REDMAN: Where were you born?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I was born in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.
REDMAN: What was your childhood like? Are there any events related to art?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I came from a merchant family. While my parents were busy selling things to customers at our shop, TV. and children books are only my friend.I learned cartoons by myself.l learned drawing cartoons by myself from these things.
REDMAN: When did you start drawing?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I knew l love drawing before l could read and write--every paper bags in my parents's shop would be full of my cartoon drawings (lol).At the age of 14, l ever won the Grand Prize from international poster contest in youth category organized by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).When l got the invitation to collect the prize at the UN headquater in New York there, l found a Mad Magazine and the silent cartoons in it drawn by master Sergio Aragonés was what really excited me because at that time l had never seen something like this before in my country, Thailand. This was the starting point that made me interested in worldless gag cartoons, It held my interest and ignited my passion.
REDMAN: Have you ever studied at an art school?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT ：I studied architecture at Silpakorn University (which is known as The University of Fine Arts of Thailand). The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Tuscan–born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It began as a fine arts university and now includes many other faculties as well.There l was exposed to the artistic atmosphere and experienced my passion and love for art in general.
REDMAN: Did you start creating cartoon at that time?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :Yes, l drew lots of cartoons, submit ting to several publishing houses during studying at the university.
REDMAN: We would like to know when you decided to become an artist? Is your family full of artistic atmosphere?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : My field of education was architecture. Anyway it was the calling or deep-seated passion for cartooning that l felt drawn to do and it might provide me a sense of fulfillment. In 1987, l started my cartooning, submitting my works to 'Kaihauror', the most popular local cartoon magazine --that was where my debut in publication started.
REDMAN: What do your family and friends think of your choice to "make a living through art"? To what extent do they support you?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I thought they felt a bit worried about my future but l thought it was not so bad as they thought. If l can do a job that can feed not only my body but also my soul, l will choose that job.
REDMAN: What is your family background?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : My parents migrated from China to Thailand.My father's surname is 吴 and my mother's surname is 陈.l'm the second generation and I do have some partial Chinese blood :)
REDMAN: When did you start creating international cartoon works? Did any special issues or events ignite your inspiration and start a new creative path?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : To participate at international cartoon contests has been in my mind for a long time, but l couldn't make time to do that.ln the past l have limited time and access to do that but at present there is communication technology that makes me have more easy access to submit digital works instead of physical one.Since 2021 l really have participated at various international cartoon contests.The first big prize l won was the Silver Plaque from KRAGUJEVAC in that year, thrilling and making me more confident about my abilities to continue participating more in other International cartoon contests.
REDMAN: What is on your mind when you are painting?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : Very few cartoon ideas come in blinding flash of light bulb moment.Mostly,l have to sweat it out. I will do lots of sketches by letting my mind and hand wonder in a loose controlable way. Sometimes l do as many as 20 sketches but l choose only one or two of them for drawing and painting. Some additional refinement of idea may occur during the process of drawing and painting.
REDMAN: There is no text in your work. Do you oppose the use of text? Do you think there is always a way to convey information or ideas purely from images?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I'm not against using words in cartoons. Cartoons will be good or not doesn't depend on using words or not, but l prefer wordless cartoons, so l can use it as an International language.
REDMAN: What artists or works have influenced you in the process of forming your unique style? You can give an example, for example, show the two or three works that you think have had the greatest impact on you to everyone.
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : The cartoonist who was my first inspiration in child hood was Sergio Aragonés. When l grew up and know more artists, master Bosc, Saul Steinberg, and Sempe are the ones l appreciate the most.
(see the pic 1 below)
REDMAN: We know that Thailand art is very distinctive. How has the development of Thailand cartoon been? Are there many professional cartoonists in Thailand? How is their living condition?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : There are only few accomplished cartoonists here. Most of them can hardly survive in this profession, stuggling to make ends meet. I wish the cartoon sphere here would be better in the future and improve to a higher standard. To see International cartoon contest organized in Thailand is also one of my dreams that l hope for.
REDMAN: Are there many cartoon publications, magazines, and newspapers in Thailand? How did they reach the hands of the readers?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :The Internet has brought decline in print media circulation and readership.Digital media bring a paradigm shift in how the public consumes media.Most of print media is now replaced by digital media.
Kaihauror is the widely read magazine that features gag cartoons about general interests as the main focus.
Matichon Weekly is a political review magazine. lt is regarded as columnist community, including top Thai thinkers, writers, and cartoonists. The tone of the magazine is sophisticated and so are the cartoons it publishes.
Both publications are the highest-paying market for gag cartoonists, and is therefore the most competitive of all other magazines. They have successfully transitioned from print-media to digital media.
REDMAN: What is people's definition of cartoon? Do people like cartoon? Especially do schools and parents allow children to read cartoon?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : Here cartoons, not like other arts, are not treated seriously.Thai adults consider cartoons as the nonsense things in the children lives.One cause might be that they used to see or read only light cartoons.ln fact, there are a lot more cartoons which are realistic, darker, more serious and more intellectual.
