Interview with Bryce Watanasoponwong
Bryce Watanasoponwong is a Thai-Australian photographer who makes evocative photography of encounters within our global cities. He has a highly experimental process involving both digital and analogue techniques, which pushes elements of his work into intriguing visual abstraction.
As his career progresses, he is committed to producing works that evoke emotion and make a personal impact. By becoming more involved in how photography is perceived, he strives to cultivate a shift towards wellness, through the lens of his camera and onto those who view his artworks.
Incorporating a range of different mediums into his work has helped him to gain a new and expanded perspective on his photography and the world in general. His passion for exploring diverse cultures around the world brings a unique frame of reference to his work. The process of self-discovery and the pursuit of the truth is imperative to his identity as an artist.
Can you pinpoint the moment you decided you wanted to become an artist?
It still catches me off guard when people describe me as an artist because I initially took a very different path in life. I studied in universities in Thailand and Australia and graduated in accounting, information technology, and business administration. During my corporate life as an analyst, I would colour spreadsheets to make them look beautiful. I felt compelled to make sure that my reports looked great with my chosen colours. But despite this highly visual side of me, it took some pivotal life changes to open up to exploring my interest in photography. When the global financial crisis hit In 2010, I was forced out of my job. A traumatic breakup shortly after left me reeling. Then, in one of life's strange twists, an unassuming trip to Taiwan turned a terrible year on its head. I bought my first camera on a whim and on the bustling streets of Taiwan I discovered this unknown side to myself. What began as a distraction from my problems became the seeds of my future career. As I explored my craft, I found I had a keen eye for aesthetics and gradually began to manifest my creative spirit.
Where is your studio and where are you from?
I was born and raised in Thailand but spent nearly two decades in Sydney, Australia. After my life in Australia was turned upside down, the need for sea change saw me return home. That’s where my studio is now, but my practice has changed considerably through time. Before the pandemic, my photographs were taken moving through the world; exploring entire cities on foot from dawn to dusk, capturing life and obscure scenes as they appeared.
With the government restrictions, my practice changed from public to private, with most of my work taking place within the walls of my apartment compound. I live in a two-bedroom apartment in the middle of Bangkok, with a balcony overlooking the Chaophraya River. I quickly repurposed the guest bedroom into a workspace where I now spend hours and hours experimenting with photography techniques. Having a space is essential to creating. Not necessarily ample space. Not necessarily physical space — it can also be mental. For me, to make space is to commit to my work.
Tell us a little about your artistic background. What were your first influences to be creative and become a serious artist?
I was blessed to receive my first major photography role working with a close friend, Michael Zanetti. Already established in his career, Michael was an award-winning wedding photographer based in Sydney. Working alongside him, I had the first taste of my dream career. But, on my return to Thailand, reality began to set in as I realised my main opportunities at that time lay in real estate and hospitality. My dream would have to wait a little longer.
Always maintaining my creative mindset, I soon realised my passion needed to be fully explored for me to feel truly fulfilled. Armed with my love of life, bright eyes, and a wide lens, I pursued my love of photography with the raw materials of light and time.
Rediscovering my passion for street photography also allowed me to rediscover myself in the process. As an observer, I find my focus is drawn to the obscure elements of a scene that bring it to life. Pinpointing these elements in a photo transcends the meaning of every scene I capture, adding layers of depth beyond surface-level meaning in the transactions of daily life. Approaching street photography in this way opened up a whole new world to me, giving me a trajectory for growth far beyond my expectations.
During this deep dive into street photography, I began to take an interest in abstract art photography. So, I shifted the focus of my lens from the literal to the conceptual. As I moved through the streets with my camera, I aimed my lens at fleeting moments of beauty, quirkiness, mystery, and humour; deep, saturated and vibrant colour; natural and neon light; shadows, interesting patterns, and textures. I found that focusing on the abstract elements of these images appealed to me. To look at a picture and not fully understand what you are looking at opens the mind to new possibilities and ways of seeing things.
Although I had solidified my identity in photography, I did not want to limit myself to one medium of expression. So, I continued experimenting with different ideas and techniques, which led me to my first exhibition at ILFORD Galerie Bangkok in February 2019. Soon after my exhibit debut, I made the first US sale of my work. I chose to donate the proceeds to the Association Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE), a charity devoted to empowering the homeless and improving communities.
As my photography career advances, I continue to work with the mission of evoking emotion and making a personal impact. I hope others will benefit from the story behind each project. Becoming more involved in how art is perceived, I strive to cultivate a shift towards wellness.
Can you tell us what you have going on right now?
There’s a quote from an author, Lisa Unger, that best sums up my current feeling towards life… “Once you’ve started down that road to self-discovery, no matter how treacherous the path before you, you can’t turn back. The universe doesn’t allow it” Although I am close to middle age, many things still await my discovery. I can achieve them through life experiences and continuous learning. Continuous learning not only contributes to success but also leads to self-discovery. I also feel that anyone who stops learning is old. That’s why I’m always pushing the boundaries of my techniques, methods, and subjects. I felt inspired after the success of the Crossing Boundaries exhibition at the Mango Art Festival in early April, so since then, I’ve been working with galleries around the world on future exhibitions.
Can you describe what an average working day for you is like? Do you work on many creatures at once or one at a time?
