'Totally inappropriate': Tourist's shock at Buddhist temple in Thailand

[Boater]

'Totally inappropriate': Tourist's shock at Buddhist temple in Thailand which has a mural of planes hitting the Twin Towers

• Tourist criticises mural of Twin Towers as 'completely inappropriate'
• Features burning buildings alongside comic book characters

A mural in a Thai temple has been criticised as 'totally inappropriate' for depicting the 9/11 terrorist attacks alongside comic book characters and celebrities.

The White Temple at Chiang Rai is the bizarre pet project of controversial Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat

As well as depicting planes flying into the Twin Towers, the mural at Chiang Rai features fictional characters such as Spiderman and Harry Potter, celebrities like Michael Jackson, as well as fighter jets and spaceships.

'Totally inappropriate': A mural in the Thai temple of Chiang Rai depicting the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2600486/Totally-inappropriate-Tourists-shock-Buddhist-temple-Thailand-mural-planes-hitting-Twin-Towers.html#ixzz2yOF1X0Mu

Edited April 9, 2014 by Boater

[JoeThePoster]

How come they ignored Hitler?

[slipperylobster]

Spider man? Twin Towers? Is not the small blue cat from Ren and Stimpy?

The prophecies are coming true !!

[Gsxrnz]

How come they ignored Hitler?

It ain't finished yet.

[Pomthai]

I expect the moronic justification from the powers that be will be more shocking than the actual mural itself. (which I think is in bad taste btw)

Just watch, the blame game and denial will be in full swing soon. I can state with almost certainty, no one will apologize or take any responsibility for it or the repercussions. Watch and see it unfold. Think of it as an exercise in understanding Thailand.

Doubt local media will even touch on this as a story, since it might make someone look bad...

[transam]

Hmmmmmmmm, the LOS tide is a turning..........................

[simon43]

Totally, totally inappropriate.

But not surprising - this is Thailand, land of the ignorant

Simon

[Jingthing]

This image appears to me to be a legitimate work of art.

It seems the artist is extremely talented.

Whether such provocative art belongs in wats though, that I don't know, as I don't pretend to understand Thai Buddhist culture.

I think an art gallery would be better.

Yes, even in New York. Maybe better in New York.

Art is more than something that looks pretty over your sofa, my dears.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Jingthing

[Gsxrnz]

This image appears to me to be a legitimate work of art.

It seems the artist is extremely talented.

Whether such provocative art belongs in wats though, that I don't know, as I don't pretend to understand Thai Buddhist culture.

I think an art gallery would be better.

Yes, even in New York. Maybe better in New York.

Art is more than something that looks pretty over your sofa, my dears.

Gosh, I was going to say something along those lines but was too scared of the backlash. Thumbs Up JT!!

[mauGR1]

This image appears to me to be a legitimate work of art.

It seems the artist is extremely talented.

Whether such provocative art belongs in wats though, that I don't know, as I don't pretend to understand Thai Buddhist culture.

I think an art gallery would be better.

Yes, even in New York. Maybe better in New York.

Art is more than something that looks pretty over your sofa, my dears.

You are right about Art. Art can be provocative and even distasteful.

I don't quite agree it should be in the temple, but then, they allow full blasting karaoke and the likes, with drunken youngsters armed with lethal weapons.. So, no, i am not surprised, still i think it's not appropriate.

[Showbags]

Looks like an angry bird in there also....

[Kitsune]

Nothing inappropriate here.

It's an accurate vision of Thai's perception of the world: Here Superman, Black Eyes Peas or Bin Laden are equal pickles, they are just names they hear about farang World but they have not got the faintest clue as too how real they are or what do they represent or who they are.

[Dancealot]

I guess only an American would call this inappropriate.

[PiPiFFS]

It happened people. Whether you believe the official line or not it is now a part of history. The picture in no way glorifies the attack so just where is it wrong ? It seems that today outrage and offence are to be found in every little thing regardless of any intention to cause offence or outrage.

Would a painting of an unmanned drone have caused such outrage I wonder. Considering the "Collateral damage " they have wreaked since 9/11

I also never understood the outcry over the Hitler nonsense last year. It seems it is fine to print T shirts of bin Laden, Stalin and Lenin yet Hitler is a total no no.

Ignore it or grow some thicker skin.

[David48]

It's the PC world in attack mode.

It's a private place, a private artist giving his private impressions.

It's a sad world when we try and censor the free will of an Artist.

I've been there ... it's different, but I wasn't offended.

Daily Mail rubbish to stir it up and sell a couple of papers.

