the spirit of accessibility and I want to create art that connects with people of all ages and from every walk of life. Art is for everyone and I want them to immerse themselves in my fun-filled and colorful creations, and get a feeling of empowerment.
Another highlight of this event is an inflatable installation of a lobster disguised as an octopus. Can you tell us more about this creation?
Colbert: The lobster-octopus relationship is very interesting to me. An ancient mosaic from Pompeii portrays the circle of life of a lobster, an octopus and also a moray eel, and describes the predator-prey interaction between them. So, these two creatures have been enemies since antiquity and they are always used to represent a yin and yang concept. They are iconic characters in my works so I wanted to recreate their relationship for this event as well.
Your lobster persona has been encapsulated in many art forms, from paintings to NFTs. Are there any other mediums that you want to explore with your beloved character?
Colbert: Actually, I did some conceptual stuff with music a long time ago.To make your art more special, you have to challenge yourself and discover different mediums to communicate with your audience in a new and fresh language. I recently created an animated band, the Rock Lobsters to perform in my cartoon series, The Lobstars, which shares the same title with my NFT project. I’m also currently working on comic books. The series centers around the real story of myself as an artist and a lobster, with elements of science fiction. In the future, I will continue to explore the art of storytelling through my comic books and animation.
What are your thoughts on Thailand’s art scene?
Colbert: My first trip to Thailand is very short—I’ll be here for only three days. I basically haven’t had a chance to properly explore its art scene. But I’m very inspired by what I’ve seen already. Once I arrived in Thailand, I was welcomed by the beautiful red sun. Its color was similar to my lobster, showing a good sign of my first trip in Thailand. Also, the city's colorfulness and the good energy from the many nice and friendly people that I met during this trip is amazing and really connects with my work.
Do you have anything to say to younger artists who are working hard to explore their own artistic identity?
Colbert: I studied philosophy and I didn’t go to art school. I didn’t follow a traditional route to success but I just created it in my own way. That means I have to constantly push myself forward, think differently and transcend all the limits and challenges to stand out. Success takes time and requires hard work. You will always experience ups and downs throughout your career. Be prepared and just learn from your mistakes. Ultimately, the most important thing is to always go out of your comfort zone. It’s good for your career as an artist.
In addition to the vibrant installations by Colbert, Siam Paragon is also hosting a lot of activities, ranging from entertainment to cultural experiences, to maximize the Songkran celebration. Visitors can enjoy concerts featuring a full lineup of over 100 artists, bathe Buddha images, pay respects to revered Buddha images from the National Museum Bangkok, witness demonstrations of Thai herbal remedies, and dance to performances of Northeastern Thai 'Morlam' style music, and more. Open every day from now until April 16