Mixed-media artist Jutaphit Usaha uses her passion for performance and installation art to tell her riveting life story.

The 23-year-old, who recently graduated from Silpakorn University with a bachelor's degree in painting, sculpture and graphic arts in mixed media, is already creating a splash with her online art thesis exhibition "Death, Nativity And Existence: Developing Between Time And Space".

The exhibition bares open her private journey of coming out as queer and addressing her bipolar disorder.

"I am not particularly comfortable sharing the intimate details of my life with others, but I found it necessary to address these issues in my thesis because the emotions were still raw," said Jutaphit, by nature a recluse. "I would still prefer the audience to view my art as abstract, or better still a third person point of view, than a form of my baring life for the world to see.

"People say I am an enigma, and they are probably right. My bold characterisation of myself in this art form contradicts my actual personality, which is rather reserved. It turned out to be a cathartic moment for me as I was able to release some unresolved issues that I had bottled up."

Struggling with gender dysphoria from a young age put Jutaphit in a vulnerable emotional state when dealing with relationships. Adding to her struggles was a later diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

She has a tattoo that reads "The theatre of life is a great tragedy", mirroring her tumultuous past.

(Photos courtesy of Silpakorn University)

Today she opts to view the hardships she faced earlier in life through a philosophical lens, channelling her energy into her future goals.

She is passionate about theatre, writing, directing and performing. In particular, she finds her niche in theatre lighting, a craft she hopes to explore in future career opportunities.

On a more personal note, Jutaphit said being both queer and bipolar have played different roles in the artist she has become today.

"Being queer and finding myself being bipolar both have impacted my life as an artist in different ways," enthused the pint-sized talent. "By coming out I was able to deal with my emotions in a more constructive manner, especially when it came to dealing with relationships both at home and outside.

"Being comfortable in my skin helped me to better channel my emotions through my artwork which requires deep communication. I allowed myself to experience love, suffering, even expectations that are doomed to fail, without necessarily becoming overwhelmed, in this manner I am able to create content that is an expression of my perspective on issues I chose to present in a way I am comfortable."

While dealing with mental health issues is never easy, Jutaphit did not allow it to hamper the direction her art career would take.

"I am still on the fence if whether being diagnosed as bipolar five years ago was a blessing in disguise. What I can say is that it has impacted my creativity and imagination, sometimes in ways that I would not necessarily consider.

"It assists me to channel these emotions into my art creations. I have used this time to brush up my skills in communication, understanding human nature and the uniqueness of my art form. Being able to accept myself has helped me to have a more positive attitude in whatever I set to accomplish, which then impacts the manner with which I communicate as an artist."

Jutaphit directed and produced her thesis exhibition with meticulous planning. She explores the existence of humanity through the various stages of life.

She wrote and performs the piece, showcasing emotions such as happiness, hope and failure, fluctuating in its emotional intensity through different segments.

Questioning is an integral part of understanding why certain situations occur in each scene, notes Jutaphit.

"There is a great degree of philosophy involved in my attempt to address birth, existence and death. In my installation work, I use video to highlight one main character's journey through life, space and time, how from birth one exists and eventually the curtains come down and death is imminent.

"Time is an integral part in this life journey that we have no power over."

Jutaphit said she reminds herself to live in the present and not take life for granted.

"I am realising that everyone is fighting their personal battles and so to lessen my expectations of them. And yes of me as well.

"The person I am today is the result of my past experiences, some of which were traumatic. I have had to unlearn certain behaviour in my efforts to develop a better version of myself, and by so doing become the artist I am meant to be."

Jutaphit's works can be viewed at psg73.com/mixedmedia73.