Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are answers to some common questions about Sina Wittayawiroj’s journey, his work, and his philosophy.

1. Who is Sina Wittayawiroj and what kind of art does he make?

Sina Wittayawiroj is a Thai visual artist, graphic designer, and cultural activist. He began his career in fine arts with a focus on printmaking and mixed media, but his journey has since evolved significantly. Today, he primarily operates as a “creator” under the brand Sina Wittayawiroj®. His work is a direct response to the socio-political landscape of Thailand, characterized by the use of strong, saturated colors and satire to record political movements, challenge authoritarianism, critique the elite, and parody historical narratives to comment on present-day issues.

2. Why did Sina Wittayawiroj burn his artwork in “The Last Exhibition” (2017)?

That act was the culmination of Sina’s profound sense of disillusionment with the institutional art world. It began when his solo show, “Beat Around the Bush,” which dealt with a sensitive part of Thai history, was censored and canceled in 2016. In response, he created an impromptu exhibition called “This Show Is Canceled,” displaying the evidence of its own censorship. A year later, feeling that the original artwork had lost its meaning, he decided to destroy it completely by burning it and exhibiting the ashes in “The Last Exhibition.” It was a final protest against censorship and a symbolic act of severing his ties with the role of a traditional “artist” operating within that system.

3. Why does Sina prefer the term “creator” or “illustrator” over “artist”?

After his experience with censorship and disillusionment with the art world’s exclusivity, Sina wanted to break away from the sacred, often inaccessible-seeming title of “artist.” Calling himself a “creator” or “illustrator” is a political choice. It is about democratizing the creative process and acknowledging that his work—from digital illustrations and merchandise to community projects—is about direct communication and social engagement, not just about producing works for galleries. It’s a way to be more inclusive and invite everyone to participate in cultural commentary.

4. What is ALIEN Artspace and why did Sina start it in Khon Kaen?

ALIEN Artspace is an independent, alternative art space founded by Sina Wittayawiroj in Khon Kaen. The name comes from his personal feeling of being an “alien” or an outsider, never fully belonging to any single community. He noticed a lack of spaces for artistic expression in the region compared to Bangkok and wanted to create a platform for voices considered “other” by the mainstream. ALIEN Artspace challenges the centralized definition of Thai art and beauty, focusing instead on showcasing the diverse, contemporary voice of Isaan. It is an experimental space that operates on “cultural profit”—building community and sharing knowledge—rather than financial gain.

5. Sina is known for creating political illustrations for protests. What drives this work?

This work is driven by necessity. As Sina has said before, “If the country wasn’t in ruins, I wouldn’t be drawing things like this.” During the 2020-2022 pro-democracy protests, his illustrations became a tool to immediately respond to events, support the movement, and provide a visual language for resistance. It was about using art to document what was happening and to empower people. This led to his collaborations with groups like the Ratsadon movement and Art Freed (ศิลปะปลดแอก), and to his co-founding of the “Illustrators” (นักวาดภาพประกอบ) group to build a community of creators dedicated to social change.

6. Why does Sina use a “free copyright” (Copyleft/CC0) approach for much of his digital work?

Sina believes that cultural knowledge and imagery, especially when tied to social movements, should be a shared resource. His philosophy is that the images he creates are common property; everyone should be able to use, share, and adapt them to further the conversation. He feels the real issue is theft for commercial exploitation, not the act of sharing or parody. By making his work freely available under principles like Creative Commons Zero (CC0), he hopes to contribute to a more open and collaborative cultural ecosystem while finding other ways to sustain his practice.

7. What is Sina’s advice for young or aspiring artists in Thailand today?

His most important piece of advice is for them to just try, thinking of it like playing a game as a child. He encourages giving oneself space to fail, as failure is a normal and essential part of learning, especially in a world that often only showcases success. He recommends finding friends with shared interests to form a community, as there is strength in coming together. Most crucially, he advises them to try and think outside the capitalist framework, recognizing that a dream’s value isn’t measured in money, but in how it nourishes one’s inner self and contributes something meaningful to a community.