Artistic memories

AS THAILAND mourns the passing of the beloved HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Facebook and Instagram are flooded with messages of grief, rare photographs of His Majesty and members of the Royal Family as well as sentimental stories retold by citizens whose lives were graced by His Majesty’s kindness and exemplary virtues. 
Many with artistic skills, inspired by their love and loyalty to the monarch, are choosing to express their feelings not with words but with original art works to remember His Majesty’s grace. 
Jay The Rabbit, a social media character known for his sassy observations, offers his condolences with a simple but heartfelt image of complete darkness with a ray of light shining down from the sky, alluding to His Majesty’s ascension to heaven. 
Animation artist and graphic designer Tossapon “Prince” Kongpipattanakarn has chosen to remember the King in a brighter, light-hearted way. His depiction of His Majesty is kind, serene and loving. “I created this image before his passing, when he was very ill at the hospital.” Prince told XP. “I wanted to send my best wishes and love to His Majesty through this picture, hoping that he would get better soon. I just wanted to see him smile again.”
Another designer, Salinee Rattanachaisit, founder of CyranoDesign, created the work only hours before His Majesty’s passing. “When I think of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, I often picture him with a camera strapped around his neck and a big map in hand, venturing out to rural parts of Thailand for the betterment of his people. It turns out this is the last art work of His Majesty I created before the end of his long, illustrious reign.”
Amateur graphic designer, Sumana Sumanakul, also grew up seeing His Majesty travelling around the country with a camera. Her simple digital sketch in black-and-white captures his perseverance that earned him the loving title “Father of the Nation”. 
“It’s beyond comprehension why someone would be willing to work so hard and demand nothing in return. HM King Bhumibol was a true giver and it is no wonder we all think of him as a father,” Sumana says.
Illustrator Priyasri Promchinda, also known as Naamnoi, was specially touched by the Monarch’s affection for Khun Thong Daeng, the adopted mongrel that gratefully returned HM’s kindness. Images of King Bhumibol seated on a chair flanked by his loving dog were frequently seen, and his kindness towards animals was much revered and recognised. 
“The image of him and his pets always bring a smile to my face, but this time I drew this picture with tears,” Naamnoi says. 
Piangkhwuan Kumrune, an aspiring illustrator known for her online gallery and shop, Kamijn, drew inspiration from HM King Bhumibol. 
“His tireless efforts, his hard work and his devotion have kept me inspired and motivated to create my works,” she says. “I was too young to witness his hard work in the old days, but evidence shows that his initiatives continue to thrive and greatly benefit the lives of his people. As I grew up I learned what he had accomplished, and I was also much taken by his love towards the Princess Mother and his kindness towards animals. He was a role model in every aspect and I feel so lucky to have lived in his reign and been touched by his grace.” 
One of Piangkhwuan’s many paintings of HM King Bhumibol is a watercolour of the Royal Couple with Tito, the Siamese cat. 
Among the sea of images created in memory of His Majesty are those of a Facebook group of 70,000-plus amateur illustrators and designers who are continuously posting their artistic creations of various techniques, both from actual photographs and from their imagination. 
Most of the images are free for non-commercial use. Look them up at Facebook.com/Groups/198391536841533.