Actually, from memory (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the taking of photos inside the Temple was not allowed?

[peterb17]

I guess only an American would call this inappropriate.

I think you might be correct- 9/11 was dreadful- on a vast scale. The fact it happened on American soil really brought home America's place in the world.

I spent the 70's working in Harrods, at one time we had coded messages over the Tannoy daily- search for bombs- was about 30 ft away when one IRA bomb went off( luckily had been found and good old Victorian steel doors had been closed between the departments ) . We got used to it. The USA had never experienced anything like that.

Now it's all part of history, the unholy alliance between the USA and the UK has made many enemies.

The art work shows a piece of history- and through Homeland security has changed the world we live in.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[peterb17]

Weird dread ful- perfectly decent word?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Pomthai]

It's the PC world in attack mode.

It's a private place, a private artist giving his private impressions.

It's a sad world when we try and censor the free will of an Artist.

I've been there ... it's different, but I wasn't offended.

Daily Mail rubbish to stir it up and sell a couple of papers.

Actually, from memory (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the taking of photos inside the Temple was not allowed?

Its not in a private place, its in a temple. - That in my opinion is inappropriate.

I agree with some of the previous posters from an artistic point of view, yes its well done, I'd go as far as to say its quite good. but wholly inappropriate as far as its setting.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Pomthai

[David48]

It's the PC world in attack mode.

It's a private place, a private artist giving his private impressions.

It's a sad world when we try and censor the free will of an Artist.

I've been there ... it's different, but I wasn't offended.

Daily Mail rubbish to stir it up and sell a couple of papers.

Actually, from memory (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the taking of photos inside the Temple was not allowed?

Its not in a private place, its in a temple. - That in my opinion is inappropriate.

I agree with some of the previous posters from an artistic point of view, yes its well done, I'd go as far as to say its quite good. but wholly inappropriate as far as its setting.

To my knowledge, it's privately owned.

... but happy to stand corrected.

Anyone know for sure of the ownership of the Building?

[draggons]

I beleive that the artist owns the "temple". I stand corrected if wrong.

Some of his work is quite stunning and I have a couple hanging in the house

Not cheap either......

[Beetlejuice]

How come they ignored Hitler?

The Hitler symbols and images have now become past tense and no longer in fashion.

This in my opinion is a total mockery and travesty of one of the worst tragedies of modern times. This so-called work of art that depicts 9/11 in such an insensitive manner is of extremely bad taste and is bound to offend and probably cause great upset and grief to those who survived or lost loved one`s in the 9/11 disaster and to many Westerners that witnessed these horrific events taking place during the times. I still have the terrifying images of people jumping to their deaths in my mind.

This is the work of a warped mind, by someone who has no sensitivity to horrific and tragic events such as this.

The question is; how many more times are the Thais going to plead ignorance to their creation of these offensive so-called artworks and imagines? Because there can be no excuses. Only one word to describe this: outrageous.

I hope that tourists will decide to boycott that temple until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed.

The reality and there were no super heroes around at the time to rescue them:

Edited April 9, 2014 by Beetlejuice

[PiPiFFS]

Do the people who find this well painted depiction of a historical and world changing event also find offence in the many paintings and statues that depict a person being sadistically nail onto a cross by the Romans centuries ago as offensive ?

These are also found everywhere in places of worship just like this Temple.

[draggons]

How come they ignored Hitler?

The Hitler symbols and images have now become past tense and no longer in fashion.

This in my opinion is a total mockery and travesty of one of the worst tragedies of modern times. This so-called work of art that depicts 9/11 in such an insensitive manner is of extremely bad taste and is bound to offend and probably cause great upset and grief to those who survived or lost loved one`s in the 9/11 disaster and to many Westerners that witnessed these horrific events taking place during the times. I still have the terrifying images of people jumping to their deaths in my mind.

This is the work of a warped mind, by someone who has no sensitivity to horrific and tragic events such as this.

The question is; how many more times are the Thais going to plead ignorance to their creation of these offensive so-called artworks and imagines? Because there can be no excuses. Only one word to describe this: outrageous.

I hope that tourists will decide to boycott that temple until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed.

The reality and there were no super heroes around at the time to rescue them:

You still have the terrifying images of people in your mind yet you post a video of it..........................................................................

[Tchooptip]

Tourists or American tourists?

Anyhow more or less of 50% contemporary and modern art is considered inappropriate by 50% of the older générations...So

Edited April 9, 2014 by Tchooptip

[Jingthing]

I beleive that the artist owns the "temple". I stand corrected if wrong.

