Bad student

Vibrant colours and dancing shapes express streaks of young, fearless, even rebellious energy. The red spark behind the character’s head is a pounding shock and anger from her hair being cut, and behind her is a bright yellow stream of hot emotion flowing in the air.

The artist took inspiration from a group of young Thai people who have been called “bad students”. They started the movement to question the severe and authoritarian protocols which schools impose on students to restrict their basic human rights. The artist herself has experienced some degree of the broken system, as when she was younger, the school she attended banned long hair on female students. If a girl’s hair grew past her ears, the teacher would take the liberty of cutting the girl’s hair.

Underneath a brightly coloured composition is the struggle of a soul that is fighting hard to break free from a coercive system.

Juli Baker and Summer / Chanaradee Chatrakul na Ayudhya

Vibrant, powerful, youthful energy permeates Juli Baker and Summer’s canvases. The use of bright colours and fluid lines creates a sense of vibration, as if one can hear exuberant music notes accompanying the movement of the characters or subjects. The visual composition resembles collage, even one done under Matisse’s hands.

Underneath the child-like surface of colourful composition lies strong socio-political statements. The emotional intensity brought forth by the colourful composition rightly echo the significance of the topics at hand. As a Thai artist residing amid on-going political movement, Juli Baker and Summer portrays symbols of the pro-democracy movement with her interpretation and personal experiences.

Graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a degree in fashion, Juli started her artist career under the nom de plume Juli Baker and Summer in 2015. Her works often take inspiration from people, music, literature, films, everyday-life conversations and travelling. She is active in the Thai art scene, famous for her bright and cheerful art style. She has been featured in interviews with the F Word Asia Art Magazine, Lifestyle Asia, Mimosa Stories and Kooper.

Based on our agreement with the artist, 35% of the pre-VAT price excluding frames will be donated to support the social movement. Donation will be given to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.