art by TUS VUTTINUN
bkk UNZINE art magazine aims to showcase the talents of artists and to bring creativity and community to audiences around the world.
HERE WE GO!
Mark your calendars, folks… Starting 14 October, don’t miss our signature event of the year: the 4th annual BKK Comics Art Festival, Thailand’s only art-forward celebration of the incredible visuals that power comics! Come see the spectacular art we’ve curated from comics creators from Thailand and around the world on the 5th floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, right here in the center of Bangkok (BTS National Stadium station). And on the weekend of 25 and 26 October, the two-day convention is chock full of workshops, panels, giveaways… and chances to meet amazing artists, both local and international.
Official updates, such as special guests, participating artists and vendors, and event programming can be found here.
In the meantime, enjoy this month’s issue, “Storytelling,” tying into the festival’s theme which highlights the unique medium of comics and its marriage of words and pictures to form narrative.
And if you’re free on Monday evenings, drop by UNZINE 95 for our weekly Monday Night Draw! We’ve been having a blast hanging out, engaging in boisterous discussions and creating art… come wind down and spend a fun evening at Bangkok’s unseen art oasis!
Check out our event schedule for more information.
Next month’s theme is….
Accepting submissions now through October 25th.
We’ve been announcing all our monthly themes for 2025 in advance to give you all more time to prepare your artwork! There’s only one left for this year after next month’s, so please feel free to submit to December’s theme, “Retro,” in advance!
featured artist
THAI CIRCLE
by TUS VUTTINUN
Procreate
This work is an interpretation of “Thainess” through my eyes—shaped by news images and narratives that reflect society in all its dimensions. The composition unfolds in overlapping circles, endlessly revolving, symbolizing the recurring cycle of problems that Thai society continues to face time and again. The elements within the piece mirror the images we often see in the news—monks who are not truly monks, violence that has become normalized, corrupt officials and politicians, the struggles of education and drugs, and the deep divide between rich and poor. These disparities ripple into unequal opportunities in education and overall quality of life across all social classes. All of these coexist chaotically within a single space. Vibrant colors and tangled lines are employed to express energy, disorder, and a truth that is at once absurd and painful. The work also embeds the dimension of conspiracy theories, which are often invoked to explain social phenomena—from supernatural miracles, blind faith in figures elevated to public prominence, monks, shamans, spiritual leaders, UFOs, reptilian beings, to high-profile scandals that shake religion itself. At the center of the image lies the divine—a god or sacred force believed to be behind everything. This central figure becomes a symbol of grandeur that people cling to, but at the same time may only be an illusion we construct to support a reality too difficult to confront. Thus, Thai Cycle is not merely a painting, but also a question and a mirror: What kind of cycle is Thai society revolving within—and how will we continue to exist in it?
Animator, Designer, Illustrator, Painter, Sculptor, Performance Artist
Vuttinun Swatdiponphallop'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.
MOM STILL BLOCKS OUR CHAT
by CHARTLAJAM
ball pen and marker on paper
Mom found notes that I wrote when I was 7 year-old about her attitude to her young daughter. Mom said just started to sense the compassion in that message to her rage. I was in a lot of pain from her "first time mom mistakes" thingy. The pain lessens through the years, but never disappears. I was very challenged to let my adult self comfort my 7 year-old ass that mom was having difficult times and even now she doesn't really get better but it's me who kind of changed tthe way to handle her. Now she didn’t talk to me for about 2 months now and I am concerned but I am also happy.
Translation of the note: Mom, she’s easier to get angry. When we just moved to Panas (in Chonburi), we fought everyday. But it gets better lately because dad called and said, "Don't scold Jam that much. Don't spank her and don't be so loud." Mom followed that.
Graphic Designer, Fashion Designer
Purely Bangkokian, Chartlajam moves everywhere throughout the year but is now back to Bangkok for good. She received a degree in fashion design but her main art skills are crafting jewelry and graphic design. For illustration, her comfort zone is the freehand pen sketching in her small sketch book.
ALL MY BEDS WERE TEMPORARY
by HEIN @ SI THU HEIN
digital photographs (13 images, use arrows to scroll)
I walked the streets of Chiang Mai as usual—especially after meeting someone, or saying goodbye. Along the way, I passed mannequins, garbage, plastic bags, the beds of the homeless, and everyday street scenes. These past years in Thailand have been filled with many goodbyes— to friends, to half-lovers— people I shared warmth with, even if we never named it love. I found intimacy, connection, and affection, whether fleeting or lasting, and all of them ended with a kind of quiet sadness. As always, I documented what I encountered, what I had just experienced, and what I was feeling. From this, I created a narrative-based photography series.
Photographer
Hein is a Burmese queer photographer currently living in Thailand, whose passion is photography (having taking photos since 2015). Initially, Hein was interested in conceptual and street photography but later, during the COVID pandemic, began capturing scenes from daily life — the places passed while walking, the abstract feelings experienced, and the surrounding atmosphere. Hein enjoys creating series that blend street photography, abstraction, portraits, and self-portraits, and is also fascinated by photographing mannequins, plastic, and garbage.
A TORTOISE READING A STORYBOOK IN PEACE
by AKSHIT SETHI
pencil and then drawn over digitally
The storytelling done via one's imagination when reading any storybook or comic is what I wanted to capture in my drawing. I hope that I've somewhat made that possible here. Thank you for seeing this 🙏 I hope that you have a wonderful day ♥️✨🌸
Illustrator, Animator
Akshit is an artist who likes to make character illustrations, animation, pixel art, etc. He hopes that the joy in making art never leaves us.
FIRST FEAR
by IVAN CHEREMISIN
AI Comic
Flashbacks from the youth of the main character of the comic Solo’s Path. You can find the whole story here.
Animator, Designer, Illustrator, Painter, Sculptor, Performance Artist
Ivan has been a professional photographer for 17 years, and lately has been focusing on exhibitions and art. He is also trying to create a comic story using AI.
SHOW YOUR WORK IN bkk UNZINE!
next month’s theme is….
Accepting submissions NOW through OCTOBER 25th