REDMAN: Are there many derivative products of cartoon in Thailand, and do cartoon images often appear on products? Do people like these products?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :Here lots of cartoon characters from cartoon, comic, and anime are popular things among teenagers.
REDMAN: In Thailand, whether it is primary school, secondary school, or university, are there any specialized courses in cartoon? What are the ways people learn cartoon?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :There are lots of art schools teaching various aspect of the visual arts but none, as l know, takes humorous art seriously. We have many gag cartoonists, but it wasn’t not enough to go international. We had to create more of them by creating schools or colleges providing specialized courses in gag cartooning, holding the International cartoon contests.
REDMAN: Is there a cartoon museum in Thailand? If so, please introduce the Cartoon Museum to your readers.
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : As l know there is not cartoon museum yet. It is the project that is still in consideration.
REDMAN: What cultural heritage is there in Thailand? Do government departments and people attach great importance to these cultural heritages? What is people's understanding of these cultural heritages? What impact does cultural heritage have on you?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :The cultural heritages in Thailand include...
--Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns
--Historic City of Ayutthaya
--Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
--The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Accociated Dvaravati Monument
--Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period
There are many problems of management here such as problems of lack of awareness, motivation and correct knowledge, problems of legal issues --lagging behind and inappropriate for the environmental context, the problem of not enforcing government laws seriously, the lack of a comprehensive process of public and community participation.
These heritages are not just brick, wood or building structure, but they are our culture, the identity, the memory, and the dignity of humanity--every parts of them has meaning.To protect our future we must protect our past.
REDMAN: What have people done to protect these cultural heritages? (Specific measures and promotion methods.) What role has comics played in cultural heritage protection? What role do you think comics can play in the protection of cultural heritage in the future?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :There are still many problems as l said above. l ever also drew cartoons for the camp align over this issue.
REDMAN: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the world anti fascist movement. We know that Southeast Asia is a heavily affected area by Japanese aggression. What is the understanding of Thai youth towards the 80th anniversary of the victory of the world anti fascist movement? What educational measures does Thailand have in this regard? Have Thai cartoonists produced any anti Fascist cartoon works over the past 80 years?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (in Thai :the Don-Rak War Cemetery) is the main prisoner of war (POW) cemetery for victims of Japanese imprisonment while building the Burma Railway. It is on the main road, Saeng Chuto Road, through the town of Kanchanaburi, adjacent to an older Chinese cemetery. The cemetery contains 6,982 graves of British, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war, of whom 6,858 have been identified.
It's a pity that Thais never learn this point of bad things made by facism from history.They know only there were World War ll. From the latest coup in Thailand, the junta regime tried hard to lead to more and more extream right wing closer to the fascist regime in the past
which is worrisome what the consequences of the right power regime will make Thai society look like.
REDMAN: Are there any commemorative facilities in Thailand for the victory of the anti fascist movement? What are the regular commemorative activities?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT：The regime doesn’t want people know much about their plan so they have no idea to make people wiser.
REDMAN: What other hobbies do you have in your life?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT :Cartooning is both my career and hobby. I feel like doing hobbies while working.
REDMAN: If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : I may be an ordinary architect.
REDMAN: What do you want to say to people who like your work?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT : l'd like to say Thank you for recognizing my works. I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement.
REDMAN: What advice do you have for young cartoon artists who respect you and take you as an example? What would you say to your respected colleagues? What would you say to readers who like your work? What would you say to readers who don't understand humor? Besides, what advice do you give yourself? What advice do you give me?
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT ：
For budding cartoonists:Don't be too overawed.No one starts off being excellent.Hard work makes things Simple.
For respected colleague cartoonists: to be honored by my respected colleague
cartoonists is incredibly gratifying. l'm so thankful for you all recognition and support.
For all my fans: l appreciate the response and the support of all fans."Many thanks for the support " is what l'd like to say.
For readers who don't understand humour:
Humour is very subjective.We weren’t born with sense of humour.Both cartoonists and readers have to work at it.The element of surprise is a common thing in all cartoons--it is the thing that readers have to dig it out from the riddle made by the cartoonist.The discovery of it will trigger off spasm of surprise
For myself: My motto is "When the why is clear the How is easy.
For you: l really appropriate your effort. What you are doing is really worth a thousand words for our cartoon world. Please accept my since r thank-you, dear
Without a doubt, you have succeeded. I know you are happy with what you have done.
REDMAN: Lastly, thank you for your trust and support in our interview!
PRAWIT MONGKOLNOWRUT：Thank you for the invitation to this interview which provides me the opportunity to Introduce myself here on your website, Red Man Art. Wishing all your team and you all the best.
REDMAN: In the new year, I look forward to seeing more wonderful works from you!
