The time flowers bloom in June in Thailand. Another good opportunity. I had a chance to chat with an artist,Nuttaphong Kunghae, who still intends to work on folk art, persisting and intending to convey what is in his mind. "Continuing traditional art," he said, "it's not about learning from institutions but paying attention to examples of folk art that are continuous and appear in everyday life: the art of the temple wall painting or performance art that still appear in everyday life are deeply rooted." Everything depends on the impressions of learning and trying to convey both the actual and the abstract that he calls 'Art Beyond Reality' (Surrealism) Nuttaphong Kunghae is immersed in a time of change. His intention: preserving in a deeply personal and uncompromising style of work. It is a short conversation between him and me. Young artists from the same institutes surrounded by the good weather in the South... I just want to follow the movement of artists from the south of Thailand when I have a chance. JY. Tell us about yourself, your family, your studies, and your interest in creating art in Thailand or abroad. NK. I was born into a Chinese family in Tha Phaya Subdistrict, Palian District of Trang Province. Most villagers have a rubber planting career as their main occupation. I have two siblings, an older brother and a younger brother. In my childhood is a child who liked to watch cartoons as much as children in general do but different from other kids. Instead of just looking for fun, I wanted to be able to draw cartoons as well. So, I liked to draw ever since then. I think it was just like a normal kid who likes to draw, the beginning of desire and inspiration. It's all from the cartoon, and so am I. I remember when I was in elementary school in drawing contests in my school, I always won prizes, only in my school because there were no skill competitions between schools at that time. I studied in the small temple school of the district. After finishing elementary school I was enrolled in the Trang Provincial School by being selected for my special talent in drawing. But there was a big turn in my life during that time: I became a very bad boy. It was the period in my life that I was away from art the most. To the point that I forgot what I loved and liked  to be unruly and addicted to friends, I lived my life to the fullest but I survived with eight years and three schools. On graduating high school, in fact, at the end of grade 9, I thought about going to study at the College of Fine Arts as well. But the fact that I was a bad child, my parents and relatives didn't want me to be too far away from their sight until I graduated from high school. I entered the Prince of Songkhla University Pattani Campus in the Faculty of Education, majoring in art; I entered the class without knowing any art before. And this is the place where I got to know a little bit of Art and this is where I slowly forged myself to fall in love with art. It was a time that opened up my artistic vision. I remember the 2nd Amata Art Award Foundation's contest on display at the Chao Fah Art Gallery; it was the starting point where I saw, for me, the first strange contemporary works. The work I saw and the teachers taught came from books. Most of them were works of national artists or famous professors at that time. It's not easy to see the real work, to mention more about my University. It is a place far from reality. In order to see good, strange works, you have to rely on the stage of the wandering contest. Another interest and passion of mine is Thai art. It comes from studying Thai art where the teacher trained us to copy the mural. So I started to get to know Folk Art by traveling to see the murals at Wat Ku Tao, Songkhla Province. And this is has always been deeply rooted in my artwork. JY. What is popular with art collectors in southern Thailand? Which artist do you admire? Maybe Thai or foreign artists. What job development will be the key variable that will allow you to develop your works? NK. In our southern region, in my feelings, I think of people who work to create art in any field, including painting, sculpture, literature, and dance. The southern part of our country can be clearly seen through the dramatic arts, whether it's Nang Talung or Manohra, a local culture that has been around for quite a long time. But when it comes to creative work, I think the southern region should be outstanding in terms of literature (many famous writers). But it's not a lot and it's not a tight-knit group like the North. In the South, there have been many large exhibitions, major tourist attractions. It's a government tourism campaign. It's a market event with mainly foreign customers. As for the artists who inspired me since I started studying art, I began to admire Surrealism. I admired Salvador Dali like his liquid watches. As a child, I liked watching cartoons. I came across a surreal work that stumbled upon Dalí's unique and perfect idea. So, it's like being corrupted with our hearts. The work that inspired