Thai
Contemporary Art
It’s strange how it often takes
a foreigner to jump-start a creative process in Thailand. As with
Jim Thompson with the silk industry it was Corrado
Feroci, an Italian sculptor was invited to Thailand by King
Rama VI (1910-1925) who was responsible for the start of Thai modern
art. He produced bronze statues of the exploits of Thailand’s
past heroes. In 1933, one year after the Revolution, which established
a constitutional monarchy, Feroci was asked to establish an institute
of fine arts within the department of Fine Arts. The purpose of
this new school was to instruct a new generation of sculptors and
painters in modern art.
Feroci devoted his energies up to the
time of his death in 1962 to developing Art in Thailand. The school
was eventually elevated to the status of a university and changed
its name to Silpakorn (Fine Arts) University. Feroci’s own
name was changed to be Silpa Bhirasri, the name by which he is known
today. Silpa Bhirasri is regarded as the Father of Modern Art in
Thailand.
Following the introduction of modern
art in Thailand, Thai painters began experimenting with Impressionism
and Cubism to a lesser extent. Thai painters chose nature themes
or depicted rural scenes, usually devoid of people. Angkarn Kalayanapongsa,
Misiem Yipintsoi and Tawan Duchanee led Thai modern art into different
forms of art than seen in Thailand to that time. Some of Tawan and
Prateung Emjaroen’s works displayed Buddhist themes rendered
in exquisite detail. One of the outstanding Thai artists of this
later period was Chakrabhand Posayakri, a portraitist interpreting
classical themes in soft colors. Another highly regarded Thai artist
of this period who excelled in realistic depictions of Thai scenes
was Acharn Saard. His paintings, which are primarily in oils, offer
a richness of color and a realistic depth of presentation which
few Thai artists before or since have equaled.
In Thai contemporary art, two main artistic
approaches are apparent – those artists who choose to experiment
and adopt more western artistic styles and those who prefer to work
more closely with traditional Thai techniques and to promote a particular
sense of Thai national identity. Through their various perceptions
of social, cultural and moral values, both groups contribute to
the range of aesthetic and conceptual characteristics existing in
the Thai art scene. The results of their creations are identifiable
as Thai art – yet characteristically innovative. Too many
artists are happy to beautiful copy the ideas of others rather than
to make a personal statement.
In their defense Thai artists are restricted
by a powerful and conservative art infrastructure that keeps them
fragmented and fosters petty bickering among the various factions.
Another roadblock is funding. Those glossy opuses extolling every
tourist's fantasy of Thailand sell lots of copies. Whether in English
or Thai, books on Thai art just don't sell. It’s more a curiosity
factor with at best contemporary interpretations of temple murals
than an art form in its own right
The bulk of the Thai creative talent
is living overseas. The situation may change when they return home.
With the rise of other universities in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, he
also sees a loosening of Silpakorn's stranglehold on art education
as it favours the more traditional approach rather than encouraging
art students to express themselves as they see their art.
Local artists, several of whom are receiving
significant international exposure, produce the majority of contemporary
Thai art on show. But at the same time there are an increasing number
of regional Asian artists displaying their work often at prices
often cheaper than in countries like Singapore, China and Vietnam.
Whether you are looking to buy a piece of art by a local emerging
talent or simply to purchase something a bit more commercial or
traditional, clearly the prices of art in Bangkok are more realistic
and reasonable than in the over-inflated art centers in America
and Europe.
Looking around the art scene in Bangkok
I discovered that the city doesn’t have a concentrated artistic
enclave, rather there are small pockets of galleries and auction
houses and antique shops randomly throughout the city. The art is
out there; just finding it can take some planning.
|