Chutima Khaowmeesri

Riding full speed between the trucks of Klong Toei toward Phra Khanong, I wondered who Clay really was. I had a vague idea she was involved in fashion or tattooing, but as usual, I save my research for after the shoot, focusing first on the human side of my subject.

She told me her space was small, but once she took me in, I saw it was well-curated. I immediately recognised works by some of my friends on the walls. Her cat, Onyx, looked sassy in photographs but was unfelinely friendly.

Clay served me a soda with lemon. “I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs,” she told me, and we began chatting. Chutima “Clay” Khaowmeesri is a Bangkok-based creative director and founder of 1101 SinceBirth. Like her tattoo-inspired project Black is the Only Colour, her house, cat, clothes, and bikes are all black. She adopted Onyx because no one else wanted him; a sad reality for black cats, now slowly changing thanks to the movie Flow.

I remembered seeing her on a custom bike a few years ago, which she had kept hidden from her family to avoid worrying them. When her dad discovered it, he didn’t scold her; he bought his own bike! Sadly, he passed away from cancer this year. While mourning, Clay took his bike and re-customised it for her. With no seat behind, it’s just her, a way to feel free, and a way to grieve, riding with the memory of her dad on sunny days.

Just outside her condo, we took a few shots before sunset. After some somtam, we parted ways; her, born to be wild, and me on the back of a GrabBike.