Time of the sad cartoons
As the beloved King is mourned, tears replace cheeriness in graffiti and pop art
Spray can in hand, Thailand’s leading graffiti artist, who goes by the name Alex Face, rides a fire-fighter’s lift up and down a 20-metre-tall section of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre facade, adding flourishes of paint. He’s drawing the outline of his best-known character, the three-eyed juvenile Mardi, posed disconsolately, missing his ever-present hood.
Mardi is joining Wisut Pornnimitr’s popular cartoon character Mamuang Chan (Mango Girl), who’s depicted prone on the ground executing a sad but respectful graab. Kittipong Kamsart’s cute pink pig, bearing the Thai symbol for “9”, is weeping as it offers a 'wai'".
Together they’re forming a vast mural tribute, 10 by 25 metres, to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol, revered as the country “Supreme Artist”.
The assembled figures will soon include a magnificent Garuda as well, and a likeness of Khun Thong Daeng, the late monarch’s beloved pet dog.
Whereas street art and pop art are typically lively and fun, often provocative and socially critical, the images being presented in this project – the first time art has ever presented on an outdoor wall at the centre – understandably send an entirely subdued and reverent message.
“King Bhumibol was a multitalented artist and he was my idol, as he was for all Thais,” says Alex, real name Patcharapol Tanruen. “Out of respect, my character Mardi has taken off his hood and given a ‘wai’”
Art from a spray can, always immediate and impassioned – just like the grief that descended on the Kingdom when His Majesty died in October – opens the year-long homage entitled “In Remembrance to His Majesty the Late King: The Supreme Artist”. The series will take many moving forms by the time it concludes at the end of November.
Wisut Pornnimitr, Kittipong Kamsart, Yuree Kensaku, Patcharapol “Alex Face” Tanruen and Rukkit Kuanhawate, from left from left, assemble for the project. Nation/Thanis sudto
Alex, Wisut, Kittipong, Rukkit Kuanhawate and Yuree Kensaku will be paying homage in their own unique ways. The curved exterior fa็ade has been rendered a sombre grey as the backdrop for their paintings.
It took Kittipong just two days to finish his weeping, wai-ing pig, who hold the number “9”, signifying King Rama IX. He says he too revered the late monarch and his artistic talent.
“My pig is also in mourning,” says Kittipong, who bases his drawings on the pets he has at home, a pig and a goat among them. “My cartoon pig’s usually naughty, but this time he’s making a polite wai in respect for the late King.”
Wisut’s Mango Girl is no less saddened, seen kneeling low to the ground in a shaft of light, prostrated in obeisance to His Majesty. She’s devastated by the loss, he says.
“This is the first time Mamuang Chan has appeared on a wall as ‘graffiti’,” he says. Mango Girl is usually the star of comic strips, Line stickers and prints on household items, even adorning a bra. Wisut let Alex Face’s team handle the delicate task of transferring her character to the wall surface.
Yuree is adding a vivid kneeling Garuda.
Last weekend Yuree began applying her signature pop style to the same mural in the form of a vivid “Crying Garuda”. The mythical being will be wearing a crown and holding flowers between hands clasped in a wai. It will be down on one knee atop a cloud, paying homage to the King newly arrived in Heaven.
“The inspiration comes from Hindu mythology and the Ramayana, in which the King is Phra Narai, born in human form. Narai rides the half-human, half-bird Garuda that reappears in Buddhist mythology,” explains Yuree, whose murals are currently on view in the exhibition “Atmosfear” at the 100 Tonson Gallery.
Rukkit Kuanhawate’s striking portrait of the King’s pet, Khun Thong Daeng.
Street artist Rukkit is aiming to add his finishing work to the mural by Valentine’s Day. A gifted portrayer of animals, including eagles, goats, tigers, bears and buffalo, he’s a dab hand with dogs too, and for the first time will be depicting the late King’s dog Thong Daeng – in a multitude of colours.
“Dogs are man’s best friend and Khun Thong Daeng became a symbol for honesty,” he points out. “This will be my way of connecting my art with the King’s legacy.”
Just as much as His Majesty’s artistic talents, the five participating painters say they take inspiration from his philosophy on sufficiency – making do with only what is essential in life.
“I follow his philosophy,” says Alex. “For example, I always cut off the end of the toothpaste tube to use up the last of it, just like the King did.” Alex has been earning plenty of social-media credit with posts showing his portraits of His Majesty sprayed on the exteriors of abandoned houses in Pathum Thani.
For Yuree, the royal advice comes down to “doing small good deeds for society. That’s my habit,” she says.
Wisut tries to follow the King’s example of enjoying every undertaking. “I love everything I do. I love Mamuang Chan – my art – and I always do my best in my job.”
Just as the “graffiti” mural is being completed, members of various art institutes will be getting to work on another one on the wall joining the centre to the National Stadium BTS station. This one will be a huge portrait of His Majesty surrounded by scenes of grieving people.
And, with the exterior walls finished, the indoor shows will begin. More than 120 artists will be involved, their efforts coordinated by former Culture Ministry permanent secretary Professor Apinan Poshyananda, who heads the curator team at the art centre.
“Since the King passed away we’ve witnessed a phenomenal increase in the number of paintings, photographs and songs dedicated to him, as well as creativity in the new media,” Apinan notes. “The centre will be presenting the art of the reign of King Rama IX throughout most of the year, devoting its three main halls on the seventh to ninth floors to the project from July to November.”
Also coming up, on March 18, musician from Chulalongkorn, Silpakorn, Kasetsart and Rangsit universities will be performing the King’s compositions at the centre.
Pop takes a pause
-The exhibition series “In Remembrance to His Majesty the Late King: The Supreme Artist” continues through next November. The graffiti project is expected to be finished by February 13.
- The mural portrait of the late King on the wall connecting to the National Stadium BTS station will be painted daily throughout February.
- Find out more at www.BACC.or.th.
