Artist Thawan Dachanee dies at 74

Artist Thawan Dachanee dies at 74

Mourners visited the house of Thawan Dachanee on Wednesday to bid farewell to the venerated National Artist, who died early in the morning. He was 74.

Artist Thawan Dachanee visits his art exhibition at the Siam Paragon shopping centre on Dec 16, 2103. He died on Wednesday. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

Born on Sept 24, 1939 in Chiang Rai, Thawan studied at the Poh Chang Art and Craft College in Bangkok and furthered his studies at Sikpakorn University, where he was groomed by late professor Silpa Bhirasri.

After graduating from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art at Silpakorn, Thawan continued his studies at Rijks Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam.

Thawan received a scholarship from the Education Ministry after his studies at Poh Chang. He was declared a National Artist in visual art in 2001.

A huge painting by Thawan Dachanee is on display at Sathorn City building. (Photo by Krit Promsaka na Sakolnakorn)

Thawan died of hepatitis at 2am on Wednesday in Bangkok.

He is survived by four sons including Doytibet, who announced the death of his father on his Facebook page. Mr Doytibet is managing director of the museum his father built.  

The royal bathing rite for the late national artist is to be held at 1pm at Sala 1 of Wat Depsirin on Thursday. Chanting rites will be held at 7pm from Thursday to Sept 10. The royal funeral ceremony is set for Sept 11 at 5pm.

 Baandam Museum, or the Black House, in Muang district of Chiang Rai province, remained opened to visitors, with a remembrance book in which they could write a message in memory of the late artist.

About 40 years ago, Thawan turned his abode into a museum, exhibiting his paintings and other art pieces. All of the buildings were painted in black, in keeping with its name. 

''I feel deep sorrow at the death of ajarn (Thawan)," said Pun Tunkaew, a former Ban Nang Lae village chief, who helped him build the compound, now one of the major attractions for art lovers in Chiang Rai.

One of the paintings in the "Maravijaya" series by late artist Thawan Dachanee is on display at Baandam Museum in Chiang Rai's Muang district. (Photo by Arthur Jones Dionio)

Chalermchai Kositpipat, another artist in Chiang Rai who built Wat Rong Khun, said Thawan's death was  ''the greatest loss, not only for Thailand but also the world'', as his paintings and sculptures made Thailand famous in the art world.

"The greatness of Wat Rong Khun cannot be compared with Baandam, which ajarn Thawan built," the famous artist said in praise of his muse. "He left behind an example for other artists to follow."

Chai Nakhonchai, director-general of the Cultural Promotion Department, commended the late artist on his work which he said was invaluable and internationally recognised.

"Ajarn Thawan dedicated his efforts to promoting art in Thailand and made it widely recognised all over the world,'' he said.

His works were displayed across the globe, including solo exhibitions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Amsterdam, Paris, Hawaii and Santa Barbara in the United States. Among his famous works is the series Maravijaya, some of which are on display at Baandam.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (7)