Portraits of a monarch

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Portraits of a monarch

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul
THE NATION



BANGKOK: Artist Choosak Vissanukamron has made portraying His Majesty the King his life's work

VETERAN ARTIST Choosak Vissanukamron is best known for his portraits of His Majesty the King in various media including watercolours, oils and acrylics. While based on photographs, they bring much more to the image of the King at work and at leisure, by including various symbols and adding a sense of place.

Chalatorn Sivaratana, an executive of Mitmaya and executive editor of MiX magazine, is one of Choosak's many fans and back in 2012 brought together 99 of his paintings for the book "Khwam Pak Dee Haeng Satha" ("With Faith and Loyalty to His Majesty").

"Chalatorn wanted to transmit my thoughts about the King to all Thais. After looking at my paintings at home, he decided to mix a selection of my portraits with the thoughts about the King of 99 Thais from every walk of life, from the very rich to the very poor," Choosak explains.

That book has now been relaunched and this time round is accompanied by a DVD featuring the 99 interviewees, who include Prof Rapee Sagarik, ML Bhandevanov Devakul, Dr Art-Ong Chumsai Na Ayudhya, Bundit Ungrangsee, Toon Hiranyasap, Prapassorn Sewikul, Nirut Sirijanya, Sombat Banchamek, Manote Puttan, Nitipong Honark, Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn and Narongrit Tosanga. The series also includes a 2016 calendar and two sets of 99 postcards of the artist's paintings portraying the King as he goes about his duties.

"My definition of 'phra chao paen din' is a monarch who looks after his country. Today the King no longer goes to war on horse- or elephant-back and with sword or spear but is instead in a four-wheel drive armed with a camera, map and pencil. His enemies are not foreign invaders but eroding soil, water problems, drought and cold. We watch the King's duties everyday on TV. He has worked his whole life from the time he acceded to the throne to his old age. I would like to encourage Thais nationwide to pay homage to the King as the main pillar of our country," says Choosak.

"I have painted the King's portrait not for money but out of love and admiration. It is my way of showing gratitude to the king and emphasising the difficulty of his work."

The 99 paintings in the book are divided into three sections according to the medium - oil and acrylics, watercolours and drawings. Each includes a series, among them "Klai Kangwon", "Ming Khwan Puang Pracha", "Fah Nom Ging", "Sam Rudoo", "Maled Khao Mee Khun Kha Phra Raja Phu Mee Khun", "Duangjai See Chompoo", and "Khoo Phra Baramee".

"I combine my imagination and spirit with the King's portraits," says Choosak. I created 'Ming Khwan Puang Pracha No 1' for the 50th anniversary of the King's accession to the throne. It shows 50 candles, the 'dhevada' who protects him and the numeral 9 symbolising King Rama IX.

"My series 'Fah Nom Ging' show the King with an old woman, Toom from Nakhon Pathom. 'Fah Nom Ging No 2' emphasises the remoteness of the area through the vast sky reminding viewers that no matter how far and remote the place is, the King still is determined to go there. It shows the King bending down to talk to the old woman who has a 'sien mak' for preparing betel. It is reminiscent of my mother's basket and the culture of the Isaan people. 'Fah Nom Ging No 1, is more of a close-up and adds the King visiting people, taking a photo and playing saxophone. I also did a watercolour of the same picture under the name 'Raja Phu Ornyon Kap Khunyai Phu Ornnom'.

For "Klai Kangwon No 2", which uses a photo of His Majesty in a wheelchair being attended to by a doctor, Choosak removed both wheelchair and doctor and instead inserted the King's favourite dog Thong Dang.

His "Ming Khwan Puang Pracha" series features Phra Siam Dheva Thirat, trademarks of Their Majesties, and adds haloes around them. "Khoo Phra Baramee No 1" is based on a photo of the Royal couple's 55th wedding anniversary and shows Their Majesties talking with Elvis Presley.

Choosak, who was born to a rice farming family in Udon Thani, frequently uses the landscapes of Isaan in his paintings.

"I know about the benefits of rice and always try to put a rice kernel in the background of the King's portraits, such as in 'Pra Nueng Maled Pan Un Prasert". I compare the King to our superior seed disseminating his goodness to people of this country. 'Maled Khao See Khao' compares the King to a white rice kernel, symbolising his travels to everywhere in the country. In 'Duangjai Sai Sa-ard', which shows the King harvesting rice, I compare him to a farmer."

For other portraits such as "Suk Jai" and "Wai Thi Pan Kaln", Choosak gives His Majesty a smile.

"Usually, the king doesn't smile. It would be because the king must bear the burdens of the country on his shoulders," he says.

"Khor Phra Ong Song Phra Charoen" is based on a photo showing the Monarch emerging from Siriraj Hospital as his people shout "Song Phraroen".

"My painting shows the King as a bright light in the darkness of the universe. And my paintings that include a Thai flag symbolise that our country is facing political problems."

The collection also includes some paintings of His Majesty with his parents, HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkhla, and HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother.

"Muea Jan Kojorn" shows the King, who was born on a Monday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, travelling back to the country, while "Jan Loy" depicts him as a moon floating back to Thailand to govern this country.

The set of drawings includes "Nam Phrathai Khong Nai Luang" and "Fon Luang" showing a child wai-ing the King.

"'Fon Luang' doesn't literally mean artificial rain but symbolises the King taking care of his people, like the rain pouring down from the numeral 9, which was formed out of a cloud. It is surrealistic," says Choosak.

The cover of the book shows the king sitting on the Royal Barge Narai Song Suban and features the Great Five and Valuable Buddha Amulets, Phra Siam Dheva Thirat, dhevada and coins.

"It's imagination that's based on reality," Choosak concludes.

IN PRAISE OF A KING

- "Khwam Pak Dee Haeng Satha" ("With Faith and Loyalty to His Majesty"), is priced at Bt999 and comes with a DVD.

- The calendar is Bt199 and a set of postcards is Bt139.

- It is also possible to purchase the calendar and two sets of postcards for Bt359.

- All are available from B2S at CentralWorld only.

- To place an order with the magazine, call (02) 460 1534-5.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Portraits-of-a-monarch-30274722.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-12

[NCFC]

Thailand's Banksy.

[ratcatcher]

Chalk and cheese. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy

[simon43]

I must buy shares in yellow paint

[GinBoy2]

I suspect that a Thai version of Banksy would be banged up in some LM Supermax faster than you can empty a can of spray paint!