Meet visual artist from Bangkok, Tuna Dunn.

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Tunlaya and I’m a 26-year-old visual artist from Bangkok, Thailand. My works mainly consist of illustrations, comics, animation, and graphic design but I’m also working with sculptures and installations at the moment as well. People normally know me as Tuna Dunn.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I’m currently ending my time in London and going back to Bangkok soon. What I love about London is the creative scene and the music scene but in the end, I’m going back to Bangkok where you can live your life almost 24/7 and has the best street food.

 

What I love about London is the creative scene and the music scene but in the end, I’m going back to Bangkok where you can live your life almost 24/7 and has the best street food.

 

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The worst thing about London is the weather and the high cost of living. The worst thing about Bangkok is the weather and the commute.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

FAST, CHEAP, GROWING

 

How did you start your career in art?

It officially started when my first graphic novel was published in 2013.

 

It officially started when my first graphic novel was published in 2013.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

Luckily, everyone in my life has always been supportive and I’m very lucky to have met many kind people that had helped me throughout my career.

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I want to expand my work both in mediums and subjects in the future. I hope to maintain my commercial side and still being able to experiment and evolve.

 

I want to expand my work both in mediums and subjects in the future. I hope to maintain my commercial side and still being able to experiment and evolve.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

I would love to do anything music-related so a collaboration with any bands that I love is a dream come true to me.

 

How would you describe the women around you?

They are all different but I love seeing my friends grow up to be more independent together. There are a lot of creatives in Bangkok who are women as well.

 

They are all different but I love seeing my friends grow up to be more independent together. There are a lot of creatives in Bangkok who are women as well.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

There’s none. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention to who I want to be like in the future. I never really had an idol and it wasn’t a problem for me when I was young.

 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

People expect you to make feminine art when you are female and sometimes they use the fact that you are a woman to sell or promote your work which I honestly never liked. They tend to brand you with cuteness or feminism. I prefer to be just an artist not a ‘female artist’.

 

Never soften yourself just because someone decides you are not cute enough.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Work hard. Your work is the most important thing. Be kind but strong. Never soften yourself just because someone decides you are not cute enough.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Tuna Dunn.