Temple wall paintings with modern weapons to go

Temple wall paintings with modern weapons to go

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Temple wall paintings with modern weapons to go

CHIANG MAI - Wat Chedi Luang is investigating ways to adjust wall paintings which show ancient soldiers carrying modern weapons.

A monk stands next to a wall painting of ancient warrior carrying a M-79 grenade launcher at Wat Chedi Luang in Muang district, Chiang Mai province. (AP photo)

The temple in Muang district has stirred debate after the controversial paintings were seen inside the City Pillar hall in May for the first time. They are part of renovations to the hall at the temple.

The pictures include warriors in ancient outfits carrying modern weapons including an M79 grenade launcher, an M16 rifle, a pistol, a hand grenade and a sniper rifle.

They were displayed at a time when the conflict between the government led by then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and anti-government demonstrators was at its height, with M79 grenade attacks and shootings plaguing rally venues, mainly in Bangkok.

Phra Khru Sophon Kaweewat, the project supervisor, said talks with other parties were underway to change the pictures to something more appropriate and to end links between the temple and the political conflict.

The monk said the paintings were not drawn to illustrate the political situation as they had been painted before the unrest.

The temple will change modern arms to ancient weapons and is consulting arms experts on this matter, he said. Painters will be called in later for the change, he added.

The temple did not explain when the paintings were created.

Phra Kru Palad Suwat Metthakhun, the deputy abbot of the temple, said in May that the modern weapons were a creative idea of the painters to show all weapons from the past to the present day through warriors of old.

A sword and other ancient weapons were in other paintings at the same place, he added.

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