Welcome to BKK UNZINE art magazine, home to unseen independent artists from around the world.
If you look below, we will be your guide to the theme of this issue Bangkok . You can stop and admire at how our artists look at this city which brought us together. Art represents reality better than anything. That’s exactly what our artists have done.
We also have a new feature (the table of content) and a new section (Artist spotlight) Enjoy the ride!
If you are an artist and you want to get featured, the next theme for the July issue #11 will be “Portraits”, you can submit your artwork at this link:Ă‚Â
Artists in this issue

Songwit



Ban Rak Sun



SketchbookBrownie



Marc Kuegle



Venky



Olya Shu



Menmopost



Chartlajam



Boris



Elizabeth



Giuliano



Andi



Myria



Jocelyn



Shen



Oley
Mothial Comic Page 1
My Friends
Watercolor paint and pen
What is your first thought about Bangkok? Hot and humid weather, som tum, pat thai, motorbike taxi, traffic jam, temples and palaces… When I first arrived in Bangkok, all these things came to my mind.
Now I am back in Korea after three years, the first thing in my mind about Bangkok is “My friends”. Even though we came from different countries, having different jobs, and different ages, we have one thing in common, enjoying exploration of hidden places in Bangkok together. Living in Thailand has been so much fun and full of beautiful memories thanks to these friends.
Do you want to suggest the theme for future issues?Ă‚Â
Civilization
This set of illustration was for the TV show called “Kondeunmeuang” which means people walk in the city. This episode was about how the government manages trees in Bangkok city. This is a problem because it’s not done in a sustainable way, not only in Bangkok but in public spaces in general.
The city that does not take care of the environment nor the people’s quality of life could not be called a developed city.
A Day at the Floating Market
This painting was inspired by the Floating market that I visited on my first visit to Bangkok. I particularly love the history of the floating markets because it goes far back before urban Bangkok was developed when the city was still a jungle. Back then, the only way to connect and trade goods were on the waterways. Nowadays the floating market is more a tourist attraction but it still carries the typical Thai flair of ancient trading. I captured the busy vendors on their boats, fully loaded with typical Thai fruits and vegetables as I find it very charming and exotic.
TUK TUK
Good Morning Bangkok
Colored Sumi Ink, Mineral Pigments
Bangkok is the place where my mom had spent her youth. So, although I have never been there, I grew up feeling Bangkok in my house, from photos, artworks, handcrafts, foods, TV drama, etc. In this painting, my imaginary character “Maro Dori” (noble bird from 1000 years ago) in Thai style enjoys the beautiful sunrise on banks of Chao Phraya River. I dream of going there someday. My favorite Thai food are Green Curry and Phat Thai.
Talad Plu


