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Breathing life into art

Artisans practising ancient crafts find novel ways to keep their creations popular

This lower central province has been home to craftsmen who create outstanding works of art since ancient times.

Arun Chuen-arom, or Uncle Arun, teaches a novice at Wat Mahathat Worawiharn how to create animal plasterwork.

Traditional Thai craftsmen can be divided into 10 groups known as chang sip mu (10 categories of craftsmen). The crafts are drawing, sculpting, carving, engraving, moulding, turning, modelling, lacquering, metal beating and plastering.

Thongruang Em-oath, 67, is a renowned master of the art of plastering. His artistic creations can be seen at almost every temple in the province.

Plastering is a traditional art that dates back to the late Ayutthaya era more than 400 years ago. Ayutthaya plasterers created outstanding works that influenced the following Rattanakosin period.

Mr Thongruang learned plastering as a young boy. He practised techniques with Pin Infasaeng, a renowned artist, who taught him to form plaster into decorative patterns.

This also gave him a chance to learn to make stucco decorations on the pedestals of Buddha images sitting in the cloisters of the famous Wat Mahathat Worawiharn in Phetchaburi.

In the early stages of his artistic career, he practised creating works in the tradition of old masters. His task also involved repairing old and damaged works, which provided him with broad knowledge of how to deal with the tricky parts of the craft. He usually worked at Wat Mahathat, where many old works were in need of repair.

A boy touches a dog crafted from plaster at Wat Mahathat Worawiharn in Phetchaburi. PHOTOS BY TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

He has passed his knowledge on to others in the hope they will take over the task of preserving the ancient works after him. Many of his students are now well-known artists.

``Now that I am growing old, I'd rather let the new generation of craftsmen do the job, but I am still around to supervise them to make sure their work comes out all right,'' Mr Thongruang said.

The proudest moment of his career was when he was called in by the Fine Arts Department to join a team of renowned craftsmen to renovate the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace for the bicentennial celebrations of the founding of Bangkok in 1982.

Prasom Susuthi, 89, is famed for his skills in carving banana tree stalks into elaborate decorations for use at funeral rites _ an art that was once common in the Northeast and Central regions.

Ornately carved banana stalks are used to decorate a crematorium built on a temporary basis.

``The arts of carving banana stalks and building temporary crematoriums have existed side by side for a long time,'' he said.

Mr Prasom said Phetchaburi was the province best liked by King Rama IV. The monarch also permitted common people in the province to build temporary crematoriums.

Wisit Thaopan, 29, gilds ornamental discs to be used in decorating the ordination hall of a temple.

Building a crematorium brings together craftsmen of all types, giving them an opportunity to showcase the best of their creative skills.

Carving banana stalks is a cultural heritage worth preserving for posterity, Mr Prasom said.

The craft has been handed down from ancient artists from Ayutthaya and has been adapted to serve the purposes of people in Phetchaburi until it has become one of the unique artistic features of the province.

``Craftsmanship seems to run in my family,'' Mr Prasom said.

His grandfather was a sculptor, while his father was a blacksmith.

He started learning to draw at seven at a nearby school and also with a monk at a community temple.

After school, he also dropped by at an artist's house to watch him draw pictures depicting stories in Buddhist scriptures as well as the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic of India.

These drawings made a lasting impression. When he grew up and turned to carving banana stalks, he drew upon his drawing skills for his carving. Designs and drawings are sketched out on the stalks before carving.

Apart from making wreaths for a living, Mr Prasom has also set up a group of artisans to preserve and spread the art.

Wiriya Susuthi carves banana tree stalks into elaborate decorations for use at funeral rites, a skill he learned from his father, Prasom Susuthi, 89.

His major contributions were when he led a group of craftsmen in carving banana stalks to decorate the royal crematorium of the Princess Mother at Sanam Luang on March 9, 1996.

He also created decorations for the royal crematorium of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of His Majesty the King, in 2008.

``These are the proudest moments of my life,'' he said.

Mr Prasom noted, however, that sadly, his carving is a fading art. Most funerals now take place at permanent crematoriums at temples. Temporary crematoriums are rare now as they cost hundreds of thousands of baht to build and have become unpopular.

However, Mr Prasom said the craft is still an important part of the artistic life of the province and needs to be preserved for future generations.

Thanin Chuenchai, 41, is an artist known for his skills in painting using the technique of gilded black lacquer or lai rod nam (design washed with water).

A lai rod nam design shows a delicate blend of glittering gold leaves and black lacquer. The design is usually for decoration on scriptures cabinets, gates and windows at temples.

As a boy, Mr Thanin studied the art with a monk at Wat Pom in Muang district before pur suing the study at Poh Chang School of Arts and Crafts in Bangkok, which has been renamed Poh Chang College of Arts and Crafts.

He improved his skills in the art through adoption of the gilded black lacquer technique at temples. When he was ordained as a monk at Wat Mahathat in Phetchaburi, he also had an opportunity to repair and restore old paintings.

``People nowadays are less keen on gilded black lacquer paintings. They think the paintings are old-fashioned and should be kept at temples where they belong. They think this style of painting is not suited for decorating homes.'' Mr Thanin decided to rise to the challenge. He came up with the idea to adapt old patterns and pictures to capture a more contemporary theme. He is willing to impart the knowledge of his craftsmanship to school students so that they can also appreciate the creativity of traditional artists.

Thongruang Em-oath, 67, a renowned master of plaster art, concentrates on his work. His artistic creations can be seen at almost every temple in the province.