As I mentioned before, my practice has been radically transformed by lockdown, with most of it taking place in my converted guestroom-come-studio. I wake early, before sunrise. I give myself time and peace through meditation, to be conscious, connected, and ready to start a new day. When it comes to my routine, I need some discipline. I am easily lost in creating work and experimenting for hours. I become hyper-focused and engrossed in the excitement of discovery. So, I try to split the hours of my day into three; making art, planning exhibitions, and managing myself as an artist. By that, I mean marketing and administration. As artists, we often don’t talk about this side of our lives— it’s not as glamorous or interesting as the creation of the work. There’s the vague implication that success comes from virtue alone. But self-promotion and networking matter; social media to push out your work, content marketing to promote your website, and writing to your subscribers. Again, it’s about creating presence and intention to commit to your work. To say to the world “I’m here, I believe in my work, and I want to share it with you”.
What makes your art different from others?
In the beginning, most photographers are looking forward to newly released cameras and lenses. They are thrilled with the number of likes they get on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Perhaps they start to think about winning awards. Admittedly, I was once among them — I hoped to gain social acceptance and validation. But before all this can happen, it is essential to have self-acceptance and self-awareness. This has become my practice philosophy. Sharing knowledge with other artists is also an integral part of my development. I am constantly looking for new skills to learn, new techniques and unfamiliar methods to adapt, including painting or printing. I hope that I can adapt these skills in the future to convey a narrative that reflects the lives of people in society. I want to innovate and take risks in my art because I believe that’s what creates emotional changes for people when they see art. That’s what art is to me, and that’s what drives the spark. If you’re not making your audience feel something, they’ll lose interest and your interest too will slowly turn away.
In your opinion, what role does the artist have in society? What do you hope that others will gain from viewing your art?
I prefer 'commitment' rather than the word ‘role’. It’s a commitment to telling stories, making societal changes, and connecting with and inspiring people.
Telling stories is a great way to get to know yourself and what makes you happy. From there, you can make better decisions about your future. It’s important to know yourself, as an artist. How we define ourselves can narrow our thinking and make it impossible to open up to differences, so it is essential not to set boundaries in our minds. Be prepared to learn and experience everything that comes your way. That’s why my abstract work is fundamentally rooted in my emotions and ideas in the personal, social and political realm. It is an exercise in communicating my individual experience.
Then there are the societal changes. As an artist, I not only want the world to see the beauty of my images, but I also want to grow awareness of mental health. Depending on where you are in the world (and the prevailing attitude to mental health), this statement can sound more or less radical. But mental wellness is a universal topic that connects us all, regardless of origin, religion, or culture. Everyone will experience a mental health issue in their lives. It is important to be mindful of our mental health and well-being.
And as for the last part — connection and inspiration. As we live in a global village, we are somehow all connected via social media. Artists are no longer hermits, and we are all 'out there [in the world]'. I hope my role as an artist is to inspire, connect, and collaborate!
What’s the most important element in your artwork?
My abstract works are paintings and drawings together. Paintings of geometric and organic shapes and lines, composed of layers of ink, acrylic, and other mediums, allude to the gestural surface marks of Abstract Expressionism.
Storytelling is a motivating factor, and my recent body of work Crossing Boundaries develops this through layering images and creating a matrix of narrative meaning within the semi-abstract compositions. The new works have a recurring motif of a face, capturing a moment of seeing eye-to-eye with the subject. Emotion and the complexity of interaction are introduced through the multiple veils of colour fragmentation, indicating degrees of understanding within communication and memory. The use of accumulation, repetition and blur references the transient nature of our experiences with others and our environment, denoting movement and time passing.
This body of work is a further step in my experimentation with the boundaries of representation and abstraction and is heavily influenced by my experience of personally crossing between two cultures. The final images combine digital and analogue photography techniques. Their painterly construction hints at pixel structure, urban patinas and perception's kaleidoscopic nature. The vibrant colour's directness is counterbalanced with intriguing intangibility within the imagery, leaving space for imagination and interpretation.
That being said, are there any lessons that you’ve learned that you could pass on to the younger generation of artists as they begin their journeys?
It can be a daunting task for anyone new to this journey but believe in yourself, continue to pursue your journey and do not give up easily. The road ahead is not a smooth one, but do not stop, and keep pushing forward. Here are some inspirational quotes for you:
‘Every canvas is a journey of all its own.’ —Helen Frankenthaler
‘Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’ -- Winston S. Churchill
Every day you have the opportunity to learn and experience something and someone new. Seize the opportunity. Learn and experience everything you can, and use it to change the world.’ -- Rodney Williams
‘Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.’ -- Paulo Coelho
Lastly, these are my '6 Do Nots', which I hope you find useful on this journey: (1) Do not be discouraged. (2) Do not fear failure, criticism and rejection. (3) Do not stop learning and practising. (4) Do not be a copycat, but learn from others. (5) Do not stop discovering yourself. (6) Do not be afraid of asking for help.
What’s on the horizon for you?
The COVID-19 outbreak has naturally affected my projects in the pipeline. To comply with this abnormal situation, I’ve adapted my working method. That’s all you can do, as an artist: respond to the world as it presents itself to you now. There is no use waiting or trying to get back to what was. React to the shift, incorporate it into your practice, and keep going. So, for now, my future planning looks like Zoom meetings to prepare for solo and collaborative exhibitions both domestically and internationally. This includes PARAÌSO at M.A.D.S Gallery from July 23 - August 3, Milan, Italy and SELFPRESSION Photographic Group Exhibition at HOP Hub of Photography from June 17 - July 25, Bangkok Thailand, and a few more that I hope to be able to announce very soon.
Hopefully, after the situation has improved, I will have the opportunity to meet again and speak directly to the public. Meanwhile, stay safe and look after each other.
Website www.bryce-art.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brycewatana/
