In today’s digital world, there’s nothing like the tactile process of printmaking—or the community it brings together. PAPERS & PEERS was born from a shared love of printed art and has created a lively community of artists, crafters, and creators with a DIY sensibility. We’re excited to host the next edition of PAPERS & PEERS at The Standard, Hua Hin—and sat down with the founders to talk about culture, music, and what to expect from the activation.
What was the inspiration behind the name "PAPERS & PEERS?”
PAPERS & PEERS is a project created by Den Souvenir, TYE ZINE, and Arc Press. We are passionate about printed art and wanted to create a platform for artists interested in prints, art, and crafts. We've established ourselves as an independent publishing house with the goal of building a community of like-minded creatives. We focus on expanding our reach by sharing our knowledge and experience in art, publications, and craftsmanship and bringing our community closer—just like the word “Peers” in our name.
You’ve held past events in Bangkok—how did you decide to bring PAPERS & PEERS to Hua Hin?
We want to grow our community in new ways by connecting with different groups. The Standard is a great name in lifestyle hotels, and we thought it would be cool to do this project in Hua Hin, similar to what we did with Potato Head in Bali. It’s all about good vibes, chilling by the beach, with crafts, music and bringing people together.
Can you tell us about the theme of “Homemade” for PAPERS & PEERS Vol.3? What does it mean to you personally?
For us, 'Homemade' is a charming concept with deep roots in Thai culture. Thai people have a long tradition of crafting things in a DIY, homegrown style, which you can see all across the country. The word 'Homemade' also reflects sustainability, as it often involves reusing and recycling materials.
Do you remember the first zine you ever read?
Arc Press: For me, I didn’t even realize it was a zine at first. I got it for free when I visited an art exhibition in New York. It was just a simple brochure on thin paper, but the design and layout were so striking that I wanted to keep it as part of my collection.
Den Souvenir: Back in 2007, a friend and I were organizing a DIY art show in Chiang Mai. We decided to print a small book to showcase the work, not even realizing at the time that what we were making was called a zine. That zine, which we created ourselves, ended up being the first zine I ever read.
TYE ZINE: Growing up, the number one magazine in my heart was Katch Magazine from the 90s in Thailand. It captured the youth culture of that era through illustrations, cartoons and artist interviews. This concept inspired me to create the TYE ZINE publication that reflects Thai youth culture, but on a smaller scale and with a cozier vibe.
How do you define DIY culture—is it a process, an aesthetic, a frame of mind?
We think DIY culture is a process that everyone experiences. When you're facing a challenge and have to figure out a solution, that's the same idea. For us, DIY culture is everywhere—Thai people love to create fun and quirky things, sometimes without needing them to make sense. So yes, it can be both an aesthetic and a frame of mind.
Can you give us a sneak peek into the workshops and exhibitions planned for PAPERS & PEERS x The Standard, Hua Hin?
We’re showcasing artists like Tulrexxx, Lurear, TPSFT, Big Pariwat, and Kanrapee Chokpaiboon, who will be exhibiting at the hotel. For workshops, we’ve got a wooden clock-making session by Den Souvenir x 109 Design Workshop x TPSFT, and Big Pariwat will run a collage workshop where he’ll teach his style and help people create their own. There’s also a calendar-making workshop by TYE ZINE with fun materials and a photo corner by Kanrapee Chokpaiboon, where he’ll take portraits with limited-edition frames just for this event.
What was your process for curating the artists and craftspeople for this event?
The process came naturally from our journey through the independent arts and cultural scene. Along the way, we met people with similar ideas and kept collaborating, which led to strong friendships. This mini 'PAPERS & PEERS' in Hua Hin is more like a pop-up event where we want to spotlight and showcase talented local artists, craftspeople, and DJs. It’s an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to experience the vibe and get to know the artists we’ve curated for this event.
What’s the vibe you hope ABANDON RADIO creates with their DJ sets?
We’d like to introduce our Radio community! We love building connections beyond publications, which is why we started Abandon Radio—bringing together people who love club music. For nearly two years, we’ve hosted pop-up events in Bali, Jakarta, Seoul, Japan, China, Bangkok and our hometown Chiang Mai. From art book fairs to small bars, big clubs and record fairs, we’ve collaborated with radio communities both in Thailand and abroad, connecting with DJs and music lovers from all backgrounds.
For our upcoming event at The Standard, Hua Hin, we’re excited to bring in some of our favorite DJs. Highwire by Moodyboom and Kunanon, who have been with us from the start, Tulrexxx (an artist), Boyperjer from Tyezine and Cakefolder will be setting the vibe. Expect a full day and night of chill grooves, beach club vibes, funk, and disco/house music!
Could you share a memorable moment from one of your previous PAPERS & PEERS events?
When we hosted 'PAPERS & PEERS' at The Corner House, it was a truly memorable experience. We exceeded our expectations, with families bringing their kids to join the activities and workshops, and we met many interesting people, engaging in conversations and sharing ideas. We also had the opportunity to feature amazing exhibitors from New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Berlin and Singapore, along with local talents we had been following online and met at other fairs. Everyone enjoyed the crafts and music, creating great memories and inspiring us to continue growing and expanding our community.
After a long day of workshops, would you rather jump in the pool or jump in the sea?
Absolutely the sea! It's always amazing to let our tired energy fade away, nurtured by the healing power of nature.
