Twelve original, hand-drawn works. One artist stepping from modern Thailand into the world of its ancient myths. SOM GENESIS is not simply a collection of legendary beings. It is Som’s own journey through them.
The journey began with Farewell to a King, a personal beginning before the mythology took shape. Naga, Garuda, Hanuman and Hongsa followed, bringing ancient figures into the life of a modern Thai woman.
That woman is Som’s recurring self-portrait. At first, she stands beside the legends. With each new drawing, the boundary between her everyday world and theirs begins to disappear.
Kinnari, work #6, opens the passage into Himavanta. Kochasri leads Som deeper, and in #8, NARIPHON — The Living Garden, the forest itself comes alive. After 45 hours and 21 minutes of drawing, Som is no longer simply visiting this mythical world. She has become part of it.
Then the forest falls silent. In #9, KARAVIK — The Song of Himavanta, Som and a young forest spirit sit beside the water as the mythical bird reveals itself. Nineteen hours of hand-drawing turn the legend into the quietest chapter of the journey so far: a moment when even Himavanta seems to stop and listen.
At the heart of Himavanta, #10 ERAWAN — The Heart of Himavanta brings Som face to face with the great elephant beneath shafts of light. This is the turning point of her journey: she has reached the deepest part of the mythical forest, and it is time to leave. In #11 THE WAY HOME, she follows the stream toward daylight, looking back once at the world that changed her. Finally, #12 THE LIGHT SHE CARRIES brings her home to Udon Thani. In the quiet morning light, Som begins drawing again. The first lines of a new image carry something of Himavanta into everyday Thailand. SOM GENESIS is complete, but her story continues in SOM SIAM.
Each work is released on Polygon in a permanently limited edition. No additional copies of the same artwork will ever be minted.
