Bangkok illustration fair 2025

[Abchao After Hours] A Chinese style Abchao and a sparrow do traditional Thai Yoga (Rue Sii Dud Ton/ ฤาษีดัดตน), Gouache on Canson paper .

The time is 7 pm. The last visitors of the day have left Wat Po. The Chinese style gate guardians - known as Abchao slowly come to life as creaks of stone echo throughout the temple ground. Welcome to the world of ‘Abchao After Hours’. A series of illustrations exploring the Abchao and their hobbies after dark.

After a long day of guarding the temple in the sun, the Chinese style Abchao takes a stroll observing the hermit statues lodged in the temple gardens and the traditional Thai yoga (ฤาษีดัดตน) positions they are in. He decides to try one for himself, and in surprise is joined by a little companion learning from him - a sparrow.

[Abchao After Hours] A Chinese style Abchao appreciating the company of his new bosses (Temple Cats), Gouache on Canson paper .

With its daytime employees known as ‘humans’ gone, the Cats of Wat Po wander the temple, finding a hand to pet them. They stumble upon a 4 meter tall Chinese Abchao who is initially stern but once he sees the plea in their bead-like eyes glistening in the moonlight, he lets down his guard, sits onto the floor , letting their their warmth embrace him. Despite being their employee for the night he feels incredibly relaxed.

[Abchao After Hours] A Western style Abchao plays with his new boss (A temple cat), Gouache on Canson paper .

Seeing his peer occupied with temple cats, the western-style Abchao figurine , which locals often refer to as ‘Marco Polo’ heads out to find his own . Venturing the temple grounds he comes upon a limping orange cat. He first squats down to pet it but sooner or later than he knows - he’s already lying face down , petting and caressing the feline fellow with his weathered stone fingers.

[Abchao After Hours] A Western Style Abchao takes a ‘Selfie‘ with a lost iPhone, Gouache on Canson paper .

The last visitor of the day left in a rush, and so forgot a significantly important item - her iphone. She wanted to take a photo with the other Western Style Abchao statues next to the Viharn with the reclining Buddha but failed , dropping her phone and rushing frantically to the Tuktuk parked outside. After sometime, the Western Abchao statue learnt the ways of the iPhone , and thus took a selfie to commemorate his achievement.

[Abchao After Hours] A Chinese style Abchao does the ‘Sailor Moon’ Pose (he likely learnt this from the internet), Gouache on Canson paper .

Intrigued by the illuminating screened apparatus (The iPhone) in the hands of his friend, the Abchao takes a peek and asks if he can borrow it. His voyage returns with an interesting new discovery : The internet. And this “Sailor Moon” position of his is the fruit of the aforementioned discovery.

[Abchao After Hours] A Western style Abchao and a Chinese Abchao partake in a dance surrounded by moonlight and stars, Digital Drawing done on the iPad .

The time is now midnight, when the moon is at its fullest accompanied by a sea of stars. Two Abchao, 1 Chinese style and the other , Western style, lock eyes and begin to do some swing dancing. It 's a long night and in terms of the Abchao’s After Hours activities, there is more yet to come!

Gen z Raeng AI Saeng // เจนซีแรง เอไอแซง, Gouache on A3 hot pressed paper .

Gen Z Raeng, AI Saeng (Gen Z VS the A.I bent on World Domination) is a hand painted movie poster taking inspiration from the Insee Daeng film series (1959-1970). Whilst Insee Daeng takes on villains of his era such as corrupt politicians and mafia leaders, the main characters in this reinterpretation are faced with something more relevant to freshly graduated Gen Zers : Artificial Intelligence, its potential misuses, integrating into a corporate lifestyle and most importantly, an uncertain future with climate change on the side. Despite all these obstructions, Bamm also wanted to illustrate that Generation Z has its strengths in fields such as technology proficiency, individuality and a sense of awareness - of themselves and of the world around them - which can be used to ease or even cease the aforementioned issues.

This painting was selected to be displayed at Woofpack Gallery’s “Next Gen Visions: Reframing Tomorrow” Exhibition as a part of Bangkok Design week 2025.

2025 Year of the Snake Card, Riso printed on A6.

Featuring the visual motifs of the Yaowarat district’s signage, this 2025 New Years card invites viewers to celebrate the year of the Snake. It takes inspiration from the Num Eaing astrolendar : a nostalgic staple of every Thai-Chinese household , using two tone colours, printed textures and elements of auspiciousity , accompanied by a relatable, affirming statement : “May you be lucky, wealthy and get plenty of sleep”. The card is a part of an ongoing project to draw all the 12 Chinese zodiac animals , using the iconography of the Num Eiang Astrolendar on an annual basis, being on its 3rd year. It also doubles as a tribute to the artist’s pet snake, drawn in a playful , brush-heavy manner.

“Ga Gee Nung” / กากี่นั้ง, Bamboo Dip pen , black ink on Bristol board paper .

Defined as ‘one of us’ in the Teochiew Chinese dialect, Ga Gee Nung is a bamboo dip pen illustration, a projection of the artist’s experiences living in a household of Thai people with Chinese ancestry. This illustration was the final piece to a self-directed project done in university, in which she questioned the ‘Chinese’ part of her cultural identity, whether it was slowly disappearing , or subtly becoming more and more integral in her daily life . She found that whilst some practices have become more sparse, other aspects of Chinese and Thai culture coexist today - thus being depicted as a unified mixture in the illustration.

Self Portrait in the style of a Tukta Abchao // Monument to a Neurodivergent Girl of Thai Chinese Ancestry , Cast Plaster sculpture .

Monument to a Neurodivergent Girl of Thai Chinese Ancestry is the artists’ self portrait in the style of a Chinese Boat Ballast statue (Tukta Abchao), initially moulded and carved from a wax based clay, this sculpture was then casted into a silicone mould using dyed plaster.

