Thread: Thai Painters

Painting is my favourite form of Asian art, but it can be difficult to find a gallery that doesn't devote it's existence to producing and supplying the generic Buddha 'art' that apparently every tourist loves.

Two of my favourite Thai artists are highlighted below.

Sudjai Chaiyapan
Sudjai Chaiyapan was born in Bangkok in 1969. He graduated from Silapakorn University, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art. His style is often surrealistic and full of symbols. In his earlier work, the artist's focus has been on environmental degradation such as in his series from the late 1990s. In his latest work he focuses on love and relationships. Depictions of bodies surrounded by flowers, such as roses and lotuses, are characteristic of his most recent series. The flowers represent his emotions and tell tales of the artist’s experiences in his relationships. To enhance the emotional effect, all of them are depicted in a surrealist setting. A technical signature of his very unique style is that in addition to using a brush, he uses the edge of a cutter to produce very fine lines. In 1997 Sudjai won the ASEAN Art Awards in Thailand. He has also won prizes from private corporations as well as from international bodies such as the UN (Our World in the Year 2000 - The United Nations Millennium Art Exhibition) for his artwork reflecting on environmental awareness. Sudjai also participated in the Osaka Triennale in Japan in 1996.





Sudjai Chaiyapan, artist painter from Thailand

Therdkiat Wangwarcharakul
Therdkiat Wangwarcharakul was born in 1971 and graduated with a Master in Painting from Silapakorn University in 2003. He often paints with oil on aluminium sheets and has recently moved to paint with oil on canvas. The use of aluminium makes his play with light and shadow unique. He has painted series of cityscapes, using the aluminium to create an effect of intimacy and optimism. He has an apt use of composition, texture and colours. In his earlier works he used this medium to depict the constant struggle poor inhabitants of any city endure in order to secure survival. In this level of society no objects are useless. Leftovers from the middle classes are recycled and stray dogs become devoted companions. In the artistic depiction of this life, the use of aluminum sheets - a material that is recycled by garbage collectors in the city - as a medium, contributes to the authenticity conveyed by the paintings. Therdkiat has participated in several exhibitions in Thailand, as well as in Singapore (2001), Japan (2001), the Netherlands (2002), Korea (2003), and Spain (2005). He was awarded the Jurors' Choice Prize in the ASEAN Art Awards in 2000 and won the second prize at the National Art Competition in Thailand in 2002.





Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul - artist painter from Thailand

Yes. I see that you are one of the LSD crowd.

Nice work by both artists. Very different styles although both conservative. I prefer the work of some of the contemporary Chinese artists.

Originally Posted by Humbert

I prefer the work of some of the contemporary Chinese artists.

I like a lot of Asian art, but this sub-forum is for Thai art & culture.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Humbert

I prefer the work of some of the contemporary Chinese artists.

I like a lot of Asian art, but this sub-forum is for Thai art & culture.

Thanks for the warning. Let's limit ourselves to only responding with comparisons to Thai art.