Pannaphan Yodmanee’s first art lesson took place at Wat Ka Pied Temple located next to her home in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. She started off with traditional Thai art, painting and restoring mural art on the walls of the Buddhist temple. Her skills improved as she began to do small jobs outside of the temple, painting signs for local events, from ordination ceremonies to funerals. She submitted her work to compete for TOSHIBA’s art awards when she was in junior high, just before she pursued her studies at the College of Fine Arts of Nakhon Si Thammarat with the hopes of being accepted into Silpakorn University in Bangkok. The most recent update in her rising success is her naming as the winner of the 11th Benesse Prize, making her the second Thai artist to be given the award after Rirkrit Tiravanija won in 2003.