Some of his work is quite stunning and I have a couple hanging in the house

Not cheap either......

Good for you. I'm jealous.

[Commander Tamson]

I guess only an American would call this inappropriate.

I think you might be correct- 9/11 was dreadful- on a vast scale. The fact it happened on American soil really brought home America's place in the world.

I spent the 70's working in Harrods, at one time we had coded messages over the Tannoy daily- search for bombs- was about 30 ft away when one IRA bomb went off( luckily had been found and good old Victorian steel doors had been closed between the departments ) . We got used to it. The USA had never experienced anything like that.

Now it's all part of history, the unholy alliance between the USA and the UK has made many enemies.

The art work shows a piece of history- and through Homeland security has changed the world we live in.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Sorry mate, but I think your use of 'unholy' is totally inappropriate. Unless of course it's a subtle attempt on your part to turn this thread into a certain-religion bashing thread. And I don't mean the IRA version of Catholicism that you are obviously referring to when you relate to your experiences at Harrods.

[David48]

I hope that tourists will decide to boycott that temple until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed.

BJ, I enjoy reading your posts most times ... but this is a very myopic and generational view of the world.

The event is not being glorified ... but simply 'captured'.

We complain that the Thai schooling system teaches cr*ap history .. here is a way to install in an inquiring young mind the event that took place on that tragic day.

Not everyone want's to visit a memorial.

Edited to add ... actually your statement of "until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed." ... is probably exactly what the Muslim extremists thought as they flew the planes into the WTC ... the Trade Towers are offensive images of the Capitalist system and they should be " smashed down and destroyed."

We can rise above that and teach our children a better way ...

Edited April 9, 2014 by David48

[peterb17]

How come they ignored Hitler?

The Hitler symbols and images have now become past tense and no longer in fashion.

This in my opinion is a total mockery and travesty of one of the worst tragedies of modern times. This so-called work of art that depicts 9/11 in such an insensitive manner is of extremely bad taste and is bound to offend and probably cause great upset and grief to those who survived or lost loved one`s in the 9/11 disaster and to many Westerners that witnessed these horrific events taking place during the times. I still have the terrifying images of people jumping to their deaths in my mind.

This is the work of a warped mind, by someone who has no sensitivity to horrific and tragic events such as this.

The question is; how many more times are the Thais going to plead ignorance to their creation of these offensive so-called artworks and imagines? Because there can be no excuses. Only one word to describe this: outrageous.

I think that you mention fashion is important - fashion comes and goes- bell bottoms anybody? To be totally honest 9/ 11 is totally , absolutely, irrelevant to the vast majority of Thai people - your comments come from the first world - oh dear - someone fought back against the total crap that America and the Saudis have imposed on the world.

I hope that tourists will decide to boycott that temple until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed.

The reality and there were no super heroes around at the time to rescue them:

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Beetlejuice]

How come they ignored Hitler?

The Hitler symbols and images have now become past tense and no longer in fashion.

This in my opinion is a total mockery and travesty of one of the worst tragedies of modern times. This so-called work of art that depicts 9/11 in such an insensitive manner is of extremely bad taste and is bound to offend and probably cause great upset and grief to those who survived or lost loved one`s in the 9/11 disaster and to many Westerners that witnessed these horrific events taking place during the times. I still have the terrifying images of people jumping to their deaths in my mind.

This is the work of a warped mind, by someone who has no sensitivity to horrific and tragic events such as this.

The question is; how many more times are the Thais going to plead ignorance to their creation of these offensive so-called artworks and imagines? Because there can be no excuses. Only one word to describe this: outrageous.

I hope that tourists will decide to boycott that temple until those offensive images are smashed down and destroyed.

The reality and there were no super heroes around at the time to rescue them:

You still have the terrifying images of people in your mind yet you post a video of it..........................................................................

I am trying to nail home the reality for the ignorant that perhaps have no idea what was involved during 9/11 and those who have short memories, also I wonder if some of the opinions posted on here would be the same if they were involved or lost loved one`s in the disaster? I guess not if it were personal to them. I actually lost a cousin during the collapse of one of the buildings.

The way the 9/11 tragedy is depicted in that painting is insensitive and inappropriate. This is not a respectful memorial to the disaster but rather portrayed as something of visual amusement apparently created to impress the tourists.

It`s bang out of order and as I see it, obscene. There can be no excuses or any justifications for the display of this total load of offensive crap and I say again; outrageous.

[David48]

^^ BJ ... the past influences the future.

But you look to the past, and I, the future ...

BTW ... sorry for your loss ...