Warocha “Richy” Soontornsiri

As an artist, I specialize in creating two-dimensional pieces using oil painting, acrylic painting, and collage techniques. In my creative exploration, I find profound inspiration in the metaphor of skin to portray the body as a container that holds human emotions, experiences, and history. The skin serves as the organ that separates an individual’s internal world from the external one.

My focus has not been solely on my existence but instead has included the existence of others. As human beings, we cannot isolate ourselves from others. Part of who we are is a result of internalization from society. The internalization of societal influences becomes a pivotal aspect of self-discovery in my work.

Over the years, from 2018 to 2023, art has been my medium to navigate and comprehend the complexities of immigration, leading me to a better understanding of my sense of belonging in the United States. The pieces showcased in this exhibition are a manifestation of evolving my artist, art therapist, and international student identities throughout my grad school journey. By acknowledging the coexistence of others within me, I emphasize the significance of collective experience and aim to initiate interactive artwork to share my experiences with others in public spaces. Through this artwork, I would like to extend an invitation for everyone to have the opportunity to learn about these experiences I had. The exploration of my meaning of life in this world has been a journey through time. The search continues, and this body of work marks both the end and the beginning of a new chapter in my life.