Thailand's modern art era started during the reign of King Rama III when Khrua In Khong, a monk and painter at Wat Rajaburana (Wat Liap), created a mural known as the Dhamma Riddles.
In the past, Thai traditional painting featured two-dimensional characters devoid of anatomy and perspective. Dhamma Riddles was the first such painting that included perspective.
Khrua In Khong was inspired by work such as photographs and printed publications brought as gifts for King Rama IV from European dignitaries. It is believed that Khrua In Khong was given permission by the king to observe those materials.
A portrait of King Chulalongkorn, centre, by a European artist.
Dhamma Riddles depicted the captain of a steam ship as a metaphor of the Buddha. Sailors signified monks while the ship symbolised dhamma -- which helped people to journey to a more civilised place.
The history of Thailand's modern art, from Siamese art during the Colonial era to the present, is encapsulated in the exhibition "200 Years Journey Through Thai Modern Art History" at the National Museum of Thailand (Chao Fa Art Gallery). Every art piece in the exhibition belongs to Kornkamol and Piriya Vachajitpan, owners and founders of the Art Auction Center.
"We aim to provide knowledge about Thailand's art history to Thai people because most people only focus on styles and art forms that interest them. They may not know the struggles artists of the past went through," explained Piriya.
Blooming Sakura In Ueno Park by Jitr Buabusaya. (Photo: The Art Auction Center)
"This exhibition is a complete edition of Thai art history with descriptions in both Thai and English. The exhibition is planned to launch as a travelling exhibition abroad that aims to encourage international viewers to be more interested in Thai artwork. Additionally, there is a catalogue accompanying the exhibition, written by four art experts -- Prof Apinan Poshyananda, Asst Prof Sitthidham Rohitasuk, Prof Sutee Kanavichayanont and Asst Prof Vichaya Mukdamanee -- to certify the academic content," Piriya said.
Next to Dhamma Riddles, there is a portrait of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, which was created by a European artist.
Girl With Red Book by Mesiem Yipintsoi.
"During the Colonial era, Thailand embraced Western civilisation to survive. King Rama V initiated the construction of palaces and decoration of buildings with European-style furnishings. King Chulalongkorn also sent photographs of himself and his royal ornaments to a European artist in order to have his portrait painted," explained Piriya.
"Since there were only black and white photographs at the time, the royal ornaments must also have been sent so the European artist could represent the actual colours of the items in the painting. The only mistake the artist made was the skin colour of King Rama V because the king had dark skin, but the artist painted his skin to look like a European's."
Despair Eclipses Of Intellect by Thawan Duchanee.
A corner at the exhibition is dedicated to Silpa Bhirasri, the father of Thai modern art and founder of Silpakorn University. Among many artefacts related to his work, there are his drawings that were inadvertently found by and retrieved from a garbage collector.
"Silpa Bhirasri created these drawings for the first Thai art textbook, Theory Of Element. I purchased them when I saw them in the tricycle of a garbage collector and recognised them," said Piriya.
Blooming Sakura In Ueno Park is part of a rare collection created by Jitr Buabusaya, a Thai impressionist.
"Jitr drew the landscape Blooming Sakura In Ueno Park as a scholarship student in Tokyo. Most of the paintings in the collection were destroyed in the World War II bombings by the Allies, with only a few pieces surviving," said Piriya.
Girl With Red Book was created by Mesiem Yipintsoi, the first Thai named Artist of Distinction after she won gold medals at the National Exhibition of Art three years in a row.
Orchids by Tawee Nandakwang. (Photo:The Art Auction Center)
Mesiem had no art background. She became interested in art after visiting museums in Europe when she took her daughter there for polio treatment. She was taught how to paint by a Japanese cultural attache in Thailand. With her passion for painting, she developed her skills and won her first honorary award at the National Exhibition of Art after 10 months of training.
"Mesiem did not learn perspective and anatomy, but her naive art makes her work charming. Since she had seen masterpieces at art museums in Europe, she had a great eye for colour combinations," Piriya said.
Model is a prominent work by Fua Haripita, the Thai national artist. This nude oil painting features bold brushstrokes and predominantly pastel tones. The painting is a highly valued example of modern art.
Fua is the only Thai artist to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Service from the Philippines, in 1983, because he dedicated himself to conserving Thai murals in historical sites.
Most viewers may be familiar with black and white paintings created by the renowned artist Thawan Duchanee. Despair Eclipses Of Intellect is a colourful painting which Thawan created when he continued his art studies in the Netherlands from 1963 to 1969.
Piriya revealed that he tracked down Despair Eclipses Of Intellect in the Netherlands and bought it from the boss of Thawan's wife. He said that every piece of art is very difficult to purchase.
"Art pieces are different from other items since money cannot buy them all. Some owners do not care about the money. It requires a lot of effort and time to own artwork. For example, the collector of the painting Girl With Red Book by Mesiem told me that she would never sell it. She intended to keep it for her child. However, one day, she argued with her child and called me. I had to meet her right away because if she reconciled with her child, she might change her mind," said Piriya.
Piriya Vachajitpan, co-founder of the Art Auction Center.
Orchids is the last and largest painting created by Tawee Nandakwang.
"It was a commission to be painted for the house of Narong Thewphaingarm, director of Thewphaingarm School. Tawee drew this painting when he was suffering with cancer. This painting is a surrealist piece which he created in a studio using his imagination," Piriya said.
The exhibition showcases puppets and the painting Phra Sang Thong And Nang Rotjana by Chakrabhand Posayakrit, a national artist.
"These puppets are very old, so Chakrabhand really cherishes them. I purchased them from a person who is close to Chakrabhand. His most famous and expensive collection is Nang Ram [Thai Dancers] which costs 50 million baht. He used European painting techniques, but narrated stories of Thai people," Piriya explained.
Thai puppets by Chakrabhand Posayakrit.
Phra Sang Thong And Nang Rotjana by Chakrabhand Posayakrit.
The exhibition presents a bronze sculpture, The Met Bag, by Natee Utarit, a recipient of the Silpathorn Award in 2019.
"When the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened on Wireless Road, many Thai people were excited about it. Everything there seemed to sell, even bags. This sculpture was created to satirise superficiality among Thais."
As an art collector who is willing to share his own pieces with others, Piriya hopes people will visit the exhibition.
"I hope many people will visit and gain something from this exhibition. At the very least, they will learn about the history of Thai artists since they were the pioneers who paved the way before us. I hope people will appreciate their work. These pieces are not easily seen and experiencing art in person is totally different from seeing it on a phone."
"200 Years Journey Through Thai Modern Art History" runs at the National Museum of Thailand (Chao Fa Art Gallery) until Aug 31. Tickets cost 30 baht for Thais and 200 baht for foreigners. For more information, visit facebook.com/TheNationalGalleryThailand.
