Supachet Bhumakarn reveals the inner workings of his new exhibition on our national animal.

Medium: I learnt about carving, painting and printing photos while I was studying. But acrylic is simple and dries fast, unlike oil colors. I don’t like to take a long time to draw one picture.

Subject: The elephant is the symbol of Thailand. I’ve been drawing them since 2002, when I graduated from Chiang Mai University. I started going to elephant camps every month, getting closer to my subject. At first, I was scared by the size and black rough skin. I wasn’t sure what it was thinking of behind its small eyes. My feelings changed after I played with a calf. Both the mother and baby were cheeky and smart.

Symbolism: Freedom! I want to show the feeling of freedom that comes from living with nature and animals. Saranya Srikhamlert