Showing 1 - 10 of 24
A photographer princess
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 16/04/2019
» Armed with her Leica camera and fixed lens, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the youngest daughter of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, woke up before sunrise -- at 5am -- and rode a jeep and hot-air balloon in search of the Big Five game animals of Kenya that are hardest to shoot on foot. In tough weather conditions, dusty and humid, she captured moments in the savannahs through still and motion pictures while illustrating her quest in her personal sketchbook. She worked until twilight shed the best lighting. At night, she rested in a tent with no phone signal. This happened every day throughout her five-day journey in Kenya in May 2018.
A bittersweet farewell to Life
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/02/2019
» Amid the downturn and lower popularity of mainstream media, as opposed to fast-speed online channels, coupled with the deprivation of press freedom under the junta, it comes as no surprise to see newspapers and magazines ceasing publication.
Drawing on Thainess
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 03/12/2018
» One day in August, the month of National Mother's Day, Chusit Wijarnjoragij was given one of the most challenging tasks in his life: to be the key visual artist for the 2018 Miss Universe pageant taking place in Thailand. He started working right away, his brain and hands moved fast, putting flowers and stars on paper while the main theme music of the contest was played in his home studio.
Preserving history
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 30/04/2018
» Ruins and ancient sites are always under threat from time and disaster. The great flood of 2011, for instance, damaged 128 archeological sites on and around the city island of Ayutthaya. After the incident, the government provided a budget of 600 million baht for the clean-up and restoration work, and there was also financial and technical aid from Unesco, as well as certain foreign countries.
Preserving literary heritage
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 09/04/2018
» At Wat Sung Men in Phrae province, monks and a dozen local villagers are busy scanning the temple's old manuscripts into a computer. The same activity, in fact, is happening at several temples in the North, including Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong in Chiang Mai as well as others in Lamphun and Nan. Initiated by a German professor, the novel efforts of digitising and conserving ancient manuscripts have caught on with enthusiasm among locals.
Thai culture goes digital
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 08/11/2017
» Visiting historical museums and official cultural websites in Thailand was boring in the past, but not anymore. In accordance with the government's Thailand 4.0 policy, the Ministry of Culture has upgraded art and cultural learning sources, with Culture Minister Veera Rojpojchanarat announcing the change last month.
Royal funeral books to cherish
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 15/09/2017
» A heart-wrenching day for Thailand -- that of the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej -- is only about one month away. The beloved monarch is in the hearts of Thais always, and many are in pursuit of memorabilia associated with His Majesty. Almost everything, ranging from coins and medals to stamps, was sold out or fully reserved within a day.
Siam through the looking glass
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 09/09/2016
» Many pictures of Siam are currently owned and kept by foreigners abroad and have never been shown in Thailand, until now. A total of 150 rare photographs, developed from foreign collectors and institutes' original photo prints and collodion, record the development of Siam and are on view at "Unseen Siam -- Early Photography 1860-1910" at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). Hosted by the centre and River Books, the show runs until Nov 7.
Digitising dhamma
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 23/03/2016
» At Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong in Chiang Mai, experts have been reading and digitising the old temple's palm-leaf manuscripts for weeks. Centuries-old manuscripts at other ancient northern temples -- Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Duang Dee in Chiang Mai, Wat Sung Men in Phrae and Wat Lai Hin in Lampang -- have been registered and well conserved.
An artist princess
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 03/02/2016
» The country's most comprehensive website to celebrate Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's life and work has made its debut at www.wisithsilapin.org. The project is run by the Rama IX Art Museum Foundation, and supported by 60 public and private enterprises.