Grand homage to the Queen
The multitude of arts and crafts fostered by Her Majesty are assembled for her birthday
Gems of Thai arts and crafts made under patronage of Her Majesty the Queen will be on view at an event called “Hatta Silpa Mae Neramit Muang” (“The Queen Mother’s Arts and Crafts Create the Land”) at Suan Amporn and in front of Dusit Palace from Saturday through Tuesday.
The Culture Ministry has organised the show at the direction of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order to celebrate the Queen’s 82nd birthday next Tuesday.
It’s designed to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s efforts to promote and conserve the country’s traditional arts and crafts. The Culture Ministry recognised the Queen as the Pre-eminent Protector of Arts and Crafts in 2012 for her sixth-cycle birthday.
Her Majesty’s Support Foundation has taken the leading role in championing her aims, and with this fair has brought together an exhibition of portraits of the Queen, textiles, handicrafts, postage stamps, khon costumes, jewellery and props.
Artisans will demonstrate how the delicate khon paraphernalia is made by hand.
The Fine Arts Department will stage “Phra Ram Across the Ocean”, an episode from the Ramakien. And members of the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute will perform the “blessing dance” titled “Golden Light Shining on Our Culture”.
National Artists Khawnjit Sriprajan and Chinakorn Krailat will also perform, as will the Likay Maung Angthong troupe and the Joe Louis, Semathai and Klong Bangluang puppet troupes.
Musically, another National Artist, Setha Sirachaya, will join young vocalists to present songs about motherhood with new arrangements, accompanied by the Fine Arts Department Orchestra.
The Culture Ministry recently made 12 famous “Songs about Mother” available for free download at www.M-Culture.go.th and distributed 2,000 CDs among government offices and schools around the country.
On top of all this, there’ll be plenty of delicious food from all four regions of the Kingdom and cultural performances to match.
Professor Apinan Poshyananda will formally open the show on Saturday.
Find out by calling the Culture Ministry’s hotline at 1765.
