Illusion and immersion

With art exhibitions opening almost daily all over the city, it’s inevitable than art lovers will sometimes miss out on a show. 

Now Silpakorn University’s Art Centre is ensuring that its patrons don’t feel left out with the introduction of a smartphone app that takes visitors on a virtual tour, thus allowing everyone to see the exhibitions, even if they can’t be there in person.

The new app is being launched in the closing days of “Living Memories”, an exhibition that pays tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 

“We are teaming up with M Digital and 80 Root to create apps for both the virtual exhibition and exhibition catalogue. Normally, we print only 2,000 catalogues for a show and they’re distributed free to the university, art galleries, artists, students and art lovers. That number is simply not enough, especially when a show lasts longer than a month. The apps will allow artists, students, academics and art lovers to learn more about the show,” says Amarit Choosuwan, dean of the Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts Faculty.

“Her Royal Highness is checking the content and presentation. We’re hoping to receive her approval on the day the show closes so that viewers can access the virtual show,” the dean says. “This exhibition, which is designed to celebrate the 60th birthday of Princess Sirindhorn, chronicles her relations with the university and explores her studies and artworks. The initiative is supported by a book in addition to the fully integrated computer apps.” 

The “M Book” is a multimedia volume that documents the Princess’ royal activities in support of Silpakorn as well as the Kingdom’s art and culture. It showcases her accomplishments through photos, videos, animation and sound files.

Like the exhibition, it honours the Princess’ achievements in various disciplines, including archaeology, epigraphy, painting, ceramics, architectural conservation, music and art.

An alumnae of Silpakorn, the Princess earned her master’s degree in Oriental Epigraphy at the Faculty of Archaeology, and the show includes the various honorary doctorates conferred on her by Silpakorn, as well as a collection of other awards and citations.

“Princess Sirindhorn has always been interested in archaeology and indeed chose this subject for her studies at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts. After she graduated from CU, she furthered her knowledge through a master’s degree at Silpakorn in 1978,” explains Asst Prof Chawalit Khaokhiew, dean of the Faculty of Archaeology.

Her interest in Oriental Epigraphy is evident from her copy of the stone inscription “Phra Srisurayaluxsamee” from Phon district, Khon Kaen, which dates to 1023. 

“She transcribed the Sanskrit and ancient Khmer texts into Thai in 1976, before she entered Silpakorn,” Chawalit explains.

Also on display is the Princess’ Khmer-font typewriter, which she donated to the faculty. 

Among her archaeological projects are her thesis, which includes translations of the stone inscriptions in Khmer found at Prasat Phanom Rung, the ancient Khmer temple complex in Buri Ram. 

“Her thesis is not only valuable for the faculty, but also updates our historical data on the links between Thailand and Cambodia,” the dean says. 

Next to the archaeology section on the ground floor, visitors, both virtual and physical, can enjoy the sound of six of the Princess’s compositions accompanied by a video showing Silpakorn’s music students and alumni playing the rearranged tunes of “Pituret Marndorn”, “Rak”, “Menu Khai”, “Somtam”, “Loke Patjuban” and “Taam Roithao Poh”.

Upstairs, the 13 ceramics created by the Princess displayed in a long glass table are the highlights of the show. Her works span various techniques ranging from terracotta, glazed porcelain and Japanese Raku style.

Her talent for visual arts is showcased alongside, with 15 oils, acrylic paintings, watercolours, lithographs and etchings on display. The subject matters range from her favourite animals – the elephant and the dog – to lotus ponds, flora, landscapes and humorous ghosts. 

“The Princess’ loves to experiment with various techniques. Many of her paintings are created spontaneously and are very expressive,” says Amarit, adding that she is a constant observer of nature and her surroundings.

The architecture section focuses on the renovations to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in 1982 to mark Bangkok’s bicentennial. The work was spearheaded by Her Royal Highness at the behest of His Majesty the King. 

A conservationist to the core, the Princess teamed up with the Fine Arts Department to lay the foundations for the preservation of the Kingdom’s arts and crafts. 

“The Princess initiated the art of Thai stained glass, asking masters to make replacements for the original Chinese stained glass that was used in the temple but had been damaged by time. Thailand has been producing exquisite stained glass ever since,” Chawalit explains. 

“The Princess’ exhibition is the launch pad for our virtual exhibition and archive projects. Silpakorn University is planning to be a ‘24-hour Art Academy’, a place at which students and the general public can learn from anywhere and at any time,” Amarit says.

“With a budget of Bt800 million for 2015-17, we hope our ‘24-hour Art Academy’ will be open very soon. We are aiming to integrate Thai wisdom with advanced technology to improve our art education,” Amarit says.

 

CLICK TO VIEW

“Living Memories” wraps up on Wednesday in the Art Centre at at Silpakorn University, Wang Tha Phra.

The virtual exhibition app sirindhorn@suexhibition can be downloaded for free from today. The book app, sirindhorn&su, is also available, through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.