Mystery Mind Maps

Mystery Mind Maps

2019, Society  -   8 Comments
8.47
12345678910
Ratings: 8.47/10 from 38 users.

Street art is a vibrant form of expression all across the Asian cityscapes. But in Bangkok, one artist has taken the form to an intriguing extreme. Distinguished by a series of equations, slanted lines, circled objects and cryptic phrases written in both Thai and English, the art resembles a treasure map of some sort. For Raphael Treza, the director of the entertaining documentary short Mystery Mind Maps, the real treasure is in uncovering the identity of this artist. Over the course of five days, he attempts to track down the creator of these ubiquitous drawings and attain some semblance of meaning from his work.

The city center is covered with thousands of these drawings - on concrete barriers, electrical grids, sidewalks, light posts, pillars and underpasses. Passersby have witnessed new works emerge on an ongoing basis for many years. Many do not know the artist's identity, but most assume the drawings reflect a kind of mental disorder.

When Treza does happen upon those who claim to know the artist, they warn not to approach. He's crazy and aggressive, they claim.

Undeterred, Treza eventually tracks down the mystery artist. His name is Pichai, a homeless man with a fascinating life and a wholly unique view of the world. Over dinner, he shares the motivations behind his work, the tragedies that have befallen him during his lifetime, and his feelings on whether or not he considers himself a true artist.

This opens the film to a larger canvas that transcends a mere personality portrait. Like all good art, it implies a series of deeper questions to those who are willing to search for them. Is the enigmatic quality of this artist's work - the fact that passersby struggle to understand its implications - where the real art lies? If it defined for us - and that back and forth communication ends - do the works lose their value? What defines art, and how can it reflect the inner turmoil and triumphs of its makers?

Finally, there's the personal journey of Pichai that lingers the most. Perhaps the most meaningful element of the film is how it shows that even the discarded among us can harbor extraordinary gifts and life stories.

Directed by: Raphael Treza

More great documentaries

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

8 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sylvie
Sylvie
3 years ago

So interesting story. And a fascinating quest. Thank you for this unbileavable research . This meeting , short but so intense. You're a great film maker, thank you for this moment

Kirsten
Kirsten
3 years ago

Thank you. Wonderful video that made me smile and almost cry. But interestingly, regardless of his past and hardships, this guy walked like a free man, actually sauntered. Wonder what he did with his life, once his quest was over ...

Greg
Greg
4 years ago

I am also a big fan of mind mapping. Would have loved if he explained the meaning more in depth with a Thai translator.

User 1
User 1
4 years ago

Great story! Would have been nice to hear a little more about Pichai's art show. For instance was he there? How big was it?

HooiKL
HooiKL
4 years ago

Thank you for this great documentary.

j chevalier
j chevalier
4 years ago

This is a great story of a wonderful human. Thank you .

Norman McKinnon
Norman McKinnon
4 years ago

I've been to BKK many times. I don't recall ever seeing this scribbling on the concrete walls & pillars; but i didn't look for it. I suppose this manis harmless. Thais gain Buddhist merit by helping him. He may be able to shelter in Wats in bad weather.