Artists nationwide honour the King on canvas by depicting Royal works that benefit country

Famous artists such as Reungsak Boonyawanich, Somyos Trisanee, Sompop Budtarad, Pateep Kochbua and Suradech Kaewtamai are joining fellow alumni of Silpakorn University’s faculty of painting, sculpture and graphic arts to produce 89 paintings depicting the King’s activities, which will be displayed at an exhibition at Silpakorn’s Bangkok campus next week, said film director, actor and Silpakorn alumnus Ong-art Jeamjaroenpornkul.
Artists and university graduates have been working on the 2-metre-square paintings since Saturday in preparation for the exhibition, Ong-art said, adding that the university’s dean, Amrit Chusuwan, and the faculty alumni association had proposed that two representatives from each graduating class produce a painting. So far 30 paintings have been completed, he added. 
Ong-art said he was proud to partake in the project in dedication to the King, which also enabled him to use his knowledge and skills learned at the university to inform people about the King so they would never forget him.
Meanwhile, prominent visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat yesterday led fellow artists from the North, as well as foreign artists, in a project titled “Painting for the King” in Chiang Rai’s Muang district. At the Art Bridge Chiang Rai Gallery, the artists painted a 17-by-2.5-metre grey-toned canvas portraying the King’s activities. 
Given the work’s size, it will initially be displayed at the gallery before being moved to the Wat Rong Khun’s Dhamma Pavilion, Chalermchai said.
Art Bridge Chiang Rai vice president Suwit Jaipom, who is known for his paintings depicting the King, said he was proud to collaborate with other artists to produce the artwork, which was completed in one day. Suwit said he had done portraits of the King since he was in Prathom 5, starting with a rendition of the King’s portrait on a coin and now numbering more than 500.
In Uttaradit province, art students at Uttaradit Rajabhat University jointly painted a 24-metre-long black-and-white artwork to commemorate the King’s activities. Gathered in front of the Arts Building on campus yesterday, students, lecturers and alumni painted 20 wooden planks, each 2.44 by 1.22 metres, which will be assembled as a 24.4-metre artwork. 
One scene depicted on the work is Their Majesties inaugurating the Sirikit Dam in the province in 1977. 
University president Ruangdet Wongla said the piece would be placed along the campus’s front fence so the public and tourists could admire the art and His Majesty’s contributions to the country.