Exhibition pays tribute to Thai design, with focus on Royal Crematorium

The exhibition, “Insight Thai Architecture”, will run until January 7, at TCDC, the Grand Postal Building, Charoenkrung Road. Entrance is free of charge.
The unique exhibition is divided into four zones. 
The first zone engages visitors through the significant philosophy of Thai architecture, which not only creates functional designs but also reflects through design and decorative arts the traditional beliefs of Trai Bhumi, the Buddhist teaching of the three spheres of existence.

The exhibition displays a model of Wat Arun Ratchawararam, an inspired universe of Siam.
There is also a model of the Royal Crematorium of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a 1:50 scale, with an explanation of the blueprints designed by the Fine Arts Department along with the history of previous royal crematoriums, showcasing the developments and advanced technology now in use.
The second zone features the Royal Crematorium in more detail, particularly emphasising the accuracy of its shape and scale, which is a real challenge in Thai architecture. The focus is on the unique pattern and composition detail, which must abide by the rules of perspective-distortion, and the association between the visual appearance and the perception of an object.

It shows the Fine Arts Department’s architectural drawings for the top of the Phra Merumas, which is 28 metres high. It also displays the art of wood-layering, a technique that articulates flat wood sheets to create a shallow-depth dimension. 
The colour painting is a form of artwork complimenting architecture to create a more meaningful and exceptional masterpiece.
The exhibition features sandalwood cuttings to create decorative patterns such as the garland-like designs for the Royal coffin; and the creased gold textile stencil and colour-paper fitting used to create patterns featuring the mythical creatures Garuda and Naga. The exhibition also highlights the principal star-and-beams decorations that will be placed on the ceiling of the pavilions of Phra Merumas and Phra Thinang Song Dhamma (a ceremonial tower).
The third zone of the exhibition recognises the great master artisans and teachers who looked into each of their students’ exceptional skills to put them in the right position, allowing the students to create theirpart of the work well within the time constraints required for the construction of Phra Merumas.

These include Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong, Bhrom Bhichit, Professor Praves Limpharungsri and Vice Marshal Arwut Ngernchuklin. 
The forth zone invites visitors to try to draw the basic traditional Thai “Kanok” pattern along a dashed line, and to attempt the colour-tapping technique inherited from ancient times. 
Associate Professor Dr Chaiyasit Dankittikul, dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Silpakorn University, said the Phra Merumas has features that distinguish it from other types of architecture, due to its temporary nature and the time constraints on its design and building.
It is a symbolic presentation, which requires the work of different types of people: those from architecture, fine arts and engineering. Once finished, it must be removed.
“The Royal Crematorium is not something that anyone can make,” he said, “so all Thais should be proud.”