Showing 1 - 10 of 21
The art of giving
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 07/12/2018
» To raise funds for its continued mission to grant around 30 scholarships per year to art students and support talented young artists who wish to have exhibitions of their own, the Marsi Foundation in honour of the late HSH Princess Marsi Sukhumbhand Paribatra has launched a new collection of souvenirs bearing the princess' art, which will make perfect Christmas and New Year's gifts for anyone.
Exploring Thailand in one day
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 26/04/2018
» Thirty-six years ago, the 10-year-old me felt excited to see the replicas of more than 100 historic monuments, life-sized and smaller, in one place. Many other Thai students must feel the same since one of the must-sees on any school study trip is Muang Boran (Ancient Siam) in Samut Prakan province. Nowadays, Muang Boran has become a Thai art and culture learning centre and also a popular setting for the filming of TV series and movies.
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.
Moulded by music
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 04/12/2017
» His trembling hands work with bamboo wood and turn it into Thai xylophone and gong wong mallets. Despite difficulties as a result of a stroke he suffered years ago, Chalor Jaichuen, one of the country's last craftsmen who still makes Thai xylophone and gong wong mallets by hand, maintains the dexterity of an expert.
Sophisticated art for royal funeral pyre
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/10/2017
» A funeral pyre for cremating a deceased royal is decorated with beautifully arranged flowers, carved banana stalks and fruits, and colourful papers as part of the royal paraphernalia. The funeral pyre for the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is more magnificent than anything ever made -- sophisticated handmade art fit for a great monarch.
To the beat of the drum
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 29/06/2017
» Nan is a northern city which was founded more than 700 years ago, and has unique art and culture. Its people have a proverb saying that Nan's heavenly sounds are "the sound of beating gongs and drums", "the sound of rice-pounding mortars" and "the sound of scripture-reciting monks". They believe the city continues to prosper as long as it is rich in food and resources, the people live comfortably, Buddhist monks are good and the sound of musical instruments and the puja drums resonate as offerings to the Lord Buddha.
'Stone doctors' operate in Thailand
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/04/2017
» Two pagodas of Wat Ratchaburana in central Ayutthaya are almost 600 years old, but their beauty is still visible due to conservation efforts. The remaining stucco and plaster at both stupas (prang and mondop), the Buddha statues at the Prang, the floral decoration at the east face of the prayer hall and the stucco at a small pagoda -- they have been preserved partly as a result of a German conservation project in close co-operation with the Ayutthaya Historical Park and Unesco Bangkok.
Visit the house of Siam's 'Great Craftsman'
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 13/04/2017
» Every year, the Naris Foundation and the Chitrabongs family celebrate Naris Day, the birthday of the late Prince Narisaranuvattiwongse -- the Great Craftsman of Siam -- by opening up the prince's residence, Ban Plainern, in Bangkok's Khlong Toei district to the public all day on April 29.
The Queen's aspirations
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 10/08/2016
» Her Majesty Queen Sirikit will turn 84 on Friday. For the 66 years of her queenship, Her Majesty has worked tirelessly side by side with His Majesty the King for Thais' better living, and one of her greatest inspirations and role models has been Queen Savang Vadhana, the Queen Grandmother.
Little puppet master
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 27/06/2016
» Last month, hundreds of people were enjoying the traditional southern Thai shadow puppet performance known as nang talung. At a show at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre in Bangkok, they were mesmerised by the puppeteering, singing and dubbing skills of Thailand's youngest nang talung performer, Sakon Suwannakhot. This nine-year-old boy from Phra Phrom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, started practising the art at the age of seven. Today, he is the puppet master of a seven-member troupe under the Talung Dharma Youth Project of Wat Phra Phrom.