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.
The proof of that inspiration is now on full display throughout the month at the "Exhibition To Mark Her Majesty The Queen's 7th Cycle Birthday" being held at the Queen Savang Vadhana Museum, in Sra Pathum Palace.
"Her Majesty Queen Savang Vadhana, the Queen Grandmother, saw the importance of knowledge and education," says the presentation's narration. "She encouraged youngsters and courtiers to study, and supported numerous schools. She had a keen interest in medical science and public health. She commissioned the establishment of Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital in Si Racha."
To visit the exhibition is also a chance to visit parts of Sra Pathum Palace, a royal compound in Pathumwan near Siam Square, open for the public on this special occasion.
The exhibition is classified into four zones, and in fact the first deals with the life of HM the Queen in relation to Sra Pathum Palace itself. Sra Prathum Palace was the royal residence of Queen Savang Vadhana, and the venue of Their Majesties the King and Queen's royal wedding on April 28, 1950.
The second section depicts Her Majesty's work for the people by His Majesty's side in the fields of social welfare, health, education, natural and cultural conservation and social development. Among her projects is her work with the Thai Red Cross Society. Her Majesty became the president on Aug 12, 1956, the third in Thai history, after Queen Savang Vadhana, who was in charge from 1920-1955.
One of Her Majesty's most outstanding missions was providing humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing the genocides in Cambodia in 1975 and 1979. Her Majesty travelled by helicopter from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Trat on the eastern border after hearing the reports on May 26, 1979. She instructed related government agencies and her own courtiers to set up an emergency Red Cross unit at Ban Khao Lan, Mai Root. This task was internationally recognised by Tufts University, in the United States, which bestowed on her an honorary doctoral degree in the humanities in 1980.
Queen Savang Vadhana, the Queen Grandmother.
Her work in the fields of natural conservation are also shown, such as her "Forests Love Water Village" project in Sakon Nakhon, her "Return Elephants to Nature" and "Restoring the Source of Elephant Food" projects in Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Loei and Buri Ram.
The third zone displays the honours bestowed on Her Majesty by the international community for her humanitarian work. For instance, in 1979, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations awarded HM the Queen its Ceres Gold Medal for her work among rural women that improved their livelihoods and education, resulting in less hunger and poverty among them and their children. In 1986, the World Wildlife Fund presented her with a certificate honouring her as the best forest and wildlife conservationist.
On Her Majesty's 80th birthday in 2012, the Ministry of Culture presented her with the title "Great Artist Protector of the Arts". Last year, the "Great Artist Protector of the Arts" medal was presented to Her Majesty on her 83rd birthday.
The fourth and last zone showcases Her Majesty's kindness and compassion in working for the benefit of the people. The most outstanding is the Support Foundation, which features the Sirikit Institute at Chitralada Palace that offers training to produce artisans. Moreover, Her Majesty has revived khon mask dance as well as the related art of weaving silk brocades, making khon costumes, accessories and masks and royal khon make-up. For a decade, the Support Foundation's annual Royal Khon Performance, initiated by Her Majesty, has made khon more popular and enjoyable.
In addition, Her Majesty is a role model in terms of fashion among Thai women, especially in the aspect of Thai cultural conservation. She often wears attire tailored from Thai fabrics, including Thai silk and hand-woven cotton textiles.
According to the exhibition, Her Majesty has followed in the footsteps of Queen Savang Vadhana in various aspects. In 2011, Queen Savang Vadhana was named by Unesco one of the world's great personalities for her contributions to education, applied science (public health), culture, social science and the humanities.
Culturally, the artistic talent of Queen Savang Vadhana inspired HM the Queen to support various forms of traditional art, such as yan lipao (string fern vine) handicrafts, embroidery and beetle wing art, through her many royal projects and the Support Foundation.
Part of the exhibition at the Queen Savang Vadhana Museum.
Back in 1893, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) permitted Queen Savang Vadhana, the Queen Consort, to organise an exhibition on Siamese arts and culture in the Woman's Building at the World's Columbian Exposition, or the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, to mark the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus "discovering" the New World.
The exhibition comprised delicate embroidery using silk threads, gold and silver filaments, as well as other items of Siamese arts and culture and preserved food. It created public awareness for Siam as civilised and sophisticated, as reflected by its skilful craftsmanship.
Among the many handicraft items selected by the queen for display at the fair, 101 won prizes. Among these, 22 were either crafted by the queen herself or displayed her insignia.
To show her appreciation for the success of the expo, Queen Savang Vadhana presented an album of Siamese photographs to Mrs Potter Palmer (Mrs Bertha Palmer), president of the Board of Lady Managers. The cover of the album was embroidered by Queen Savang Vadhana in the image of lotus flowers and leaves, with a silver elephant in the lower right-hand corner. The silver binder and clasp were crafted by Tiffany & Co. The album was later presented to the Chicago History Museum by descendants of Mrs Palmer.
At the ongoing exhibition in the Queen Savang Vadhana Museum, a life-size model of this album is on view. It was embroidered by instructors at the Royal Traditional Thai Crafts School for Women in a frame inlaid with a silver elephant and a silver clasp made by instructors at the Golden Jubilee Royal Goldsmith College.
Other objects to be shown include a wooden and enbroidered silk screen and a yan lipao vine betel nut set with beetle-wing decorative details owned by the former queen, as well as HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's yan lipao vine handbags made with the same technique. Queen Savang Vadhana's yan lipao betel nut set inspired Her Majesty the Queen to support the art of yan lipao handicrafts at a number of occupational centres.
Other highlights are silver figurines, damascene art, vanashram embroidery from mai noi (fine silk threads) and a wooden and embroidered silk screen by Sirikit Institute craftsmen and khon costumes for Indrajit and Hanuman used in the Royal Khon Performance The Battle Of Indrajit: The Episode Of Prommas, in 2007.
In all, Her Majesty the Queen keeps the legacy of Queen Savang Vadhana alive by continuing and expanding the latter's work to make people's lives better and to preserve Thailand's artistic and cultural heritage throughout the current reign.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10am-3pm until Aug 31. Admission to the exhibition hall and Phra Tamnak Yai Mansion costs 150 baht for adults and 50 baht for students. The museum's annual three-month opening to the public runs from December until the end of March. Advance reservations are required on weekdays during official hours by calling 02-252-1965/7. Visit www.queensavang.org for more information.
The balcony of Phra Tamnak Yai Mansion is where Queen Savang Vadhana presided over the wedding of Their Majesties the King and Queen on April 28, 1950. Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation
The Siamese Album is now at the Chicago History Museum, but a life-size model is on view at the exhibition. Photos courtesy of Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation
Queen Savang Vadhana's yan lipao betel nut set with beetle wing details. photo: photographer
The wood and embroidered silk screen, owned by Queen Savang Vadhana, is one of the highlights.
