Painting project fit for A Great King

This is simply a gift fit for a great king, to be presented by Thailand's leading artists.

The Traibhumi Cosmology Painting is the initiative of MR Chakrarot Chitrabongs. It includes a painting and a book based on Tripitaka, which will be presented to His Majesty the King on the occasion of his 84th birthday in 2011.

The project was well received by the Culture Ministry, said MR Chakrarot, who retired from the ministry as permanent secretary.

Measuring at 3.2x14.4 metres, it is touted as the biggest Traibhumi artwork ever made in history.

"Initially we wanted to make a four-by-16-metre painting, but unfortunately we could not find a canvas of that size. The biggest canvas available was 3.2-by-14.4-metre, so we decided to downsize it as we wanted to make it one whole art piece. Nevertheless, it is still the biggest Traibhumi painting in the nation," he said proudly.

A group of leading artists, including Panya Vijinthanasarn, Surasak Chareonwong and Preecha Thaothong, to name but a few, have joined the project, each making a prototype painting while another team - comprising of up and coming artists - will copy it to the canvas, MR Chakrarot said.

Besides the painting, MR Chakrarot said the Culture Ministry will also publish a Tribhumikata book, with English translation. And the new painting, which is now under way, will be used as illustrations for the book.

"It will be the complete Traibhumi book with text and new illustrations - unlike the previous versions which reused the original images," he said.

Legend has it that King Lithai, the fifth king of Sukhothai's Phra Ruang Dynasty and a devout Buddhist, wrote this literary gem. The original Traibhumikata inscriptions of the Sukhothai period was made on palm leaves - an organic matter that degrades over time.

"But the fact that the inscription still exists today means that the sacred text has been hand-copied again and again from generations to generations since the Sukhothai era," he said, adding that it was a tradition for ancient kings, as patrons of Buddhism, to have the Traibhumikata copied by hand, generally to mark auspicious occasions during their individual reigns.

That tradition, however, faded when Siam opened its doors to the West in the early Rattanakosin era - a time when the study focus of Siamese people basically shifted from cosmology to cosmography, he said.

"In the old tradition of Traibhumi production and reproduction, it stipulates that there must be hundreds of Traibhumikata books available throughout the Kingdom. But we merely have 10 copies left, which are kept at the National Library. Among them, the Krung Thonburi version, made during the reign of King Taksin, is remarkable."

Traibhumi, which means "The Three Planes of Existence", is a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism that serves as the philosophy of Thai society. It is about birth and rebirth - the reincarnation through the three planes and ways to achieve nirvana through dharma practices.

It should be noted that the Traibhumi philosophy is riddled with Buddhist arts and architecture. For example, the layers of plong chanai (the upper part of a chedi, typically numbered 31) are to have the exact number of domains in accordance with Traibhumi. And the temple landscape is typically imitated from the Traibhumi structure.

Though the project is still under progress, a prototype drawing has been completed. And this week, the artists will begin to paint.

All the artists working on the project are keen about the Traibhumi structure and philosophy, noted MR Chakrarot.

"The project was undertaken in the name of Thai artists. I could say that this is a gift to our king from all Thai artists."

What makes the project so special is that HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has agreed to do part of the painting as well.

"The princess, who is named Wisit Silpin [a title that literally means well rounded artist], was also trained in traditional painting. She just needs some practice before doing it on the final canvas," he said.

The painting will reflect the evolution of Thai art, which is divided into three main periods: the original style of Ayutthaya, the art style developed by Prince Naris and the modern style.

Prince Naris, MR Chakrarot's grandfather, was a great artist who had accommodated Western art in his works, making it realistic and distinctive from traditional art.

MR Chakrarot said the top of the painting that symbolises nirvana will be painted in the Ayutthaya art style while the lower part, which features Jampa Dvipa - the land occupied by humans - will come in the modern art form.

"This part of the painting will feature the historical events during that particular era, including the cremation of HRH the late Princess Galyani Vadhana last year. The cremation rites were held under traibhumi belief," he said.

Besides, the highlight of the modern section is the so-called "art style of King Rama IX".

"His Majesty has mentioned on various occasions about the characteristics of King Rama IX's art period. This painting is the showcase of King Rama IX's art style," said MR Chakrarot.

The artists have turned part of an exhibition hall at the National Gallery on Chao Fa Road as their working station for the project.

The painting will be presented to His Majesty the King, he said.

"It's up to His Majesty where he wants to keep it. He may return it to the government so that it can be put on public display, probably at the new Ministry of Culture building when it moves to the new site near Thailand Cultural Centre on Ratchadaphisek Road."

A fund-raiser campaign will be set up for donations.

Relate Search: Traibhumi Cosmology Painting, MR Chakrarot Chitrabongs, His Majesty the King