Advertorial BY VIC VAIANA Enjoy a local artist’s new paintings and photography at Astoria Coffee Photographer Pichan Kietsrichart has always been fascinated by the relationship between people and their material objects, and now, he is showcasing his work at Astoria Coffee. A resident of Astoria for seven years, Kietsrichart had never visited the coffee shop until recently. The space’s kitschy vibe struck Kietsrichart, inspiring him to pitch a show to the owner. Kietsrichart crafted this “double concept” project over the course of two month. While the exhibition includes Kietsrichart’s street photography, he created a series of mixed media painting, using his “photos as a canvas” for materials like gold leaf and marker ink. Several of the paintings were completed with the help of Kietsrichart’s 3-year-old son. For one piece, Kietsrichart photographed a crumpled Anthora coffee cup, whose iconic Greek-inspired design has become associated not just with coffee, but with the fast pace of New York City life. He told his son to “tell me about coffee.” Kietsrichart bonded with his son during the experience, and he has resolved, “every show I have, I will have one photo where I work with my son.” The project also includes large prints of street photography more typical of Kietsrichart’s work. The photos feature characters immersed in their smartphones at the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Museum, surrounded by paintings. A third image features a woman walking through an underpass in Rego Park, presumably looking up directions. These images, combined with the paintings of coffee cups and spices, speak to the shifting nature of “what people value.” Born in Bangkok to Taiwanese parents, Kietsrichart worked in advertising before photography. After encountering photographers in his professional world, he decided that he’d like to try wield a camera himself. Initially, Kietsrichart moved to the New York to study at the School of Visual Arts, but dropped out once he was offered a full-time position as a photo assistant, where he learned more than he ever did in school. After two years, he decided to embark on his own, building a freelance client base as a food photographer through his part-time work in the restaurant business.
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