Creativity for the King

The grief of Thai artists at the loss of their Supreme Artist, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej is driving a wealth of artistic expression through various mediums from billboards to canvas, photography and social media. 
The King’s portrait, his philosophy on sufficiency and perseverance as well as his birthday’s colour – yellow – are the subject matters of three main art shows currently running in Bangkok.
A masterpiece bringing together nine portraits depicting the late monarch’s artistic talents on the wall of Silpakorn University has become a major attraction for mourners to visit in memory of the beloved monarch.
On display since last Monday, it honours His Majesty’s wide range of artistic talents and was created by a group of Silpakorn art students, who spent four days and four nights turning the university’s white wall into a public art gallery. 
“As art students, we wanted to show our respect to the Supreme Artist through this mural,” the students told XP.
Nine portraits, including those of His Majesty painting, playing the saxophone and piano, taking photographs, penning books, building a sailboat and sailing, have been put together in a mural on the two-by-two-metre wall.
Although the paintings are not comparable to those of professional artists, the spirit behind them makes the mural really special.
“The painting really touches my heart,” Thai mourner Paphatpim Chanroenpasert told XP.
With a budget of just Bt60,000, the students have painted on plywood, which is considerably cheaper than canvas. Instead of oils, they have used plastic paint, normally reserved to paint building exteriors.
The students said they learned more from working on the project than they would have in class, adding that working on the mural taught them lessons in harmony and perseverance. Each image took three or more students to complete – making it a team endeavour. 
“I was so emotional, yet so proud of myself while painting my part of the mural,” Naphat Phatarapornlert, a third year student, said.
“Painting in class, you can display your individual style. Here it was teamwork, so I could not use my signature style of quick brushstrokes, but instead had to follow the theme of soft and linear strokes.” 
Pakorn Sonsri, another third year student who teamed up with four others to complete the portrait of His Majesty playing the piano, said: “The painting was not good enough as the tones were not in harmony, so we had to repaint it. It made us so proud and emotional when we completed it and saw people looking at it with tears in their eyes.”
Inside the university, meanwhile, mourners can be spotted taking photos at the “Under His Granciousness” exhibition, which is being held at the art gallery of Silpakorn University’s Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts Faculty near the Silpa Bhirasri statue.
On display are more than 50 conceptual artworks by national artists and art lecturers who are members of the faculty. The works were created before the King’s passing and the exhibition itself originally organised to mark the 70th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the Throne on June 9. It opened on September 15, Silpa Bhirasri Day, and up until last week had only drawn small crowds. 
Sutee Kunavichayanont’s “Long Live the King”, an installation of woodcarving on a school desk is particularly popular with children.
“I enjoyed rubbing the paint on the carved table and seeing the King’s portrait come up,” 10-year-old Anruphon Phondhakorn told XP after finishing his painting.
“He loves to paint the King,” his mother confirmed. “He drew the King’s portrait on October 14 while watching the cortege taking His Majesty’s body from the hospital to the Grand Palace,” she continued, holding out her mobile phone so I could see the drawing. 
Like Sutee, Sittichai Pratchayaratikun has titled his minimalist mixed media painting “Long Live the King” It’s made of yellow paraffin and a plastic eyeglass frame with the Thai flag on one eye.
National artist Preecha Thaothong has painted the golden motif of the kingdom on the King’s portrait for his work “70 Year Reign on the Land of Nakarinda Suvarnabhumi”. The work is inspired by the King’s first pledge: “I will reign over the kingdom with righteousness for the happiness and benefits of the Siamese people.”
National artist Nontiwat Chandhanaphalin was also inspired by the King’s speech. He has created a bronze sculpture “Father and Son”, which shows the son sitting on his father’s lap and the father’s eyes watching the youngster.
Thai coins with the King’s portrait on the back are the main materials for Narin Rattanachan’s sculpture, Imhathai Suwantthanasilp’s mixed media work made of her woven hair holding a one baht coin and a video artwork by Prasert Yodkaew.
The King’s philosophy on sufficiency and perseverance is reflected in NopchaI Ungkavatanapong’s innovative sculpture “Fix 2016”, which is made of old stools and recycled wooden machines.
“His Majesty the King guided us that if we work intelligently and earnestly, success is visible from half way despite the long distance yet to be followed,” writes the artist of his inspiration in the catalogue.
Not far from Silpakorn University just by the Democracy Monument, several portraits of the King are on show at Rachadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre. Here Silpathorn awardee and exhibition curator Wasinburee Supanichvo-raparch has put together nearly 40 paintings, sculptures, photographs and mixed media works in a tribute to the King. Entitled “The King in Our Heart”, most of works have been exhibited before though a few were created spontaneously after the King passed away on October 13.
Among the new works is the mixed media painting “Blue” by respected artist Kamthorn Paowattanasuk’s. The artist expresses his grief through this contemporary work, which combines 27 photos of the King’s royal activities on canvas and is painted in blue. It is displayed along with his speech on June 8, 1946 when he acceded to the throne.
Like Kamthorn, Dinhin Rakpong-Asoke drew portraits after the kingdom lost its beloved Monarch. In “King 1”, painted on October 14, the artist draws the king holding his son on his shoulder. Created on October 15, “King 2”, shows the King holding an old lady’s hand.
Wasinburee himself has teamed up with his co-curator Aungkana Panthongka for the installation, which features a photograph of the King with his people paying respect on the ground. A woodcut of the Monarch is outlined in shocking pink and a pond ripples softly in the foreground. Nearby, they have installed the shocking pink metal sculpture seen in the photograph. 
“The King in my heart can never be in black, so I created this woodcut and painted in shocking pink,” says Wasinburee, who created this work three days after the King passed away. 
The photo is captured in the king’s royal project in Rachaburu where the artist lives.
Popular for his signature portraits of the King, Sakwut Wisesmanee has drawn a portrait of the King in his uniform with impressive quick pencil’s strokes, painted on his birthday, September 5. 
Other works include Widsanupong Noonan’s bronze sculpture of the King’s portrait showing the three-wheel bike he rode as a child and the conceptual mixed painting 2006 “Sufficiency” by Kanya Charoensupkul.
There’s also a series of the King’s portraits by ML Chiratorn Chirapravati’s in his signature pop-art style and a photography series by Anuchai Secharunputong.
Unfortunately, the show provides little information about the works so viewers will need to interpret the works themselves. Some works have no titles. With the show continuing to the end of next month, it is possible that the organiser will provide more information.
PORTRAITS OF THE MONARCH
 - The King’s portraits billboard on the wall of Silpakorn University’s Tha Phra campus will remain for one year.
- “Under His Granciousness” continues at the art gallery of Silpakorn University’s Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts Faculty through December 9. 
- “The King in our Heart” runs through November 25 at Rachadamnoen Contemporary art Centre.