A Podcast Production Project: Exploring Art Through Artists’ Stories

Abstract

This creative research project aimed to: (1) examine the pathways through which Thai contemporary artists enter artistic practice, including their concepts, inspirations, creative processes, and modes of disseminating contemporary artworks; and (2) utilize the findings to produce a video podcast functioning as a communicative space connecting artists and audiences through artistic narratives. The project employed the conceptual frameworks of contemporary art and podcast production. Data were collected through documentary research and in-depth interviews with two Thai contemporary artists. The findings revealed that contemporary artists enter the field of artistic practice through diverse pathways, not limited to those with formal art education, but also through the development of artistic expression grounded in life experiences. The artists’ creative concepts reflected the use of art as a medium for expressing personal identity and perspectives on various issues. Their artistic inspirations were derived from personal experiences and social contexts. The creative processes of the artists were characterized by continuous experimentation and self-directed learning. In terms of dissemination, the artists connected their artworks with the everyday lives of audiences through multiple communication channels. Based on these findings, two episodes of a video podcast were produced. Each episode employed conversational storytelling centered on three contemporary artworks by each artist. The narrative structure consisted of: (1) the beginning of the artist’s career path, (2) turning points and artworks that brought public recognition, and (3) the artist’s identity, concepts, and current artistic direction. Each episode ranged from 40 to 60 minutes in length and was published on the YouTube channel “ชีวิต(ศิล)ป่ะ? Podcast.”