Most people in Hua Hin won’t recognise the name Thale Sukpranee or even his artist name, งง , pronounced Ngong. A few more might twig to his nickname Joe, but many, many more people will know who is meant when his iconic street artworks, featuring the “eye” are mentioned. While he has chosen over many years to remain a figure of mystery, his artworks are instantly recognisable to anyone who has walked around Hua Hin with their own eyes even half opened.
Now, Joe has taken the bold move to end his self-imposed anonymity and make a more overt presence in the Hua Hin community. Many artists will list other artists and even musicians as being sources of inspiration to them. For Joe, this is not the case. His art comes from deep within, and is his main means of self-expression. He allows his actions and creations to speak for themselves, and they are much less shy than the man himself.
A “treasure hunt” for Joe’s creations in the streets of Hua Hin will quickly turn up many examples of his work. Joe estimates that there are over a thousand discrete pieces of his art displayed in public places in Hua Hin. Joe has been drawing for as long as he can remember and has over 30,000 drawings to prove it.
A heart often appears in his works, and these are symbolic of love of course, not romantic love, but the love of humanity for each other and the other living things on our planet. The heart is human compassion and solidarity for Joe, and stands in stark contrast to argument and division. Many of his works include graceful birds with intricate, curving plumage.
Joe’s works are definitely organic, with few straight lines in sight. For Joe, the bird, with its ability to soar above the earth, represents freedom, a feeling denied to Joe throughout his schooling and young adulthood. And the eye? In Western art and literature, the eyes have been referred to as the mirrors or even windows of the soul, though there is uncertainty of the origins of this expression. For Joe, the eye is about valuing people by really seeing them: their desires, hopes and needs, and so embracing them with love and gratitude.
Joe was born 41 years ago in Bangkok. Hua Hin is his mother’s home town, so he was acquainted with it from a young age, often visiting Hua Hin during holiday times. Joe’s creative genes come from his mother’s side of the family. Both his mother and his aunt have artistic talent.
Joe seems to live firmly in the present, yet he is optimistic that the collective human spirit will see the world keep improving. He has strong hopes that a greater focus on art within Thailand will improve happiness. Joe uses his art to sow happiness wherever he goes.
On August 11th, Joe will visit Elephant Parade Land in Chiang Mai to paint his full-size elephant ‘Hugs’. This elephant will be the flagship of Elephant Parade Hua Hin, that will be held from 12 October till 22 November 2024.
Winner Elephant Parade Artbox Competition
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