Come learn the history of Thai toons

To promote and raise awareness of the importance of Thai comics as a cultural heritage resource, the Fine Arts Department has organised the exhibition "Nangsue Cartoon Thai Chailai Kwa Thee Kid (Thai Comic Books Are Cooler Than You Think)", which tells the history and evolution of Thai cartoons from the early Rattanakosin period to the present.

The exhibition is taking place at Wachirayan Room 2 and 3 in the National Library of Thailand (NLT) until April 11. Manuscripts of Thai cartoons that have been collected at the NLT are displayed in various forms such as ancient documents, rare books, old newspapers, comic books and digital formats.

The showcase is divided into three eras -- the early period, the pioneer period and the present.

Early Period (1844 – 1931)

The virtuoso Thai artist Khrua In Khong during the early Rattanakosin era was praised for his cutting-edge style since he adapted Western painting style into his work. During King Rama VI's reign, the political cartoon became popular and was published in many newspapers. In this section, visitors can view King Rama VI's cartoon drawings that were published in the newspaper, Dusit Smith, as well as works by Thailand's first political cartoonist, Pleng Tripin.

Pioneer Period (1932 – 1956)

The Thai comic industry blended both Thai and Western cultures together and told stories through two kinds of characters from literature and folklore to reflect politics and society. Notable cartoonists in this period included Prayoon Chanyavongs, Hem Vejakorn and Sawat Chutarop.

The Present (1957 to present)

Currently, the Thai comic industry is influenced by international comics, especially, from Japan and China. Kai Hua Ror, Mahasanook and Ai Tua Lek are popular comic books among readers of all ages. In today's digital age, physical comic books have found their way to online platforms.