The Kingdom through its arts

LONG RECOGNISED for their superb craftsmanship, Thailand’s artisans will once again be showing off their new masterpieces from Tuesday as the seventh edition of “Arts of the Kingdom” opens to the public at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall of Dusit Palace. 

The highlight of the showcase is the newly built Borommangalanusarani Pavilion adjacent to the Throne Hall, which was constructed by artisans attached to the Queen Sirikit Institute of the Support Foundation with the royal permission of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The name of the spacious pavilion means “a spire-roofed pavilion built to honour important events associated with the Royal Family”. 

And it is indeed honouring many important events, Thanpuying Supornpen Luangthepnimit, deputy private secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, and head of the working committee, explains the occasions covered are the 70th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne on June 9, 2016 and his 90th birthday anniversary on December 5, 2017, along with the 84th or seventh-cycle birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on August 12, 2016. 

It also marks the fifth-cycle birthdays of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on July 28, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on April 2, 2015, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak on July 4, 2017 and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi on April 5, 2011. 

Standing to the east of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the Borommangalanusarani Pavilion is topped with nine spires, the most on a structure of its type built during the Rattanakosin Era. The permanent structure is made of marble at the base while the metal alloy has been moulded from wooden models carved and then covered with gold plate leaf by the Institute’s expert artisans. The pavilion is decorated throughout with ornamental paintings, gilding, and mirror work. More than two years went into the construction.

The roof of the pavilion has eight gables, which are adorned with the royal insignia and royal cyphers of members of the Mahidol family: HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince Father, HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother, HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Naradhiwas, His Majesty King Ananda Mahidol, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The royal cyphers Princess Chulabhorn Walailak and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi adorn the centre of the pavilion ceiling.

Along the base of the pavilion are metal statues of the 10 auspicious albino elephants of the current reign. On each side of the pavilion is a pool representing the Anodat Sea in the Himaphan Forest south of Mount Meru, centre of the Buddhist cosmology. Each of the pools has a bronze statue; one an elephant, another a horse, a third a bull, and a fourth a lion, representing the sources of the four rivers in the lands south of Mount Meru. 

Besides the pavilion, another highlight of this exhibition is the Iridescent Beetle Wing Room, which showcases magnificent handicrafts decorated with the shimmering pieces of beetle wing casings and parts of the outer body, commonly known as “beetle wings”. 

All the beetle wings used in the exhibition are from beetles that died naturally in their native habitat, because they are the only ones who keep their iridescent lustre and colour. 

The Beetle Wing Room has three sections. In the first, the right wall is decorated with intricate woven patterns of delicate yan lipao vine inserted with silver gold and copper alloy thread, and displays the royal crests for the 70th anniversary celebrations of His Majesty’s accession to the throne, and for the fifth-cycle birthday celebrations of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The left wall is also decorated with intricate woven patterns of yan lipao vine, and displays the royal crest for the seventh-cycle birthday celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen and the royal crest for the fifth-cycle birthday celebrations of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 

The second section has two main decorated walls. On one side is a portrait of Their Majesties the King and Queen in a gold niello frame decorated with a traditional Thai design. Above the portrait are the royal cyphers or initials of the King and Queen beneath a gilded wood crown. On the other side is a work of gold damascene with the poem “Art of the Kingdom”. The other walls are decorated with intricate woven patterns made with the yan lipao vine with beetle wing inserted to give a clear distinctive design. 

Inverted corners of the room are decorated with carved nagas covered in beetle wing casings with ruby eyes, which are depicted entwined passionately together. Hanging from the ceiling is a chandelier with figures of mythical swans and serpents covered in beetle wings and with crystals hanging from the figures. 

The nagas – 1,310 of them – represents the zodiac animal of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In the final section, one wall is completely filled with a large silver and gold niello plate. The opposite wall also has two large creations, both made from “Three Kings” (gold, silver and copper alloy) damascene. The floor directly below the decorated walls is covered with mats of silver and copper alloy strands woven into traditional patterns.

Both the gold and silver niello creation and the “Three Kings” damascene creations shown in this room are among the largest relief sculptures created since the founding of the current royal dynasty more than 230 years ago.

“The Arts of the Kingdom Museum presents some of the most exquisite masterpieces created by the children and grandchildren of farm families who have been trained at the Handicrafts Training Centre at Chitralada Royal Villa, as the Sirikit Institute was formerly known,” says Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, deputy private secretary to Her Majesty the Queen.

“Some have become as skilled as top artisans for the crown. Each piece shown is an invaluable masterpiece, a testament to the skill and ability of the people of Thailand, announcing to the world that this is the pride and art of the kingdom.

“The Arts of the Kingdom exhibitions were first introduced in 1992 and they have always attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors. Between January and the end of last year, we recorded more than two million visitors. I urge all Thais as well as foreign guests to come and see this truly magnificent display.”

 

THAI TREASURES

- “Arts of the Kingdom” opens to the public on Tuesday. It is open daily except Mondays and certain public holidays from 10am to 4.30pm. 

- Admission is Bt150 (Bt75 for students).

- Appropriate dress is required. Shorts, jeans and sleeveless shirts and blouses are prohibited. Women are requested to wear skirts of appropriate length or sarongs. 

- For more information, call (02) 283 9411 and (02) 283 9185 or visit www.ArtsOfTheKingdom.com.