Siamese Smile: May I Come In? シャムの微笑：入ってもいい？

After graduating from Silpakorn University in 1988, Chatchai won many prizes and started his career as an artist with great flare. His acute eye that critically capture the realities of today's Thailand, together with his technical expertise, is praised both inside and outside his country. He also runs an art gallery with his wife Pinaree Sanpitak with the purpose of innovating the Thai art world. Thailand is often called a country of smiles for its people's gentle nature. Chatchai presents a cynical view of his country through his series "Siamese Smile" which feature huge faces very much like his own. The phrase "May I Come In?" in the title is understood to be the artist's own words uttered against the art world of more industrialized countries, but the unhinged smile that fill the whole picture to overwhelm the pretty pink roses is very astonishing. From the inscription at lower right, we see that this work was painted during his stay in Mito city.