Artists honour Artist-King Bhumibol

With the Royal cremation of the late King Bhumibol coming in October, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) is taking a final opportunity to host the major exhibition, “For Our Supreme Artist”, gathering works by more than 120 artists.
In one of the most stirring artistic tributes to the late King, the BACC is presenting the art of the reign of King Rama IX throughout most of the year. The centre devotes its three main halls on the seventh to ninth floors to this show kicking off tonight.
The series of exhibitions began after the late King passed away last October with a portrait of the King on the external walls of the art centre accompanied by cute graffiti to honour him. Professor Apinan Poshyananda, the former Culture Ministry’s Permanent General-Secretary, is in charge of the curatorial team assembling the sprawling show at BACC.
The seventh floor hosts a new exhibition entitled “Earth Water Forest Air: The Royal Inspiration,” which features 90 artworks by 45 artists who were inspired by the late King’s over 4,000 Royal projects. On display are 70 paintings, sculptures, photographs and installation art. Running though November 12, the show is co-curated by BACC’s Chatvichai Promadhattavedi, Amarit Chusuwan of Silpakorn University and independent curator Apisak Sonjod.
Also on display on the ground floor are dozens of the King’s portraits in the form of sculptures in various poses, ages and activities.
The next exhibition, “In Remembrance the Great King,” features over 160 conceptual art works with the King’s portraits will be opened on August 24. The show is co-curated by Apinan, Thawatchi Somkong of Fine Art Magazine and Sakchia Guy, photographer and editor-founder of Lips Magazine, who captured memorable shots of the last monarch.
King Bhumibol’s own paintings will form the highlight of the exhibition, which will be displayed on the ninth floor from September 2 through January 7, 2018.