CHIANG MAI - Mae Wang underpass already improves traffic flow to Doi Inthanon, a popular tourist attraction, but will soon also brighten the trip for motorists and art lovers alike as an outdoor art gallery.
Travellers on the San Pa Tong-Mae Wang route to Doi Inthanon in Chom Thong district through Mae Wang underpass have begun to notice a group of artists hard at work painting images of birds and other animals, trees, seeds and other plants on one wall.
Udom Wanjing, an independent artist and special art lecturer at Chiang Mai University, said his team had been commissioned last month to do the work by the Department of Rural Roads' Chiang Mai office, which accepted their proposal to brighten up the walls of the 200-metre underpass with two giant murals.
His team began the work right away, on Sept 23, Mr Udom said.
Inspired by nature, the wall on the right side of the underpass heading to downtown Chiang Mai is being painted with birds, other wildlife and plants found on Doi Inthanon mountain.
The opposite wall will feature the local culture and lifestyle, the team leader said.
The wall murals at the underpass are a pilot project in Chiang Mai, and possibly the first of their kind in Thailand, all hand-painted local scenes instead of graphic designs from abroad, he said.
His team expected the task would take 120 days to complete, with five artists taking turns to bring local culture and nature to life in this outdoor art gallery.
The artists were using high grade house paints which would last for many years, he said.
When the work is complete, the underpass with its murals will become a new landmark in Chiang Mai, Mr Udom said confidently.
A member of the team prepares the wall for painting. (Photo by Cheewin Sattha)
This section of the wall on one side of Mae Wang underpass is already coming to life with paintings of wild seeds and foliage. (Photo by Cheewin Sattha)
