While Songkran is celebrated all over the country, most of the fun can be found in Bangkok, where the liveliest and splashiest events take place. And if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate, be sure to join in the fun Siam Discovery’s “The Summer Exploratorium – Discovery Playground.”
This year, part of the shopping center will be transformed into a pop-up street basketball court that will host an all-star 3x3 basketball tournament by Hoops Station. To make it more special, the basketball court will feature the art of world-famous South Korean street artist JAY FLOW, who also flew in to do the live painting.
An engineering graduate, JAY FLOW has turned his passion for drawing into a career as an artist. He may wear many hats, from writer, to illustrator, to art director, to designer, but his obsession lies in graffiti art. He has been collaborating with global world-class brands such as Hermes and Nike to create art that’s displayed in every corner of the globe. Now in Bangkok for his collaboration with Siam Discovery, he reveals more about what inspires him and the appeal of creating graffiti.
How did your love affair with graffiti art begin?
JAY FLOW: Drawing has been my ultimate dream since I was a child. I loved it so much that I ignored other hobbies, making my mother upset. I love graffiti because I like the freedom of it. There are no rules or limitations; everything is possible. When hip-hop culture was getting popular in Korea, I saw artists spraying on walls and I knew that was what I wanted. That was the beginning of my journey.
How do you define your art? And how has it developed over the years?
JAY FLOW: I love to do character drawing. I have been doing graffiti for more than 20 years, both on walls and on the computer. In the past, my works were hardcore and saturated with colors. There were lots of lines and colors involved. But my style has changed through time. My work has become more subtle, with less lines and colors. Now, I love to draw in black and white, using lines to tell stories instead of colors.
Can you share your most memorable projects so far?
JAY FLOW: My most memorable one is a collaboration with Hermes for their exhibition in Korea. The exhibition was divided into nine themes for nine rooms, and they invited nine groups of artists to create art that reflected the “heritage” of the brand. I was over the moon to be part of this and had a chance to meet the Hermes people. Another memorable project was when I had the chance to create the sponsor logo of Korean brand Bibigo for the NBA basketball team Los Angeles Lakers.
Can you tell us more about this project at Siam Discovery The Exploratorium?
JAY FLOW: The main themes are “street basketball” and Songkran. For the Songkran part, I needed to do a lot of research. Last year, I was in Bangkok during Songkran to see how Thais celebrate this festival. At first, I had to admit that I was shocked to see people firing water guns like crazy, but it was really fun! In Korea, we have something similar in summer called “Water Bomb” and I heard that it is inspired by the water festival in this region. I took lots of videos and photos, and they came in handy for this project. I also put illustrations in it. I’m also a huge fan of street basketball so I feel very happy to be part of this project. I may not be a great player, but I love it!
Do you have a special concept for this project?
JAY FLOW: My work is centered around a set of characters I call “Neighborhood.” For me, the term “neighborhood” doesn’t only mean the surrounding hoods, it also means the people that I work with, people I grew up with, people who I interact with and friends who always support me. When I do a live painting, there will be a friend who will help record that. That is what my neighborhood is. So my neighborhood is not a place, but rather the people. They are integrated into my “Neighborhood” series. And since this project is about Songkran, they become more Thai and more fun with water guns!
In your opinion, what is the role of street art in urban space?
JAY FLOW: I think street art can make people happier. For example, when we are in love and we see art, we might feel a lot more happy. Or street art might incite your interest in other kinds of art! You may love or not love an artwork, but at least you feel something. Street art in a public space is something to share. When someone buys a painting and hangs it at home, it’s his or her painting. But if that same painting is in a public space, it belongs to everyone, and people will come interact with it and each other. It unites people.