Discover how self-taught artist Sophirat Muangkum turns curiosity into creation, using her lens to explore identity and freedom. 

Every act of creation begins with a question. In that uncertain space between knowing and not knowing, imagination takes shape. 

Sophirat Muangkum’s journey into art began not in a classroom, but through curiosity. That space of exploration exists behind the lens. Her photographs are not just images, but reflections of identity, the body and what it means to feel free in a world full of expectations. Combining research, symbolism and raw emotion, Sophirat crafts visual stories that invite people to pause and think.

We sat down with her to discuss her journey, her body of work and the values that inspire her creativity.

Turning Vision Into Reality With Camera

Sophirat Muangkum grew up in a house filled with art and crafts. Her family ran a factory that produced spoons and forks. But the one who sparked her love for art was her father, who often took her to galleries and museums, planting the seeds of creativity. Yet, as a child, Sophirat never saw herself as an artist.

“I thought I wasn’t good at art,” she admits. “In class I always asked why a leaf had to be green, or why we had to paint in one direction. It made me feel like art just wasn’t for me. I always thought outside the box.” 

Years later she found herself in the corporate world, working in sales and marketing. For a while it suited her perfectionist nature. But the stress soon became heavy. That search led her back to art and instead of painting, she picked a camera. 

“I developed anxiety and depression. That’s when I started looking for a way to balance logic and creativity, something that could help me release the stress. I’m a perfectionist and I don’t like getting my hands dirty, so the camera is a good medium to turn what I see in my mind into something real.”

The idea of using a camera also stemmed from her love of travelling. She often journeyed with friends who were passionate about landscape photography.

“Those friends of mine always liked to take photos in the early morning or late afternoon when the light was at its best. So in the afternoons when the light was too harsh, they didn’t do much. I’ve always enjoyed dressing up so they’d ask me to be their model for a bit of fun.

But looking at those photos made me wonder — why didn’t they shoot me from this angle, or with that background? No one captured me the way I imagined so I started setting up the camera and photographing myself.” 

She taught herself photography and that was the best part for her, as she can choose the freedom to create on her own terms without anyone dictating what she should do.

Breaking Boundaries Through Creation

“My work isn’t just about the beauty of objects or people. There needs to be a message beneath the surface. I question everything I experience and everything around me, and I use that curiosity to research and explore the ideas I want to express.” 

Her work focuses on nude photography which goes beyond the art of nudity. It explores the identity of people. 

“In the first few years of working as an artist, I thought I was simply fascinated by people’s skin. But what I’ve come to realise is that what lies beneath the skin is freedom. I grew up in a conservative family and I’ve always been a bit of a rebel. Through exploring nudity in photography I discovered something deeper, which is my own sense of freedom. It feels like returning to real humanity. Taking off clothes is like taking down walls; it allows us to have honest, genuine conversations.” 

Here we rummage into one of her projects that explores identity beyond nudity page by page. Decentralised Thainess is her first solo exhibition, born from the idea that some people felt her work wasn’t “Thai” enough. This became an opportunity for her to collaborate with local communities and she launched the project in 2024 at 333Gallery, Warehouse30.

“For this work I spent four to five years proving how my work embodies Thainess,” she says. 

“I explored all four regions of Thailand: the North, Northeast, South and Central to show that being Thai is about the people who live here – it’s not a single way of thinking. It’s diverse. Even though my work breaks conventions, it still reflects what it truly means to be Thai.” 

The idea for one photograph series from the northern region in The Secret of Skin emerged during a car journey. On her way to a shoot she noticed large areas of forest that had been cut down. Moved by what she saw, she took her model into the forest to create a mini series of images for the project that spoke about the destruction of nature, a reminder that humans are small in comparison and can never truly own it.

The set may not appear to embody traditional notions of “Thainess” as there are no Thai costumes or temple settings in the photographs. She mentions that at the time there was extensive news coverage about deforestation in the northern region, something that should deeply concern us as it destroys the country’s natural environment. And to her that is “Thai” enough. Thainess lives within each Thai individual and in everything that surrounds them.

As she travels, she works with different local people. Her working style is all about allowing the models to explore their own body language as it naturally reveals the beauty of each person’s individuality. 

The models are free to choose the locations themselves  while Sophirat helps shape the concept and guide the ideas they wish to express. Being a self-taught artist she encourages others to explore their bodies with the same sense of freedom that she brings to her own art.

“I’d like people to look beyond the words art or obscenity. Just open your mind, read the artist’s statement, and take a moment to understand. My work is research-based and full of symbolism. Try viewing the images through your own experiences; see what they have to say to you.”

Sophirat’s works are held in prestigious collections, including MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum and MOCA Bangkok. She participated in the Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 under the theme Nature Gaia, and her works have been exhibited at major venues such as the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Photo Fair Thailand at BITEC, Toot Yung Art Centre in Chiang Mai, Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film in Singapore, Rebel Art Space in Bangkok, and Innerspace in Los Angeles.

Freedom Found Through Artistic Exploration

“There’s another project where I tell the story of forest fires. I actually placed myself in those areas to capture the physical reactions of the human body to the impact of the fires. At that time I broke out in hives and couldn’t even photograph myself. But I wanted to keep pushing my limits to have the strength to keep sending a message to others.” 

These days Sophirat often takes part in workshops and talks to voice her ideas and the stories behind her work. She hopes to present her art in as many different contexts as possible, interpreting it in new ways to make the storytelling even stronger. 

She leaves with a message inspiring others who might be facing challenges in finding the right path. 

“Do what makes you happy. You’re the one who can truly encourage yourself the most. Others may doubt you, but don’t doubt yourself. Create KPIs for your life, like what you should achieve in three months or a year, and work hard to meet your own goals. And if you’re going to ask questions make sure you ask them the right way. Mindset is crucial. Instead of asking why nobody understands my work, ask why they don’t understand it,  and what I can do to make them see. We need to prove it through what we do.”