Inspiring Impressions @ The National Museum
Nida Sampattavanich
Artworks of Royal Artisans, an exhibition featuring a variety of exquisite art works produced by Royal artisans during various eras, is currently on display at the National Museum Bangkok. Art aficionados ought to make a special effort to pay a visit to the exhibition soon, as it is set to close on October 17.
The exhibition, which was officially opened on August 18 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, was organized in celebration of Thai Cultural Heritage Conservation Day 2011 (which is marked, annually, on April 2).
Seal of Approval
The kingdom’s monarchs have traditionally offered their patronage to skilled artisans, commissioning them to finely craft works on Royal command for use during various important occasions. These artisans produce their work in accordance with conventional practice and Royal customs, which is why they are known as Royal Artisans.
These days, Royal Artisans continue to work on conservation projects, while producing new works under the Samnek Chang Sib Mu (Office of Traditional Arts). The literal translation of this office is ‘Office of the artisans of 10 crafts’, representing the 10 classifications that traditional crafts were originally grouped under, although this exhibition actually uses 11 classifications (ceramics, embroidery [with gold thread], lacquer work, metal casting, mirrored glass inlay, mother of pearl inlay, painting, plastering and stucco work, shadow play, sheet metal and repoussé-decorated works and wood carvings.
Throughout The Ages
To stress the important links between the past and the present, several impressive items, dating back to the Sukhothai (1238-1583) and Ayutthaya (1350-1767) eras, are on display, along with examples produced more recently.
I began my visit by taking a close look at some designs of a base for a Royal urn, which was actually used during the Ayutthaya era, featuring portrayals of mythical creatures. These take the form of white drawings on long lengths of black paper, which are folded accordion-style (see photo, right). Nearby you’ll spot some sketches featuring scenes from the epic, the Ramayana, which were actually used as the basis for a range of murals located at Wat Phra Khiew (‘Temple of the Emerald Buddha’). Others were used to produce impressive screens, window panels or cabinets for storing Buddhist manuscripts, using various techniques, including mother-of-pearl inlay, mirrored glass inlay and lacquer work.
I was particularly impressed by a mother-of-pearl inlayed door panel, which was created on the instruction of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The design includes highly-detailed Thai patterns, including Narai Song Suban (the Hindu God Narai, riding upon a Garuda). Thousands of pieces of mother-of-pearl were carefully cut and arranged to produce this highly elaborate word of art.
Another impressive presentation features examples of gilded paper and embroidery using gold thread. Here you will find a curtains, featuring Thai patterns, which come from the Royal barges Suphannahong and Anekkachatphuchong, along with other embroidered fabric that is used to cover the gable of the roof upon a Royal barge.
Imposing Presence
When it comes to plaster and stucco work, the exhibition includes some examples dating back to the Sukhothai era, but the most eye-catching display is a sculpture of a Mom, a mythical creature that is rarely seen outside of the north of the country as its origins stem from the Lanna kingdom (an ancient kingdom that existed during the 13th to 18th centuries in what is now northern Thailand [see photo, below]). A Mom is usually found in front of the entrance to a Buddhist chapel in the way that you often see ‘guardian’ lions protecting the entrances to significant structures in Chinese culture.
Ceramics are also often found within Buddhist temples, both in the form of pottery and decorative tiles. In this case, the exhibition features two reproductions, depicting walls based at the temple of Wat Rajabophit Sathitmahasimaram Rajaworawihan. These include vivid, finely detailed depictions of angels and floral patterns.
The exhibition also features examples of artistic creations and styles developed during the reign of the kingdom's beloved reigning monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which reflect aspects of his highly acclaimed sufficiency theory. These designs can be seen at the ubosot ('main chapel') of Wat Phraram Kao Kanchanaphisek in Bangkok, a temple constructed on a budget of just three million baht (US$96,355). Built with funds provided solely by HM the King, the design of the temple serves the religious needs of the Thai public, while the decorative aspects within the ubosot feature a simplified form of Thai art. The temple serves as a form of prototype for others interested in building a temple using the same concept.
The entrance fee at the National Museum is 30 baht per person for locals and 200 baht for foreigners. There is no entry charge for students (in uniform), monks and official representatives of other religious groups.
For further information, contact the National Museum on Tel: +66 (0)2 224 1333, or +66 (0)2 224 1402.
Transport Connections:
Bus: All the following buses operate along a route that passes the National Museum - regular (non air-conditioned) bus numbers 3, 6, 9, 15, 19, 30, 32, 33, 39, 43, 47, 53, 59, 60, 65, 70, 80, 82, 91, 123, 201 and 203 and air-conditioned bus numbers 1, 8, 25, 506, 507 and 510.
Credit: TAN Network (www.tannetwork.tv)
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