Culture in the making

A rare piece of Ban Chiang-style earthenware and a standing Buddha image dating back to 25 BC are sharing the stage with Buddhist-inspired contemporary mixed media works in the new exhibition “Thai Charisma: Heritage + Creative Power” opening tonight at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.

Almost 40 ancient artefacts, usually kept at the National Museum’s storage facility in Pathum Thani, are juxtaposed with contemporary pieces by 19 Thai artists.

Curated by the Culture Ministry’s Apinan Poshyananda, the show was part of the “Thai Transience” exhibition held at the Singapore Art Museum as part of a Thai Festival there in 2012-13.

Apinan says the exhibition is inspired by monk Luang Por Cha Supanttho’s teachings on the transience of life. It includes both rare antiques and modern art, ranging from paintings, sculptures and installations to films and videos. Some of the pieces are part of the museum’s permanent collection.

“We have antiques from the Lopburi period including a Hindu phallic symbol of creative power, as well as an early Rattanakosin-period wooden standing Buddha statue. These are displayed along with the contemporary works that were inspired by these very same works,” he says, adding that the artists were invited to visit the museum and learn about 70,000 items in the collection, many of which date back more than 10,000 years. 

“We’ve tried to emphasise that art has roots. Artists often talk about their roots and inspirations in discussing similarities and differences in their work.

The juxtaposition of artefacts and modern pieces is common in the West but is something of a rarity in Thailand. The exhibition hopes to change that.

“Many Thai artists never have chance to learn about our national treasures and create works that are inspired by traditional knowledge and wisdom. This show offers a new presentation,” says Fine Arts Department director Anek Sehamatr, adding that as the collections are valuable and rare, the general public rarely has a chance to view them.

Highlights include the mixed media work “UN Happy” (2014) by contemporary artist Panya Vijinthanasarn, one of the visitors to the museum. It’s made of two hoods painted black. One sports a golden drawing of a snake trying to eat a bird’s egg next to the message “UN”, while the others portrays a chaotic scene of people fighting, alongside the word ”Happy”.

“I was fascinated by a huge stone face of the Buddha from the Theravada period when I visited the museum. I couldn’t get over the talent of our artisans in ancient times,” says Panya, whose works are always inspired by Buddhist art.

“Sculptures of the Buddha’s face are quite square, so I selected the hoods to portray the conflicts of today and played with the word “UN Happy,” he explains.

Other highlights include a drawing by National Artist Thawan Duchanee, installations by Rirkrit Tiravanija, abstract painting by Udonsak Krisanamis, sculpture installation by Kamin Lertchaiprasert, textile work by Jakkai Siributr, video art by Araya Rasjarmrearnsook, a Buddha statue by Sakarin Krue-on and pop-art painting by Yuree Kensaku.

 

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