If art acts as a reflection of society, a sort of cultural barometer of the times, the Thai arts scene should be composed from of a palette of vibrant colours and seemingly complex and contradictory elements. And indeed it is. Here in Bangkok, there has never been a better time to view or buy art. After years in the shadows, Thai artists are attracting significant attention from buyers both here and abroad.
Much as Western art was once shaped purely by the demands and patronage of the Church, so too classical Thai painting, and indeed dance, music, drama and even culinary arts, flourished under the patronage of the royal courts. Traditional Thai art still portrays images of devotion or of rural idylls, and steers well clear of controversy. But things are certainly changing, and fast.
Although modern art, drawing on Western techniques and influence is nothing new to Thailand, recently a new school of painters and sculptors have started to redefine artistic boundaries and attract significant attention. Many new galleries have opened and young artists are now finding it possible to make a decent living. One of the leading galleries specializing in contemporary Thai art in Bangkok is H Gallery. Located just off Sathorn Road in a beautifully restored wooden building, the traditional exterior belies the modern gems that grace the walls within. The owner, H Ernest Lee, hails from New York but has been based in Bangkok for the past nine years. With a background in the Arts and a keen eye for the up-and-coming, H is an enthusiastic promoter of young contemporary Thai artists. As well as exhibiting at his own gallery, he also holds regular exhibitions at Eat Me restaurant, on Soi Pipat, just off Convent Road.
‘Currently there is huge interest in Thai art,' says H. ‘Contemporary Thai art has always been available in Bangkok but has been a much smaller sector of the market than traditional work. Five or six years ago it was difficult to access contemporary works but the scene has become more organized. New galleries are opening all the time and high profile exhibitions are now regular, well-attended events.'
Most of the young Thai artist are emerging from art schools here, such as Silapakorn University, Chulalonkorn University and Chiang Mai but often go on to do a Master abroad, opening them to different ideas and creative influences.
‘Thai art is an extremely good investment and the works are inexpensive,' says H. But he warns it won't always be that way. ‘This will change. In five or ten years time it will be much, much more expensive. Many international buyers are surprised at how cheap good art here is at the moment. In the West you just can't find quality work from an educated artist who has had several shows and is doing well at comparable prices. Art from Vietnam is also very expensive these days.'
Not only has the popular Vietnamese work become pricey, it is also more derivative, with a handful of well-known and successful artists exerting a strong influence on many painters. It has become almost formulaic. Here in Thailand, however, there is clearly a greater sense of individualism and a broad range of styles and techniques. Bangkok is clearly a hot-bed of talent but with so many established and up-and -coming artists, who are the names to watch? Personal favourites of H include Jakkai Siributr, a Bangkok-based artist who H has exhibited both here and in New York. Jakkai studied Textile Design and Fine Art in the USA. Another abstract painter of note is Somneuk Huangtanapan. He is currently showing at H Gallery until June 28th, 2008. Somneuk, who studied for his degree at Silapakorn University and went on to do his MFA in San Francisco. He works with gold leaf, charcoal and acrylic paints.
Although the works of Jakkai and Somneuk are contemporary and they have both studied overseas, their art is still very much Thai in flavour. Yet even though many of the young Thai painters have broken away the boundaries imposed by tradition doesn't alter the fact that certain constraints within society still exert a strong force on the work. Buddhism and spirituality remain constant and the thread still runs through the art, as it does the life of the painters. The colours of Thai temples and that of the landscape infuse the work of many artists. The textures and rhythms evident in much of the work are also visible in everyday life. Most artists, however, still purposely avoid controversy. This will inevitably change over the coming years not because of Western influence but due to increased competition between artists, the need to garner attention and the desire of the creative mind to continue exploring possibilities. In short, there are some exciting times ahead for Thai art in Bangkok.
Somneuk Huangtanapan's exhibition, Cease to Begin is showing at H Gallery in Bangkok until June 28th. http://www.hgallerybkk.com/