This yearbook brings together twenty creatives and community organisers from all walks of life: musicians, visual artists, dancers, art collectives, and everything in between. From personal to political, their contributions reflect diverse forms of community-building through care. How do they inspire each other? Who do they care for? How do they care? 💘
- Name: Sumit Bunthanon
- Sustainable Fashion Creative
- Pronouns: he/him
- Age: 27
- Location: Ghent
- Instagram: @prjct.sum.vzw and @vzw.vzw
What do you care most about, and how is it relevant to your art/practice? It could be a social issue, your community, yourself, or anything!
Self-expression is truly what matters to me, either if it’s through, music, fashion, art, or dance, I don’t care. Express yourselves, don’t let people tell you differently. If one is not able to express themselves through whatever medium they’re not living.
Three words that come to mind when you hear the term ‘care’?
Self-care, family, self-expression.
What inspires you to care more for others, or to use your art/practice as a platform to do so?
A better world for myself and others.
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How do you hope to inspire others?
By expressing myself and being a free artist and encouraging people to do so as well.
What type of change do you want to inspire in your community/environment?
By making people conscious of sustainable fashion in a ‘cool’ way instead of pointing fingers. I want to change the world, do you?
How much influence do you think (y)our backgrounds have on (y)our art and practices?
A lot; our art, practice and what we do in general are all influenced by our experiences.
What are some challenges that you face while doing what you are passionate about?
Hmmm, I would say it could be better financially, but hey I’ll get there.
How do you define ‘community’?
A place where you can connect, a safe space, a place where you can exchange ideas and eat without worry.
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What is a ‘safe space’ for you?
It connects to my previous answer, a place where I feel at home and work in my world.
Is receiving care a privilege, a right? Is it a privilege?
Everybody should receive care!
Do you think this generation is redefining care and community building? And how?
It seems like there is more attention to self-care in general, it feels like people tend to chill more and take their time with things. But honestly, I find this a hard question to answer, because I think I’m in between generations.
What small acts of care do you hope to see more of?
Just show each other more love and empathy, and try to experience each other more.
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How do you balance taking care of others and taking care of yourself? Do you make that distinction in the first place?
I truly focus on myself, and I think it’s just in my nature to take care of others when I can. I think I should put more boundaries, but I do get satisfaction and energy from caring for others.
Do you care about being cared about?
I do, but it’s not a priority to me, I think.
What do you want to be remembered for?
For being who I truly am, and creating what I want, so basically my work someday, haha.
<div class="editorial-banner"> <div class=“editorial-credits”> Photos by @thomasvancoppenolle, earrings by @de_ridder_liesl, business partner @lennertgoessens </div></div>
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