Breaking The Mould

Rustic wood, slate-coloured gravel and tropical split leaf philodendrons contrast with towering cacti, concrete, iron and glass. Walking through Thongma Studio in the northern town of Mae Rim, just outside of Chiang Mai, offers a mix of materials and textures – nature next to man-made structures, rawness next to manicured beauty. The simple, yet clearly curated property reflects the aesthetic of its owner and artist, Chamnian Thongma.

Going just by Thongma, the Thai sculptor and artist is recognised by his life-size busts boasting distinct features – piercing eyes, chiselled jawlines, wild hair – that contain an otherworldly sense of beauty. Often blurring the lines between eastern and western features, Thongma’s creations manage to be bold and delicate at the same time, elaborate works of art that also look at home placed along a walkway or tucked into a garden.

This juxtaposition of classical art and everyday appeal is no mistake. In fact, the vision behind Thongma Studio Mae Rim, which includes a collection of simple brick and concrete buildings nestled throughout a lush plot of land complete with the artist’s workspace and a café, was to introduce sculpture and fine art to a new generation.

“Art depicts life and life depicts art.” – Bert McCoy

The studio-cum-cafe is undeniably cool but still inviting and, if you’re lucky, you can see Thongma at work somewhere on the grounds creating his next masterpiece.

Originally from Phitsanulok, Thongma had a studio in Nakhon Si Thammarat before spending time in Chiang Mai for an event and deciding to move his studio to the northern location five years ago. He opened a second gallery and café in Chiang Mai’s One Nimman shopping centre just this year.

As a child, Thongma was always sketching and drawn to portraiture, eventually gaining his undergrad and graduate degrees from Bangkok’s prestigious Silpakorn University, a national fine arts university founded in 1933.

Through his work, Thongma blends real-life models with his own take on the human form, creating sculptures that have an ethereal quality as if they’ve been touched by something divine. When asked about his unique aesthetic, Thongma says he wants to both reflect the appearance of humanity and also create it, bringing forth different movements, emotion and personality in each of his pieces.

Though more well known for his sculpture, for Thongma, sculpting and painting go hand in hand, showcasing the breadth of his artistic ability. He wants his work to inspire others to think outside of the box in terms of art and décor

While Thailand has a variety of rich creative traditions that are still alive to this day, the parameters of traditional Thai art and home décor, such as decorative wood carvings or various textiles, can be limiting with many people still holding on to the past’s definition of beauty and style.

Thongma’s striking sculptures and paintings break the mould.

GRAB A COFFEE AND PURCHASE A PIECE TO ADD TO YOUR ART COLLECTION WHILE IN CHIANG MAI.

Thongma Studio Mae Rim

Open daily: 10:00-17:30 hours

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Thongma Studio One Nimman

Open daily: 10:00-22:00 hours

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