art by ARSHIA ATIQ
bkk UNZINE art magazine aims to showcase the talents of artists and to bring creativity and community to audiences around the world.
Come What May…
Life is settling back after the Songkran holidays and activities are now again in full swing at UNZINE 95, so come join us at our hidden gem of a hangout for our regular weekly events: Wednesday Draw, The Saturday Morning Cartoon Club and Lines & Limbs Life Drawing. Check out our event schedule for more!
All of us at bkk UNZINE would also like to express our sincere gratitude for the enthusiastic reception for UNZINE Comics, our first foray into publishing. We still have limited stock available; if you’re interested in getting your hands on a copy, please contact us before they’re all gone.
Alter Egos are other selves, another side… hidden, complementary, opposite.
This month’s issue gathers an impressive array of talent interpreting the theme “Alter Ego” with a very special collection featuring work from young artists provided by Children of the Forest (COF), a school and children's home in Sangkhlaburi near the Thai-Myanmar border helping to improve the lives of stateless and migrant children and families. COF is run by a team of approximately 30 committed individuals working together to provide security and opportunity for stateless Mon and Karen children and is our valued partner for this year’s BKK Comics Art Festival (details here).
For more information on COF and the important work they do, please visit childrenoftheforest.org
Accepting submissions now through May 25th.
Next month’s theme is….
This year, we’re announcing all our monthly themes in advance so you’ll have more time to prepare your artwork! Please feel free to submit to any of our themes in advance!
featured artist
THE WOLF WITHIN
by ARSHIA ATIQ
acrylic & gold leaf on paper
"Hush, little wolf, in crimson you creep, through tangled dark where the lost ones sleep."
This artwork reimagines the classic fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood. Here, Red does not fear the wolf; she becomes it. She embodies the duality of vulnerability and power, innocence and primal force.
"Consider the hidden wildness within yourself- the parts you fear, deny or will eventually embrace."
Illustrator, Painter
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense."
-Lewis Carroll
Arshia’s art is an embodiment of this quote and is heavily influenced by music and literature. With an interest in fantasy art and surrealism, Arshia keeps trudging forward to find her own artistic voice.
THE ARROGANT KID
by SANDEE
crayon on paper
I put my dullness in art, my deepness, in a poem:
My dearest in you
Where do I put my darkness
While I love bruise bleed and burn
Where will my rage go?
Web Designer, Painter, Performance Artist
Sandee is a designer/artist based in Bangkok. An arrogant kid who does art for inspiration and design for money. Art inspired by emptiness, poetry inspired by romanized human's flaw.
special collection
SECRET IDENTITIES
by ARTISTS from CHILDREN OF THE FOREST
“Metamorphosis” by CHOMPU
“Secret Chef” by JJ
“Firepower” by SUTAT
“Rocket Boy” by KRISNA
“Spy Girl” by BANG
“Hidden Witch” by JINTANA
“Monster Hunter” by BUNSAI
“Sky Ranger” by IBRAHIM
pencil & ink on paper
Students were asked to think about and then draw what kind of secret or alternative identity they feel like they have or would want to have.
Children of the Forest is a school and children's home in Sangkhlaburi near the Thai-Myanmar border helping to improve the lives of stateless and migrant children and families. The artists in this group range in age from 8 to 18 years old.
ELEMENTS OF HARMONY
by WARIN WONGCHAKSU
digital painting
People are composed of all four elements—Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. In the Minor Arcana, these elements are represented by the Queens: the Queen of Pentacles for Earth, the Queen of Cups for Water, the Queen of Swords for Air, and the Queen of Wands for Fire. Each of these archetypes has its own distinct personality, but in reality, we all possess these qualities to varying degrees.
These traits function as our alter egos, allowing us to adapt to different situations. By consciously embodying the right energy at the right time—being the Queen of Pentacles in family matters, the Queen of Wands at work, and so on—we can navigate life more harmoniously and effectively.
Mystic Artist
MaMor the Mystic Artist is a seer and creator who heals through the heart. Believing in the power of comfort, MaMor casts her magic through art, bringing childhood dreams and imagination to life —offering warmth and hope to everyone she meets along their journey.
ME WITH ME
by SKARNZ
pen on paper
This might be me or this might not be me. How I see society is so different from how society sees me. I seemed fragile but the society seemed harsh. I feel so many feelings and emotions inside me, but the society feels no feeling. It sounds like society has defeated me.
Designer, Sculptor, Painter
A lover of design, drawing, photography and toys, Skarnz is an artist from Thailand who is self-taught in drawing, sculpting, and painting and expresses love of art through toys, under the SKARNZ brand.
A NEW WORLD ORDER
by REI EGUSQUIZA
collage & drawing
I created this piece as a reaction to the rapidly changing climate in politics (in the US and the world abroad), referencing the book by H.G. Wells. The person you see is scarred and covered yet standing resilient in the face of encroaching threat.
Mixed Media Artist
Rei Egusquiza is an artist living in Brooklyn, New York. His work in collage/mixed media is influenced by queer themes, suggestions and characters in literature, mythology and history and how they impact his upbringing and the world we live in. He is hoping to make his next move to Bangkok, a city he has grown to love more and more with each visit.
LOOT & LULLABY
by MICHAEL PACHIDAMRONG
with NIRUT CHAMSUWAN
pencil & ink on board, colored on Procreate
Being artists with distinctly different approaches to style and storytelling, we thought it would be an interesting exercise to collaborate on a short sequence and see how we can challenge and complement each other. The panels above were penciled by Nirut from a story concept conceived by Michael, who subsequently inked and colored the pencil artwork.
Comic Book Writer
Michael is a comic book writer and founder of Cyber Sheep Studios. His work combines a love for cyberpunk, Japanese folklore, and immersive world-building.
Illustrator, Comic Artist
Nirut Chamsuwan specializes in illustration, graphic design and portraiture, nurturing the love for popular entertainment, comic books and sequential storytelling that has informed his artwork since youth. While studying architecture at the Savannah College of Art and Design, he would often joke that his reason for pursuing such a major was to learn how to render backgrounds for comic book panels..
IN PILA’S HEAD
by TUS VUTTINUN
digital painting
This illustration is part of the work I did for the short film “Once in a Little Bit of Time” by safety first production, which explores themes of PTSD and DID. I submitted this work under the 'Alter EGO' theme to depict the intense internal confrontation inherent in these conditions.
Animator, Designer, Illustrator, Painter, Sculptor, Performance Artist
Tus Vuttinun's background in architecture primarily shapes his conceptual approach and creative thinking. This perspective, combined with a childhood passion for cartooning, allows him to explore visual narratives through a unique blend of analytical thought and expressive drawing.
SHOW YOUR WORK IN bkk UNZINE!
next month’s theme is….
Accepting submissions NOW through May 25th