The Sky Is Not The Same: A Conversation with Amnaj Wachirasut
Exploring space, change, and emotional truth after his solo exhibition The Sky Is Not The Same at ATT19.
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Amnaj Wachirasut's solo exhibition, The Sky Is Not The Same, opened on April 24th at the ATT19 gallery. These works, born from the disruption of the artist's peaceful routine by the extension of a Skytrain line in his district, reflect on the implications of urban development around us, but also how the surrounding landscape influences our inner emotional landscape, becoming a metaphor for the tension between growth and loss. I had the opportunity to speak with Amnaj about his exhibition and, more broadly, his artistic practice.
Q: I’d like to begin with The Sky Is Not The Same, your latest exhibition at ATT19. The theme of environmental change, particularly due to urban and industrial development, is often approached from a political perspective. In your case, change is viewed through a more intimate lens. What is your relationship with change as an artist?
A: The arrival of the electric train system and the rapid pace of urban development have drastically transformed the environment. Many areas have deteriorated, with abandoned commercial buildings, noise, air pollution, traffic, and a growing visibility of poverty. All I see are concrete-filled spaces and sidewalks that appear deliberately neglected, as if there’s a hidden agenda to control how we live our lives within predefined frameworks. This painting series serves as a dreamlike space, a way to restore the missing spirit and reclaim a sense of lost nature. I do this through mediums such as the sky, stars, humans, and deeply felt emotions.
Q: Your work features different scales of representation: from the immensity of the universe to microscopic spores, passing through landscapes. What role does space play in your practice?
A: To me, “space” is a moment of emotional experience in everyday life. It’s a realm of connection between the external world and the internal psyche, combined with a belief in the cosmos and atomic-level particles that flow through the body. Sensations of heat, cold, sadness, or emotional turbulence are interwoven with visual references like stars, flowing water, people, and living creatures. This series is a convergence of the natural beauty I’ve witnessed and lived with over the past 20 years. It expresses a longing for those elements in the present moment, conveyed through the rhythm of colors, textures, and visual composition.
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Q: In many cases, your painting moves along the fine line between figuration and abstraction. How do you relate to these two realms? Is it a boundary you feel comfortable crossing, or is your artistic research more rooted in one over the other?
A: This series began with questioning a way of life that seems pre-designed—how we live, work, consume, and engage with media. Everything feels predetermined, which led me to seek artistic freedom. I choose to work without adhering to mainstream currents or rigid frameworks. Instead, I prioritize emotional truth, honesty to my inner state, the skills I possess, and the emotional rhythm at the time. As a result, the work exists freely between realism and abstraction.
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Q: The circle appears frequently in your work — sometimes representing stars or the sun, other times used in a more abstract, lyrical context. In your latest exhibition, it even takes shape as a triptych of circular canvases that become almost sculptures. What does the circle mean to you?
A: The circle represents stars gradually disappearing from community spaces. It is a remembrance of the light of the sun, moon, and Earth, as well as reflections through the eyes of animals, flower pollen, or spores seen in a new dimension. It also symbolizes the movement of water, the generation of energy, the interconnectedness of all things, the cycle of thoughts and emotions, and the infinite nature of human imagination.
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Q: In your work, space and landscapes are strongly tied to color and vivid tones, while the human figure is marked by a sharper contrast between black and white, at times evoking the look of a photographic film negative. Could you tell me more about your approach to these different subjects?
A: I place great importance on capturing the atmosphere of specific moments—seasonal shifts, times of day, or changing emotional states. These atmospheres become the foundation for creating works that genuinely reflect how I felt in those moments. Using real-life data is not about controlling the outcome but about creating space for emotions to work freely. This allows the work to evolve naturally with the passage of time.
Amnaj Wachirasut, THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME. Credits: ATT19
Q: One last question. Do you have any upcoming projects planned?
A: At the moment, several galleries have invited me to collaborate on future projects, but I haven’t yet begun discussions with curators. The venue is very important to both the working process and conceptual development. I aim to develop a unique approach tailored to each location and always do my best with every exhibition. I hope to continue receiving support from all sides as new developments unfold.
About the Artist
Amnaj Wachirasut (b. 1970, Nonthaburi) explores the intersection of reality and the subconscious, capturing human perception and emotion. Wachirasut earned his Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Painting from Silpakorn University, Bangkok, and has received numerous accolades, including the Winner of the Contemporary Art Competition by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and the Winner of the Thailand Art Award by Philip Morris.
Amnaj Wachirasut. Credits: ATT19
The Sky Is Not the Same is on view at ATT 19 in Bangkok until June 26, 2025.
For more info about ATT19 and other Bangkok galleries and art institutions, check our Exhibitions section.