As the first in the Writer In Residence programme, The Peninsula Bangkok has brought poems to life in "Poetic License", an immersive new exhibition by celebrated Thai poet and cultural historian Chiranan Pitpreecha. With diverse content, Chiranan's new poems reflect life, nature, society, politics, philosophy and explore the intersection of poetry and visual art. "Poetic License" is now on view at The Peninsula's gallery space and other public areas and runs until the end of this month.
The event poster for 'Poetic License'. The Peninsula Bangkok
"It was a fun project to work on. I have to thank The Peninsula Bangkok for inviting me to be the first artist in this project. When it's called Writer In Residence, it literally means that. The hotel was kind enough to let me stay here in my own room for over a month in order to work on these new poems. And the most fun part was taking the time to figure out how to bring a series of poems written together and stay in the same concept," said Chiranan during an interview with the press who attended the recent exhibition launch.
"Visual poetry is something I've been wanting to do for quite some time as we have seen many international artists and poets do similar types of exhibitions before in the past, which basically is to see and absorb the language of poetry through different media and other fields of art."
The themes in "Poetic License" relate to humans' relationship with nature and the preservation of our environment, subjects that have informed the decades-long writing career of Chiranan, who has won numerous distinctions including two PEN International poetry awards in 1981 for her published poem Cracked Pebble. Her latest mixed media exhibition "Poetic License" comprises two separate parts, including visual poetry and painting, and art installations. Some of the artwork is a unique collaboration that Chiranan co-created with friends and other independent artists.
The Peninsula Bangkok
"I am quite fortunate to have many friends in different fields of arts and crafts. So I had the ideas come up piece by piece and then selected the right people to work with for each poem written," explained Chiranan.
There are two Chiranan poems that appear transposed onto painting pieces created by artist Khun Adisak Somkong. The first of these, Unity In Diversity, uses deep-blue abstract patterns punctuated by bursts of light to evoke the swirling waters of the Chao Phraya River as well as the perpetual flow of life, while the second artwork, Golden Silk, incorporates fine golden threads, like those spun by a caterpillar for its cocoon, illustrating the sanctity and beauty of utilising what nature gives to us freely, just as cotton can be spun to create clothing to keep us warm.
Chiranan Pitpreecha. The Peninsula Bangkok
Worship The Nature is an expansive installation created with pieces of coloured cloth that occupy the space between two pillars in the centre of The Peninsula Bangkok's grand lobby as a fine decoration. They are the same colourful cloth we have commonly seen wrapped around shrines, spirit houses and trees everywhere in Thailand for religious purposes. Chiranan said that she got the inspiration for the installation during her stay at the hotel.
"One day while going down to have a meal at a restaurant near the hotel, I observed two large banyan trees wrapped in different colours of cloth. Its beauty caught my eye, and I thought to myself that this can be viewed as a work of art as well," she said. "In terms of beliefs of Thai people, the trees that were wrapped in coloured cloth had to live with sacred things or spirits. It can create feelings for many people, be it impressions, appreciation, knowledge or even the fear of thinking that these trees are sacred. The symbolic spirit-tree theme seeks to transcend nature into what we call supernatural. So I think it's an interesting idea how people worship nature and the environment -- within us and around us, proving that nature is so much superior to us."
Also available at "Poetic License" is the limited Zumo Book, a bound, 20-page collection of original poems by Chiranan that probe the themes of personal freedom and perpetual change. Instead of print, each poem in this centrepiece publication has been weaved in textiles. The book's cover features dappled blue water-inspired imagery, vividly echoing the poems' subject matter. Earth-bound tones of abstract artwork complement the pages within, with sudden splashes of bold colour. An ancient wooden pedestal built for the book furthers this theme of movement through water, repurposed from the prow of an ancient longtail boat, which once formed the base of a merchant's vessel.
'Poetic License' by Chiranan Pitpreecha. The Peninsula Bangkok
"There are 40 artworks in a total of 20 pages made out of textiles. We have made quite a few as they are all handmade. It's a beautiful piece of art that took us months to finish it," she said.
The Zumo Book is a limited edition of 20 copies and is priced at 20,000 baht per book. The proceeds from the sales will be donated to SATI, a grassroots non-profit foundation, providing scholarships to underprivileged or at-risk youth in Thailand.
"Poetic License", an exhibition by Chiranan Pitpreecha, runs until July 31 at The Peninsula Bangkok on Charoen Nakhon Rd. It is open from 3-8pm daily. For more information, call 02-020-2888, or email pbk@peninsula.com.
Chiranan Pitpreecha. The Peninsula Bangkok
