Thai mural artist Uroodong “Ohm” Chongthanatrakol shares why Singapore’s multicultural tapestry and built environment inspire his work.

BY ASIH JENIE

ILLUSTRATION KEN LEE

PHOTO JUST SKETCH

A trained interior designer, Uroodong “Ohm” Chongthanatrakol moved to Singapore from his native Thailand to work in a more cosmopolitan and English-speaking environment.

For him, the old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is a true and proven way of life. He did not speak English when he interned in Singapore in 2002 during his final year at the interior architecture programme of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in Bangkok.

BIG MOVE TO THE LION CITY
After graduating, he worked as a designer at Bangkok-based interior design firm P49 Deesign for five years before moving to Singapore. “As an interior designer, I could learn more about the international industry and construction standards in Singapore,” he shares. “I also wanted to improve my English because it was tough for me to practise it in a Thai environment.”

He worked on these two objectives over the next eight years at big interior and architectural firms. His portfolio included corporate interior designs for the likes of HSBC Bank, Standard Chartered, Phillip Morris, McDonald’s and the now-defunct Uber.

He kept sketching as his English improved. “I used sketches to communicate my designs to my colleagues because I could not explain my ideas in English. I found them really helpful in bridging language barriers,” he recalls.

Uroodong “Ohm” Chongthanatrakol has painted wall murals for the offices of some of the biggest blue-chip firms in Singapore.

Chongthanatrakol sketches for both business and pleasure. He cites legendary British-Iranian architect Zaha Hadid, Japanese maestro Tadao Ando, French modernist Marc Chagall and Russian abstractionist Wassily Kandinsky as influencers of his creative journey.

He also draws inspiration from Singapore’s built environment. “I found the mix of old and new, such as the kind seen in Bugis-Bras Basah and Fullerton Hotel intriguing. I rarely see such amalgamation of architectural epochs in Thailand, where they usually tear down old buildings or renovate them into an entirely new space,” he observes.

That said, he thinks both countries can draw lessons from each other’s architectural approach.

The Thai architecture industry can study how Singapore thinks out of the box by using architecture to create destinations and attractions, such as Marina Bay Sands, whereas Singapore can learn from Thai architects’ innovative use of eco-friendly building materials, he posits.

When he is worn down by the hustle and bustle of Singapore’s urban scenes, he retreats to its greener spots like The Botanic Gardens, Bishan Park and Southern Ridges to unwind.

Uroodong “Ohm” Chongthanatrakol along with his Thai-born wife and business partner, Paranee “Tai” Sanguanpong.

A LEAP OF FAITH
In 2015, Chongthanatrakol decided to be a full-time artist by founding his own company, Just Sketch, with his wife, Paranee “Tai” Sanguanpong. It was quite a leap of faith – he had been told that nobody would buy his artwork, and that he would “eat grass and drink rainwater” for his decision to leave the corporate world to pursue this artistic passion. But his persistence paid off.

Now, the company also sells merchandise of his artworks and conducts urban sketching workshops. It has also cultivated a robust network of artist collaborators that allow it to take on large-scale projects in some of the most prominent spaces in Singapore.

“My clients want to communicate their branding and stories to visitors and audiences. The artworks usually talk about their business, presence and history. We believe people remember pictures better than words,” he says.

He has successfully leveraged his design training, network and fresh outsider’s perspective to tailor a visual solution to his client’s vision. “I’m not an expert on human emotions, but when I am commissioned to draw a mural for a workplace, I know it needs to boost people’s mood and energy through the addition of layers such as places, people and food,” he says.

“Initially, I thought Singapore was just a modern city with no cultural roots. Now, I find it rich in cultural diversity. Singaporeans can easily adapt to and blend into different cultures.”

EVOLVING WITH SINGAPORE
A day at Just Sketch comprises concept brainstorming, designing and meeting clients in the morning – “While our brains are still fresh!” he says – and hand-drawing and executing in the afternoon either at a client’s site or the company’s studio. Chongthanatrakol also freelances as a co-curricular activities instructor with the Ministry of Education, and continues his journey documenting snapshots of Singapore’s cultural and architectural heritage.

When asked how his perception of the Lion City has evolved in the 17 years in the country, he admits: “Initially, I thought Singapore was just a modern city with no cultural roots. Now, I find it rich in cultural diversity. Singaporeans can easily adapt to and blend into different cultures. It is so beautiful to see the harmony.”

And three things he loves in Singapore only get better. “When I first arrived, I loved its cleanliness, abundant greenery and char kway teow. Today, I still love the cleanliness, its Park Connector Network lined with big trees, and hawker food, especially wonton noodles at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre in the Chinatown precinct.”