A Colorful Craft: Mit Jai Inn
To celebrate his new commission for the UBS Art Collection at ART SG 2025, Thai artist Mit Jai Inn invites us into his studio to explore his deep connection with light, color, and craft.
Celebrated for his distinctive colored artworks that defy conventional boundaries, Mit Jai Inn’s philosophy is deeply intertwined with the concept of light – an element he views as central to “his existence, his being.”
In this studio interview, he reflects on how color serves as the material embodiment of light, shaping his artistic expression. Each hue and brushstroke becomes a reflection of the interplay between colors and emotions, revealing his unique experimentation with tonal nuances. Mit likens his artistic process to cooking, emphasizing the meticulous care and skill he takes in selecting materials and techniques.
I try to make it myself. How to make oil-based color, but making it strong and even bake it in the sun. It becomes cooking to me. I found that every grain is transparent, sensitive to light.
Since the late 1980s, Mit has created artworks that invite viewers to move, navigate, and look beyond the surface. His latest works, commissioned by the UBS Art Collection—Through the Screen(2024), The Window(2024), and The Wall (2024)—transform space into environments for physical and conceptual exploration. These hanging sculptures and double-sided paintings, adorned with distinctive colors and patterns, encourage viewers to engage in a personal yet communal dialogue, dissolving the boundaries between art and everyday life.
Drawing inspiration from historical art movements, particularly pre-Renaissance frescoes and techniques, Mit strives to capture the vibrancy and richness of color in a contemporary context. His artistic journey was profoundly influenced by his mother and the rich craft traditions of Thailand, where he was surrounded by artisans who wove intricate patterns from silk and cotton. This early exposure to craft has shaped his understanding and appreciation of materiality, making it an integral part of his work that marries the old and the new.
We see painting not only as narrative, not only its surface, but to see how it is treated. You treat it [over] many layers and you wait, and then you clean again, and retouch it and scratch it, and then you add it up until you feel okay. We call this craft.
As he approaches his 70th birthday, Mit reflects on the future of his artistic journey. His work is not just about visual aesthetics; it fosters a living conversation that challenges viewers to engage with art in profound ways. Through his unique lens on color and light, Mit Jai Inn continues to redefine the boundaries of contemporary art, creating immersive spaces where viewers can connect, reflect, and experience the color of life.