Talad Plu is the famous spot for Bkk foodies who crave delicious street food. I usually go there at noon to eat yummy braise beef soup at Gao Lao Neua Peui, and have dessert afterwards. My favorite shop is Gim Heng – the one on the right of the painting where Grab bikers are waiting to order. I strongly recommend trying Thai-style poached banana with coconut cream. I think it’s the best in the city!
Nong Ma Hachiko at Makkasan Station
Pen and ink, watercolour on natural colour paper
I have a soft spot for retro things and the trains and train stations in Bangkok are iconic and very retro. What is really interesting too, is to see the living that goes on in the vicinity of the train stations. Food stalls, dilapidated homes, kids and the soi dogs. In this painting, it looks like Hachiko is waiting for her owner who may be arriving on the train.
YAKS
Bkk Season
Watercolor on A3 paper
This May it’s been 3 years since I moved to Bangkok for 6 months (at least one thing is clear about my life – it rarely goes according to plan). Over these years Bangkok has treated me with hundreds of spectacular sunsets, and just as many breathtaking thunderstorms. Celebrating my Bkkversary with this painting.
Keep on dazzling us, City of Angels!
P.S: The painting is based on a true photo (truly amazing one) by Bernardo Miranda Pedrero.
Bangkok in the Sky
This is a matte painting based on a photography of Bangkok I shot from the plane before landing. I applied filters, removed the Chao Praya river and painted clouds and ground below with the graphic tablet to make it into a city in the sky. The original photograph I took has been used in a website about city construction planning regarding MRT.
The Beginning and the End at Rama VIII
Category : Aerial Photography – Camera : DJI Mavic Air – Method : 9 Photo – Equirectangular Panorama
This beautiful structure of Phra Rama VIII bridge or dearly known to me as Palaam-pet (with indian accent) is the first thing that impressed me as I started my four year long relationship with Bangkok and was also the last thing to see when I left the beloved city and so much in between . So it remains an icon in my memories of this place.
Memories of us
I have been going through major art block recently, and I was really struggling to make something that I was happy with. I wasn’t sure what I was going to draw or whether or not I should submit something I wasn’t proud of. I have tons of amazing memories of Thailand, and to be honest they were one of the best memories of my life. I wanted this piece to be really special and I took days to plan out what I wanted. I met a lot of amazing people, went to beautiful places, had some of the most delicious food in Thailand. Although the issue is about Bangkok, I spent most of my time outside the main city. I want to emphasize on one of the most precious memories of Thailand was to hangout with these three people who are near and dear to my heart. Memories of us going out, shopping and eating, especially to night markets. Although we are all in different parts of the world right now, I will cherish all our memories of us spending time together. I am actually happy how this piece turned out.
Bangkok Jam
Meet Our New Artists
Let’s hear from the new artists featured in this issue…
Can’t Bang Since 2020
Mixed media: pen drawing colored in Photoshop
Bangkok night life is known worldwide. I made this piece after I thought about the Beautiful girls in Patphong Soi, Nana Soi Cowboy and elsewhere who lost their jobs due to the COVID pandemic and had to go back to their hometowns mostly in the northeastern and northern part of Thailand.
My inspiration is from 2012 on my way to university I walked through Soi Cowboy and saw two strippers having their local breakfast (Somtam) in front of the bar with their uniform on, gold bikini with high boots. In this picture you’ll see the same kind of the outfit but I made her skin look unhealthy and pale to represent that they are not in their element or in a good situation. The swag bag on the right side is cheap and strong enough for them to carry a lot of stuff back home.
Baby Submissions


Digital: Clip Studio Paint
I wanted to make fun of ourselves first before anyone else does. Thankfully no one submitted any babies. I always pencil these strips on paper because it just feels more natural to me and then I bring it to Clip studio paint to ink and color digitally. Please go follow my Instagram page for more comic strips.
Artist Spotlight
Artist spotlight is our new section where we interview artists to get insight on their craft.
For our first interview we asked Mr. Songwit 5 questions. (Translated from Thai by Chatlada)


I was a kid who drew all the time, my schoolmates knew me as such. At the beginning I drew what I saw in comic books and developed my own characters and stories. My friends loved to read my comics and that inspired me to put them in my stories too. Thinking about it again, it wasn’t only the drawing skill but the skill of storytelling.
What do you do when you are not motivated to create?
Good question, during my first three years that I started drawing I’d say this wouldn’t be my problem and even wasn’t able to understand why people have this motivation problem as they are following their dream but after some years i learnt that dream is also “work”. There’re so many types of problems when it comes to work and one of them is the “lack of motivation” and I thought the fire of my creativity was going down. After staying like that for years I started to do some activities that I don’t have to think about much such as riding a bicycle around my village and talking with artist friends. Then I found out that everyone has the same problem. Now I understand that it’s normal, just don’t focus on it too much, it will pass.
Do you think artists have a responsibility towards society?
It’s very important how our work affects people. There are ways to show our responsibility as artists to the society, reflect on the problems, use humor to relax stress or cheer people up. Either way our work is important.
What is your take on algorithms dictating the content?
Indeed one of the big problems of artists! The way people judge the artwork by the number of views or likes makes everything look the same. I personally create the work the way I like even if it doesn’t match the trend which is a problem but I’ll just keep doing it this way haha.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Sometimes it’s money and sometimes it’s the happiness and joy of the readers, the journey that I created for the readers sharing my imagination. It’s a great feeling. It boots up my passion for the hard work I’m doing.
Our Upcoming Events


We would like to let you guys know about our weekly drawing hangouts where we get together ONLINE and draw together every Sunday afternoon (Thailand time GMT+7).


If you are not on Meetup, you can join us on our Facebook page under the Events section.
Artists in this issue



Songwit



Ban Rak Sun



SketchbookBrownie



Marc Kuegle



Venky



Olya Shu



Menmopost



Chartlajam



Boris



Elizabeth



Giuliano



Andi



Myria



Jocelyn



Shen


