Rock art
Near Phuket, Phang Nga Bay is home to Thailand's most important rock art sites. We owe their discovery to the scholar Jean Boulbet, who catalogued them in the 1980s. Concentrated in the northern part of the bay, these rock drawings, or phap khien boran, date back to the Neolithic period.
More recent, the rock paintings of Khao Kien, the "Mountain of Writings", show animals drawn by sailors who came to shelter in the cave 3,000 years ago.
The Laem Sak point groups together several sites (Khao Thiep 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9). The Laem Chao Le site, known as the "Point of the Sea Men", features astonishing monsters and creatures, surrounding a man and a boat.
the "Evil Mountain" is famous for its genie, the guardian of the place, accompanied by a horn-nosed animal. At Khao Khien Srah, a frieze drawn on sandstone reads like a comic strip.
North of Phang Nga Bay, "Turtle Mountain" is inhabited by astonishing clay statues. Scattered around the ancient hermitage at the foot of Kha Tao, these sculptures contribute to the unsettling atmosphere of the place.
Sculpture and tradition
The history of Thai sculpture intersects with that of its architecture. Most works are created for religious purposes, with representations of Buddha being the most numerous. Stone is the most common material, but nothing is too beautiful to pay homage to the Sage, and the most precious minerals and metals are also used for his cult. The first sculptures were made of stone or bronze and depicted Buddhist and Hindu divinities, as artists were obliged to respect certain rules laid down in India, the cradle of both religions. Virtually nothing is known about these early sculptors, as no names were left on the works.
Buddhist temples
Thai art is rooted in the daily life of a population that is 95% Buddhist. Every day, the country's 40,000 temples are a place of meditation. All these holy places are richly decorated, mainly with Buddha statues.
Phuket is home to some thirty temples, all of which are open to the public. The island's most important, Wat Chalong, is part of the classic circuit with the Big Buddha. Built in the 19th century, it is the largest and most lavishly decorated temple in the entire region. Inside, frescoes depicting the life of the Enlightened One cover walls and ceilings. Carved doors and gilded statues complete the embellishment.
In Phuket, the gigantic Wat Khao Nakkerd, or "Big Buddha", can be seen from any point on the island. Made of white marble, the 45-metre-high colossus meditates on Nakkerd hill, facing the bay.
Also worth seeing is the "Reclining Buddha" (Wat Srisoonthorn), fashioned in 1792. Located in Thalang, the temple is home to some astonishing statues. Fantastic animals and ghosts are on display in the site's garden.
Another giant, Phra Phuttha Itthi Mongkhonchai, can be recognized by the 7-headed naja with which it is haloed. Impressive in the early morning, when he emerges from the mists in the heart of the jungle.
Thai painting
Traditional Thai painting is a reflection of life. Its favorite themes revolve around religious beliefs, notably Hindu gods, and Buddhist precepts. Until recently, the absence of perspective was intended and conveyed in all forms of visual art. Painters used the three primary colors, white and black.
At the end of the 19th century, under the reign of King Chulalongkorn, the kingdom opened up to the Western world. The color palette broadened and new techniques appeared, including the use of gold leaf. It was then that the art of photography and portraiture was introduced, shaking up ancestral traditions.
Modern styles
Modern art is born at Silpakorn University. Founded in 1943 by Professor Silpa Bhirasri, the School of Fine Arts later became a university. It was the first art college in the country to integrate European avant-gardes such as Cubism and Impressionism. The innovations of Western art, notably the introduction of perspective, were adopted even in mural art. Thai art prefers the use of local materials to oil paint. Beads, lace, fabrics and other materials evoke other aspects of Thai culture.
In painting, Thawan Duchanee (1939-2014) has exerted a strong influence on several generations of artists. He stands out for his technical explorations, and the psychological element he adds to his themes borrowed from Buddhism. Trained in Bangkok, Thawan continued his studies in Amsterdam. In the 1980s, he traveled throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. He feels close to the Surrealist movement, and its interest in the workings of thought. Appointed National Artist of Thailand in 2001, he exhibited all over the world until his death in 2014.
