The Queen's Gallery: Platform Awash With Creative Streaks
Nida Tunsuttiwong
During my time as a young student at a school located near Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, I would often visit Bangkok Bank’s Phan Fah Bridge branch after school with my mother to catch traditional performances and exhibitions held at the art center located there.
Although my childhood memories are becoming less vivid, I can still clearly recall several of the lively performances that took place there, including a Lam Tud (a form of folk music, including improvisation) session, as well as traditional Thai shadow puppet plays, known as Nang Yai.
I later discovered that the venue – which had been operated and supported by the bank - was called the Musical Art Center.
The center was used to display the winning entries in the annual Bualuang Painting Competition after the Bangkok Bank Foundation initiated the annual contest in 1976. The bualuang is a well known Thai flower, which is represented in the bank’s corporate logo.
Major transformation
The transformation of the Musical Art Center into the Queen’s Gallery really began in 2001.
Multi - purpose hall
The Supplementary Occupations Related Techniques (SUPPORT), a foundation under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, was seeking some paintings to publicize its new embroidery project, and so Chatri Sophonphanich, the chairman of Bangkok Bank’s board at that time, kindly volunteered to organize a painting competition in 2001.
Queen Sirikit presided over the awards presentation, during which Bangkok Bank and six other contributors donated a total of seven million baht (US$205,120) to the SUPPORT Foundation. Having been greatly impressed by the art competition and exhibitions held by the bank, Queen Sirikit graciously returned the funds to establish a formal, long-term gallery, which would be dedicated to showing the works of young artists.
Chatri later came up with idea of utilizing the Musical Art Center, pointing out that the location is ideal as the building is located along the beautiful Ratchadamnoen Avenue, located handily at the historic heart of the capital. The official opening, presided over by Queen Sirikit, was held on August 9, 2003.
In order to ensure that the gallery continues to support young artists, the Queen's Gallery Foundation was later established to organize fundraising activities, such as auctions for the works of art of renowned artists.
The Queen’s Gallery, standing proudly on the historic Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, faces the Golden Mount, the temple of Wat Ratchanatda, and the majestic Maha Jessadabadin Pavilion. The gallery occupies the first to the fourth floor of the building, while the offices are located on the fifth floor.
Multi - purpose hall
Located at the first floor's multi-purpose hall is a large portrait of HM the Queen. With a gold frame, the portrait in oils depicts Queen Sirikit in traditional Thai-Chakri costume with a tiara.
While the gallery holds permanent and non-permanent exhibitions for renowned artists, it also understands the importance of developing young artists with fresh, creative ideas. To provide such support, it regularly organizes art exhibitions that showcase the works of art undergraduate students.
Although the ceilings of the second to the fourth floors may be considered to be rather low by some visitors, a large open area at the center of the gallery provides visitors with a real sense of space, leading their eyes towards the multi purpose hall on the first floor. The layout and lighting have also been expertly designed for the gallery in order to allow for various permutations in terms of style and space.
Youth and experience
During recent visits to the gallery, I was able to view an undergraduate thesis show, featuring the works of students from several universities. Held on the second and third floors, there were several forms included in the presentation, including oil paintings, pencil drawings, mixed-media paintings, and even a large picture made entirely of colorful threads.
The show featured works from all corners of the kingdom and tended to reflect on the unique aspects of day to day life in each particular region.
‘Lifestyle of fishermen’s rites’, an oil painting by Rorhem Leekancha, an undergraduate at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, reflects the simple lifestyle of fishermen who are shown drying their catches of squid on nets held in frames.
Benjamas Posuwan from Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin used a group of distorted faces made from newspapers to describe the impact of the media on society.
Near the stairs on each level is a book, which provides further information about each composition. As some students wish to sell their work, the book also provides price lists and the contact information of each exhibition participant.
The fourth floor currently hosts works by renowned Thai artists, including Tawan Dutchanee, Thanonsak Pakwan and Siroj Phaungbubpha.
Shadow play
My own particular favorite is called ‘Wonggot Mountain’ (or Maze Mountain) – by Siroj Phaungbubpha. With the use just three colors (black, gold, and red), the artist plays with many layers of highly complex Thai-style floral patterns to depict a maze, within which many wild animals can be seen hidden.
Gifts and mementoes
In front of the gallery I discovered a book shop and coffee shop, tailored for the art-loving public. While the book shop offers numerous art-related books, CDs, exhibition leaflets, books, posters and lots of other things, the coffee shop serves up great coffee and a great view of the Golden Mount, the Maha Jessadabadin Pavilion and Loha Prasat (‘Metal Palace’), which are located right behind it.
The Queen's Gallery opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. The entrance fee is 20 baht (US$0.58), while children aged under 12, students (wearing uniform) and monks can visit the gallery for free.
For further information, contact Tel: +66(0)2 281 5360, Fax: +66 (0)2 281 5359, or visit the official website at http://www.queengallery.org .
Transport connections:
The Queen's Gallery is located on the corner of Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, just across the street from Wat Ratchanatda.
Bus: Buses that pass near the Queen's Gallery are regular (non air-conditioned) buses No 2, 5, 12, 15, 35, 39, 42, 44, 47, 56, 59 and 70, as well as air-conditioned buses No 503, 511 and 512.
Boat: You can take a San Seab canal boat from Pratunam pier to Phan Fah Leelart pier, which is located just a few hundred meters from the gallery.
Distortion of media
Doll
General
Maze Mountain
Credit: TAN Network (www.tannetwork.tv)
No comments:
Post a Comment