He’s known for being a fashion geek at the bleeding edge of hip with his design work and parties for sweet dudes. Now Pongsuang “Note” Kunprasop, El Presidente de Dudesweet himself, has sort of surprised everyone by pouring out his most guarded emotions for everyone to see. Note’s processed those feelings by hanging on walls the very regrets and guilt he’s been hanging onto. Yet true to form, he chose album covers to represent the most poignant scenes from his life.
To learn more about Note the Artist and why he’s shining a public light on his difficult childhood, we visited his art-memorial exhibition “Ungrateful Records” on Saturday and sat down with him at WTF Gallery.
CB: Tell us about the inspiration for your exhibition “Ungrateful Records.”
PK: It started from myself, who happened to not be happy as usual after my mom passed away; I didn’t want to go hang out anymore and became sensitive with little things. So I thought it’s time to ponder the past and purge some tensions. Three years ago, my mother died of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE.) When she was in a coma, I was told by the doctor that her central nervous system had became unresponsive; however, her hearing was the last sense remained, and I was advised to keep talking to her. Sounds therefore are regarded symbolically as the final memories between us.
This is how I came up with “Ungrateful Records.”
The installation was set up as a record store featuring my own visual records regarding my music, friends and family.
CB: Since the exhibition is emotionally inspired and created, did you have any obstacles and how did you cope with them?
PK: Yes. Many works were rejected. I tried way too hard on some since I was trying to make them look cool. Some were even too abstract and unable to communicate with people.
Moreover, my eyesight is getting worse. I found it was uncomfortable filling in the little details to the small-scale pieces. So for my next project I’ll draw in large scale!
CB: You’ve said that your relationship with your late mother was the inspiration for this exhibition. What can you tell us about her?
PK: My mom was a nightclub singer. She fell in love with my dad who was a guitarist in the same band. When he found out that she was pregnant, my dad freaked out and ran away.
Being a single mom at that time was not a common thing. My mom was given a hard time by others’ prejudices and criticism. However, she kept raising me.
Sadly, we weren’t that close as a son and single mom were supposed to be. She started a new relationship, and I and my stepfather didn’t get along so well.
One of the clearest memories of me and mom is when she would go out to a party. My main duty was drying her hair, which was a boring job. But I have to admit that it was the best time we spent talking to each other.
After mom was gone, I went through her stuff and found out that she was a big fan of everything I did. She had kept everything including little things like postcards and school admissions report.
CB: Which of these works is your favorite? Why?
PK: My favorites are, of course, the ones reminding me of good old times.
CB: Were any of these emotionally difficult for you to create?
PK: Yes. The painting of mom dying was the most difficult one to create. It haunted me from time to time and gave me a sad feeling. This work took me a very long time; every 10 minutes, I had to stop.
CB: What is the most priceless lesson you’ve learned about relationship after your mom passed away?
PK: I should have taken care of her better when we’re together. She always wanted to go to the beach, and I never had a chance to bring her there. I always answered with an annoyed response: “Later, mom.” On the last day of her life, I begged her to wake up. “I’m not fooling you this time. We’re going to the beach.”
CB: Any songs remind of your mother? Tell me about the story.
PK: That’d be The Carpenter’s “Top of the World.” My mother loved singing this song, and I had grown up with it. It is even the first English song I could sing along to.
CB: If your mom was here to see the exhibition, what would she say about it?
PK: I believe she’d be glad because she is now publicly known (laughs). Well, actually I don’t know. This exhibition wouldn’t have existed if she did not pass away.
CB: How do you expect people to react to this?
PK: Well, I didn’t expect anything. In a selfish way, I just want to express my inner self and my love to those who have walked into my life.
“Ungrateful Records” is showing now through July 30 at WTF Gallery.
FIND IT:
WTF Cafe and Gallery, Soi Sukhumvit 51
Today – July 30
BTS Thong Lo
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