Among his emulators, Jirapat Tatsanasomboon in his turn proposes an art combining local traditions with distant cultures. Influenced by Impressionism, Therdkiat Wangwatcharakul depicts the everyday life of the Thai people.
Photography
Although photography arrived in Thailand in 1845, just six years after the creation of the first daguerreotype, it remained an art reserved for the elite until the Second World War. It was only after the war that the medium opened up to ordinary citizens, becoming a means of artistic expression as well as an instrument of documentation and information.
The father of Thai photography, Chitt Chongmankhong (1922-2009) is renowned for his innovative use of darkroom techniques. During his career, he traveled all over Thailand to photograph its rural and urban landscapes, and to showcase its most modest populations. But his work sometimes takes a less conventional form, approaching surrealist collage and questioning photography as a medium. Initially unpopular within the Thai photographic community, the numerous international awards he received eventually legitimized his work.
Today, many Thai photographers are recognized on the international scene. Among them, Manit Sriwanichpoom and Michael Shaowanasai have proposed an innovative use of the medium. Through their approach, photography shakes up traditions and highlights the working classes.
Contemporary art
Today, Thai art oscillates between tradition and modernity, with religion playing a key role despite the changes of recent decades. The late 1980s are generally regarded as the beginning of this pivotal period, which reached its creative peak in the 2000s and saw the development of a variety of genres, from installation to video art. Innovative artists asserted themselves, daring to break with traditional styles and norms, and proposing radical new approaches, both artistically and politically.
Street-art
The first street-art work appeared in 2012 in old Phuket at the junction of Thalang Road and Soi Romanee. The face painted by French artist Noé Two on a decrepit building was photographed by visitors from all over the world before being washed away by sun and rain.
Subsequently, local and international artists collaborated to beautify an ancient neighborhood that not so long ago seemed abandoned. Projects such as FAT (Food Art Town) encourage quality urban art in the old town.
Where can you admire them in Phuket? Artworks have sprung up on Krabi Road, near the Thai Hua Museum. Also on Phang Nga Road, famous for its art galleries, you can admire scenes of traditional Thai life.
The walls along Phang Nga Road are also popular with urban artists.
Another form of public art, the Phuket Art Village in Rawai, brings together a community of artists. Each exhibits his or her work, and all styles are represented. These unusual personalities are particularly fond of salvaging, collecting driftwood and all manner of abandoned objects and transforming them into works of art. To be explored on the way up from Rawai beach.
Nowadays on the islands
On Koh Lanta, the talented Mitree Dumsri is inspired by nature, and more specifically by elephants. He paints original works, at the crossroads of several genres. With a touch of abstract art and an abundance of color, he treats his typically Thai subjects in a unique style. To be discovered at the Lanta Art Gallery.
Koh Samui is home to a breeding ground of talented artists. Painters and sculptors find the island paradise an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Several venues showcase their creations. The first art gallery to open on the island, The Modern Thai Art Gallery has been supporting traditional and innovative artists since 1987. For over twenty years, Gallery La Fayette in Chaweng has been renowned for the quality of its portraits. Reproductions and creations attract collectors. To soak up the creative vibe, the Chujai Art Gallery is one of the island's most interesting cultural venues. Founded by two artists with boundless energy.
A dozen art galleries exhibit local works of art. Koko Gallery (Lamai Plaza, Maret) is run by Koko Aung. A Myanmar-born painter, Koko Aung excels in the Myanmar Knife painting technique. Superb landscapes to take home as souvenirs.
The Art Samui Museum specializes in optical illusions. Some sixty works invite you to enjoy an interactive experience. Visitors are strongly encouraged to take photos of themselves immersed in the 3D works. A mix of local landscapes, visual experiences and laughter.
