This series was inspired by the Buddhist teaching of Vipallāsa, which refers to distorted perception, or the way we sometimes see and understand things differently from what they really are.

In Thai, the word “วิปลาส” can also mean something abnormal, unusual, or distorted. I wanted to combine these two meanings and express them through surreal images that blend human and animal forms.

I began by asking myself why we often judge things based on our beliefs, feelings, or preconceived ideas, even though reality may be very different from what we think.

For example, crows are sometimes seen as signs of bad luck. Pigs are associated with laziness. Snakes, with their forked tongues, are often used as symbols of dishonesty. Snails may remind some people of leeches. Worms are often considered ugly or disgusting simply because of their appearance and the way they move. Even chickens can be associated with the idea of making sharp, hurtful remarks, or what we call “จิกกัด” in Thai.

But in reality, these animals are not inherently good or bad in the ways humans describe them. They are simply living according to their nature.

I chose to combine humans and animals to create forms that look different from what we are used to seeing. I also intentionally mixed things that some people might consider ugly, frightening, or unpleasant with beautiful elements such as vibrant colors, flowers, and artistic textures.

I wanted beauty and strangeness to exist together in the same image, adding another dimension to the meaning of Vipallāsa. My intention was to create something that could attract viewers while also making them question what they were looking at.

Because in the end, what we consider beautiful or ugly, good or bad, may not depend entirely on the thing itself. It may also depend on our own thoughts, beliefs, and the way our minds interpret what we see.