Author: Seb Toussaint

AMOR. – acrylic on a 50×50 cm canvas.

Art for sale, contact me for more info!

HEART 50×70 cm – acrylic on canvas. Artwork for sale contact me for more info.

A few weeks ago in Thailand, Ooi – the leader of the slum – gave me the word « heart ». She talked about the importance of having a good heart, being generous and caring. It’s a word I have never been asked to paint anywhere else, and I think it really suited the community. Also, I just love it when I get new words to work with!

“Freedom”. Risograph print – edition of 30 prints numbered and signed. 30×40 cm.

Available here : https://sebtoussaint.bigcartel.com/

Freedom is a word I have been asked to paint 9 times in 11 years of painting people’s words in slums and refugee camps. For obvious reasons, « Freedom » has been chosen most of all by victims of opression, particularly in Syria, Palestine, and Venezuela.

This is my first ever risograph print! I loved going through the process of choosing what inks to mix and to what degree, in order to obtain the colours.

Taking you to Phra Chen.

Oat chose the word « ศิลปะ », pronounced « Ṣ̄ilapa », and meaning « art » in Thai.

She loves art and has been thinking about painting her own wall for a while. She told me she has seen the walls I have painted around the slum and she really appreciates my art and muralism in general.
I have now painted 9 murals in Phra Chen, and it’s time for me to say goodbye.
I’m giving my left-over paint to Oat for her to paint the other part of her wall! Can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with!

Mae chose the word “興” , pronounced “xīng” and meaning “to rise”.

Mae chose the word “興” , pronounced “xīng” and meaning “to rise”.

She is both Thai and Chinese and wanted me to write her word using the traditional Chinese script. This word refers to life and how we rise during our lifetime as human beings. Mae is a mother and a grandmother and has an important role in her family, being the eldest.
In 2012 during a trip to Beijing I painted in Chinese for the first time and I just love the balance of each character, or logograph. I feel like each character even in a very simple font is beautiful in itself. This particular one appears to be standing on two feet, which I thinks goes well with its meaning!

Prem chose the word “สนุก”, pronounced “sanuk” and meaning “fun” in Thai.

Prem chose the word “สนุก”, pronounced “sanuk” and meaning “fun” in Thai.

Prem was one of the first friends I made in the slum. He is 12 years old and just knows a few words of English, but more importantly he really wants to communicate and always finds a way.
While I’m painting we have a lot of fun playing a very simple game. We take turns to call two footballers – usually who play(ed) in the same position – and the other chooses the better one. He started this game with “Ronaldo or Messi?” but Prem has studied the game and soon he was asking me “Iniesta or De Bruyne?”, “Scholes or Seedorf?”, “Cannavaro or Van Dijk?”
When I told him I was a goalkeeper he made a special goalkeeper series, and after eliminating Banks, Casillas, Cech, Neuer and Schmichel, I got stuck on the final question “Buffon or Lev Yashin?”. There’s often a point in the afternoon where we drink soy milk together and maybe have a kick of the ball before it gets too dark.
Football is hugely important in Thailand, like almost everywhere around the world. So many times it’s helped me make friends, giving me a common language with so many people.

Tuk Ta chose the word “มิตรภาพ”, pronounced “mitraphāph” and meaning “Friendship”.