Tukta Abchao are stone carved statues which were historically used as boat ballasts. These were Chinese in origin but eventually became integrated into Thai culture, reminiscent to the countless Thai people with Chinese ancestry , who through generations and generations have now become part of Thai society

The sculpture is accompanied by a museum-style activity booklet which invites participants to learn about each other’s cultures through communication and ask the question “How would you represent yourself?”

BKKIF ARTIST SPECIAL

More Artwork/Merchandise:

“Dogs: A Chinese Boat Ballast Figurines’ Best Friend” // “สหายสี่ขา” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

The Chinese style Abchao relaxes in adoration of his newfound furry friends
(Local Stray Dogs)

ตุ๊กตาอับเฉาจีนกําลังนั่งผ่อนคลายระหว่างมองสหายสี่ขาทั้งหลายของท่านด้วยความเอ็นดู

“Thai Iced Tea with extra steps” // “ชานมเย็นที่อลังการเวอร์” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

After a very long day of guarding the temple gates , the Abchao indulges himself with an assortment of Thai street food and snacks (Bagged Thai Milk Tea/Cha Nom Yen with extended straw , Lookchin Ping /Grilled Meatballs, Saikrok Daeng / Red Sausage , and Moo Ping / Grilled Pork skewers)

หลังจากวันอันแสนยาวนานได้หมดไปกับการเฝ้าประตูวัด ตุ๊กตาอับเฉาจีนตนนี้จึงได้ทําการปลดปล่อยความหิวโหยและความเหนื่อยล้าโดยการกินสตรีทฟู๊ดหลายอย่าง เช่น ชานมเย็น (ด้วยหลอดที่ต่อกันยาว ๆ ) ลูกชิ้นปิ้ง ไส้กรอกแดง และ หมูปิ้ง

“SHHH!” // “เงียบเงียบนะ!” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

A Chinese style Abchao quietly sneaks out of the Temple grounds.. steered by his curious mind onto the bustling roads of Bangkok City, Once spotted, he turns , hinting “shhh, be quiet” at unsuspecting humans.

ตุ๊กตาอับเฉาจีนย่องอย่างซุกซน ด้วยความอยากรู้อยากเห็นว่าวันนี้จะมีอะไรเกิดขึ้น ตรงถนนหน้าประตูวัด แล้วก็รีบส่งสัญญาณให้มนุษย์ที่ได้เห็นว่า “ เงียบเงียบนะ!”

“Marilyn” // “มาริลิน” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

Thanks to the roaring winds of the Chaophraya River, this Western-style Abchao became a Fashion Icon,
the Talk of the Town.

ลมแรงที่เคลื่อนจากแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา ได้ทำให้อับเฉาที่แต่งกายแบบฝรั่งท่านนี้กลายเป็นดาราภายในชั่วข้ามคืน — และกลายเป็นเหตุการณ์ที่ท่านจะไม่มีวันลืมได้

“THE Unenthused SUBJECT” // “นายแบบ ไร้ความกระตือรือร้น” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

A Western-style Abchao unwillingly poses with a “Peace Sign” for the camera. The Heron perched on his shoulder however, does not seem to mind this.

อับเฉาแต่งกายแบบชาวตะวันตก
แม้ว่าจะชูสองนิ้ว แต่ใบหน้านั้นกลับไร้ความกระตือรือร้นเมื่อถูกถ่ายภาพ ต่างกับเจ้านกบนไหล่ของเขาที่ทำตัวสบายใจเฉิบ

“what is better than 1 hat.... 2 hats !” // “ศีรษะเดี่ยว หมวกสองใบ” Gouache on hot press paper , October 2025

Another Western-style Abchao , this time willingly posing for a photograph with his two hats, unlike his killjoy colleague.

ทั้งทั้งที่เพื่อนเค้าจะไม่อิน ตุ๊กตาอับเฉาแต่งกายแบบชาวตะวันตกท่านนี้ เตรียม ตั้งท่าพร้อมที่อยากอวดหมวกใบที่สองที่เขาได้เจอมา จากคนที่ลืมไว้ในวัด

ARTIST:	Bammism
COUNTRY:	Thailand
EMAIL:	puthimart@gmail.com
CONTACT:	https://puthimartslashbamm.cargo.site/ https://www.instagram.com/bammism/
Bammism is an illustrator based in Bangkok. At a young age , she would draw on every piece of paper she could find - being simultaneously told by her teachers to “Stop doodling or get out of my class!” and “Keep on doodling, and if anyone criticises you for it, let me know.” . Fortunately, she went with the latter option. Her work has a heavy focus on identity be it Generations-Z- , Neurodiversity or being ethnic Chinese in Thailand . Illustration has always helped her express herself in an overwhelming world where verbal communication might not be the best tool. She is an artist with a self described ‘hands on’ approach. The majority of her works are using traditional illustration tools but if the opportunity arises to explore new mediums - she would dive right in. Her key source of inspiration are the Chinese guardian statues of Wat Po, Also known as Tukta Abchao. Their History , Iconic status in Thai pop culture and intricate stone-carved details being of particular interest. Bammism’s found them fuelling passion in the arts , drawing them without pause through her final years of school. While studying at university abroad, and examining her cultural identity, she realised that statues were were very much like the Thai-Chinese minority in the way they have been assimilated into Thai culture and society despite being originally foreign. Bammism is what makes her who she is. It is ever changing yet constant; a torrent of never ending thoughts condensed into the tip of a brush. Bammism is currently working on expanding her illustration series “Abchao Afterhours” : A playful glimpse into what her old companions might be up to in Wat Po once the temple closes.

SHOWCASE

/ ARTIST / 2025