Weekend picks

Published on November 23, 2007

Phayungsak Jaruphan, creative director for the DY&R advertising agency, recently opened his first art show, entitled "Stupidoll" at Manga by Playground. On display is a colourful collection of garden snail-shaped dolls, plus limited-edition bizarre-looking sock dolls, called Stupidolls.

"After I presented so many brilliant ideas through many creative advertising jobs, I wanted to enjoy doing something weird that's different from my day job", says Phayungsak, a graduate of Suan Dusit Teachers College's Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts.

At first Phayungsak wanted to make innovative presents to give his friends for any occasion. So he used his skill and new socks with beautiful graphic designs to produce a line of handmade cute dolls featuring strange-looking figures and faces. They are filledwith polyester and come in black, blue, grey, brown, green, pink and white.

"My family went into the tailoring business when I was young. So learned how to become a tailor. A few months ago I used my knowledge to sew a line of Stupidolls featuring socks with graphic designs as a hobby", says Phayungsak, 40. "Stupidolls have bizarre figures, but I think that they look cute with their odd characteristics".

Phayungsak's designs are inspired by Thai lifestyles that can be found in newspapers, films and cartoons. For example a thin rabbit named Bony is symbolic of a mannequin, Fag is a grey doll with cigarette and Bald is inspired by a motorcyclist without a helmet.

Some creations are inspired by animals such as Fizzy, a creamy-brown squid, Bunny is a grey rabbit with long ears and Mohawk is a black and white zebra.

A collection of Stupidolls costs Bt790. The exhibition runs until November 30 at Manga by Playground in CentralWorld. Part of proceeds will be donated to charity. 

Bacco and Fag

Bacco comes in black and white, and Fag is grey. They feature cigarettes and are inspired by men who love smoking.

Tripod

Tripod is a ghost doll with one eye and comes in vivid shades of pink, green, yellow and grey.

Bunny and Eye

Bunny is a grey rabbit with long ears. Eye is an alien and is coloured white, yellow and orange.

Teethy, Boney and Octo

Teethy is a fat white rabbit, Octo is a black squid with a red mouth, and Bony is a thin white rabbit inspired by a fashion model.

Coo

The cream-coloured bird Coo features tiny wings and many legs.

Bogey and Squidoll

A green cloth doll, called Bogey is inspired by ghost with one eye featuring four arms, and a squid-shaped doll featuring stripe design comes in white and black is Squidoll.

Pattarawadee Saengmanee