me as a Thai artist and it would be an inspiration for all Thai children who love art: it must be the work of Ajarn Thawan Duchanee, National Artist . Later, I studied Thai murals while studying Thai art. I saw a program of mural paintings at Wat Phuttaprateep that is different from general wall painting, by Ajarn Chaleremchai Kositpipat, National Artist and Ajarn Panya Wijintanasarn, National Artist. I liked them very much and began to follow Panya's work. I think that a student who is Looking for his own way, then finding it, is something that is quite difficult, but it's a very fun story; find an identity and a way. I'm also a kid who has tried many things and many ways. No matter the style of Van Gogh, Picasso, or Daly, until I came to know Thai art from the subject of Thai art, the work of Teacher Pratueang Aimcharoen, National Artist. That's when I started to see… I think Thai art can tell a story well. We have to look at the overall picture before knowing that story. Just with that overall form, there are still small stories hidden. What is the thing that impresses me the most? Until I received advice from P' Boy (Sirichai Pummak) who was a senior (the best in my eyes) at PSU Pattani at that time... but now P'Boy Sirichai Pummak is a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts Prince of Songkhla University Pattani Campus. P'Boy introduced me to the folk art of Thai art. He advised me to try the works of Ajarn Prasong Lue Mueang and gave me a certificate of Phi Mod. Thanongsak Pakwan. It was an inspiration for me to come back and look at myself at that time. I think Folk Art is truly an innovation of local people's wisdom. As I was a rural boy, the stories that inspired me came from real folk stories. So, I have always adhered to this approach. JY. Please tell me about your intention to create your work, just Folk Art. NK. My artworks are Thai folk artworks, but we bring general Thai art principles to the work. We have to look at the overall picture of the work first. We will find out what it is and then look at the details of the story. My works try to bring Thai art on to a new level. I try to bring a new current story into the main form. As for the details of my work, I will take stories that I have encountered or heard that have impressed me. Turn it into a feeling and capture it to create, to represent the values with different symbols that I have come up with. That comes from the principles of human feelings, which are love, greed, anger, delusion, and nature around us. including the way of life beliefs and culture collecting folk tales. Principles of the teachings of the Buddha. Religion is included in the details. It communicates through personal forms, gestures, and objects that connect the stories of the details of the work together through the colors that impress me like the season of rubber leaves that has changed. As I am the son of a rubber farmer, I really like this season's colors. So, I bring this color to use in the work. The technique I use for most of the works is just a primer with thick white acrylic paint that is brushed into the texture. In the past, I used to use ancient Thai art and traditional methods, the primer with chalk mixed with glue. But as I'm a very disorganized person, I often encounter the problem of chalk cracks in the works. Well, P'Boy (Sirichai), again, was the person who recommended to me a new type of primer. My working process is the same as everyone else's. Sketch first and then bring it to expand. When expanding, start with several layers of thick acrylic white primer and rub with sandpaper to keep the texture simple. Then cut the lines. My work starts with sketching and then cutting lines first (I got the technique from Ayutthaya period murals). Lines are the heart of Thai art. Lines create a movement for shapes as well as feelings. After cutting the line, color it. I think the charm of my work lies in the form of lines that connect to many stories. Makes my work feel fun with moving lines connecting the whole work. As for the story and details of the work, you have to watch and interpret the symbols yourself. JY. Any other stories you would like to share withour readers around the world? NK. I would like to tell people to pay attention to Thai art. No matter what field, painting, sculpture, architecture, dance, including Thai literature. I think all these things are the roots of true Thai. It is the wisdom that our ancestors have icreated and developed for a long time. I don't want this wisdom to stop developing in our generation. Due to the modern era, people's ways have changed a lot... sometimes we may forget the roots of the Thai people, like a tree without roots. Growth is going to be difficult. Like a tall building without stilts, it cannot be tall. But if we deeply understand our cultural roots, the further development of those things is easily an innovation of wisdom. For foreigners, I would like them to know the value, goodness, and beauty in the identity of Thai art that we have been collecting for a long time.