It started with people talking about how expensive Bangkok has become, especially when it comes to food and everyday living costs. Some wondered how people in Bangkok could afford to live like this.

Then someone responded with something along the lines of, “You don’t understand because you’re not a Bangkok native.”

And somehow, that became a meme.

Since then, the term “Bangkok Native” has been jokingly associated with expensive lifestyles, looking glamorous, and living like everything is perfectly normal, even when the prices are ridiculously high.

As someone who was born and raised in Bangkok, I couldn’t help laughing. But it also made me think about what being a Bangkok native actually means to me.

Of course, Bangkok has its glamorous side. But there’s also a lot more to everyday life here.

There’s the traffic that sometimes feels like it will never end. There’s air pollution, tangled electrical wires everywhere, and those rainy days when getting home can become a real challenge. Sometimes, even carrying an umbrella doesn’t help much.

These are things many of us have simply learned to live with.

But here’s the funny part. Even with all these problems, Bangkok still has its own charm.

We have beautiful temples, interesting buildings, busy streets, and so many different sides of the city. Even the messy electrical wires and crowded streets sometimes become interesting backgrounds for fashion photography.

Something that annoys us in everyday life can actually look beautiful from another perspective.

That’s what inspired this artwork series.

I wanted to show Bangkok through my own eyes, using surreal images, a little exaggeration, and some humor.

The traffic becomes mountains of cars. The pollution looks almost beautiful, although real PM2.5 is definitely not beautiful at all! The electrical wires become part of the scenery, and even an umbrella can’t seem to save us from the rain.

I also chose to keep my characters dressed in gold. Gold is part of my artistic style, but it also fits the glamorous image that people jokingly associate with Bangkok natives.

I like the contrast between these elegant characters and the not-so-elegant situations around them.

Personally, I prefer living in the quieter suburban areas of Bangkok rather than right in the busy city center. I love that side of Bangkok too.

Still, I was born here, grew up here, and this city has always been my home.

There are plenty of things to complain about, but there are also plenty of things to love.

So, what does it feel like to be a Bangkok native?

For me, it’s not really about living a glamorous lifestyle. It’s about living with all these little contradictions, finding humor in the chaos, and sometimes discovering beauty in the most unexpected places.

Bangkok can be tiring, messy, and unpredictable.

But I still love it.

Maybe that’s just part of being a Bangkok native.