Kantapon "Gongkan" Metheekul joins the rank of Thai artists who have collaborated with Casetify, the global lifestyle brand known for phone cases and tech accessories, alongside the likes of Phannapast "Yoon" Taychamaythakool and Nakrob Moonmanas.
The noted Thai artist, an alumnus from Silpakorn University's Faculty of Decorative Arts, is known in the contemporary art scene in Thailand and internationally with memorable collaborations with brands such as Carnival, Johnnie Walker and Lomography, as well as solo exhibitions abroad in Paris and Beijing. Louis Vuitton also commissioned him for a private art showcase for the LV Men FW22 show in Thailand.
The "Casetify Artist Presents: Gongkan" collection also marks the official launch of Casetify's second brand in Bangkok, which is on the M floor of Emsphere.
Known for his teleportation theme, Gongkan said, "My portal represents another dimension that allows you to escape from a situation in which you're unhappy for a happier and hopeful world."
His struggle of trying to make his name known in the art scene catalysed the theme which later became his signature.
"It started when I was in New York and wanted to become a full-time artist. After quitting my job at an advertising agency, I found it difficult to find an avenue to display my artwork for a while. It felt like a dead end but, at the same time, I came up with teleportation portals. I wanted to have my work shown in galleries but no one would take a chance on a nobody like me to do so. I then decided to get my work out through street art. I brought my teleportation portals to public spaces such as walls and containers in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They were sanctioned as I had to submit my work for approval beforehand."
The collection comprises five distinct patterns and styles that embody his artistic signature. He created three new designs exclusively for Casetify while the rest was taken from his previously exhibited pieces. However, the pièce de résistance, or should I say three pièces de résistance, of the collection, is a limited edition box set containing three phone cases.
Each box comes with three phone cases namely The Earth, The Sun and The Moon which respectively represent abundance and happiness, one's inner strength and peace. They come in as box sets — there are only 100 such boxes worldwide — called Teleporters along with an exclusive shopping bag and autographed edition card.
"This is the first time my canvas is phone cases. This new surface can be experimented with various techniques. For example, we have incorporated mirrors in the middle of phone cases to represent teleportation portals."
While he admits that largely the portals he created in New York represent the same idea as the portals he does now, they grow to have a deeper meaning.
When asked what his collection embodies, he said, "I wish everyone had a way out [of unpleasant situations] and stay hopeful. I'm a sensitive person and I experience disappointment and feel like giving up from time to time. While I heal myself by creating art, I hope it will also do the same for others. I work through sadness and disappointment by creating art and I can sympathise that life comes with hardship but I also appreciate that good things await us as well."
Speaking of good things to come, Gongkan reveals he will have his tenth solo show in Changsha, China in cooperation with Tang Contemporary Art next year and plans to have another solo show in Thailand later next year, too.
Gongkan's designs can be found on Casetify's phone cases, Macbook cases, iPad cases and other accessories. The hopeful collection will be available for an exclusive seven-day sale, from Dec 12, at the Emsphere store before its worldwide release. As a special treat for Gongkan fans, those who purchase two or more items from the collection or the box set will receive a personalised autograph from the artist and a specially designed poster.
