In 1986, veteran artist Vorasan Supap was a freshman at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University. He and his classmates lived together in their rented house next to Klong Bangkok Noi.
One night, 10 Eiam Jun boats, with the front part used for cargo and the back as a sleeping area, stopped near their house. Vorasan was very excited to see Eiam Jun boats for the first time. He even jumped into the canal, swam to the boats and was delighted to have a conversation with the people on board. The experience of that night left a strong impression on him and sparked the theme of his paintings for the next few decades.
Vorasan's first solo show after 12 years, "Life Along The River", is currently on display at Moca Bangkok. He uses visual language to depict daily life on a floating boat, such as images of eating, bathing, and interaction between family members and their pets as well. The exhibition features several large paintings of sizes of 4-6m. Some paintings took him three years to finish.
The artist said he did not experience any difficulty while working on this exhibition. He enjoyed working every day.
"I woke up happily every day to paint. I did not have to travel to work and get stuck in traffic. Painting brought me joy. The time I spent on each piece didn't matter; what mattered was ensuring every artwork was of excellent quality."
Midday.
Vorasan Supap took three years to paint Loy Krathong(290 x 560 cm).
When asked about the objective of his solo exhibition, Vorasan replied: "I hope to showcase my abilities as a painter through this exhibition. It's not about selling the work, so I don't have many expectations in that aspect. However, I hope the exhibition brings joy to everyone who visits."
"Life Along The River" is a compilation of his work of several decades. His recent paintings depict the lively scenes of Eiam Jun boats docked on the Chao Phraya River. The paintings of the boats are filled with women engaging in various activities including bathing, washing hair and applying make-up as well as helping younger siblings get dressed. There are also female vendors selling goods on the boats.
The backdrop often features iconic temples such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of Dawn), and the Golden Mount Temple. Despite being bustling with people and activities, the paintings evoke a sense of peace and contentment.
Although the props in the paintings include items commonly seen in the past, such as glazed water jars with dragon patterns and silver bowls, the artist also included gadgets in use today such as iPads and iPhones to signify that these are paintings of contemporary times.
"I included landmarks in Bangkok, such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Golden Mount Temple, in my paintings. As artists are creators of beauty, I created my own colours for the temples. I have a unique talent for creating diverse colours. Additionally, I incorporated traditional Thai stencil patterns into the boats. I often depict women in my paintings because they embody qualities like gentleness, compassion, and a nurturing spirit," he said.
"In one painting, I included both lotuses and an iPad to evoke a sense of contemporary life. To me, painting is a form of documentation. That's why I incorporated current items, such as the iPad and the iPhone, and the Minions into my paintings because there may come a day when these things no longer exist."
Chaophaya 2.
Life Along The River.
In addition to the large paintings featured in "Life Along The River", the exhibition also showcases work from his early days as an artist. Riverside 1 (1996), Riverside 2 (1994) and Riverside 3 (1997) depict traditional Thai wooden houses built on stilts over the water. These houses had thatched roofs, open walkways connecting the houses and displayed a multitude of items. Unlike the artist's recent paintings, these early works do not include people or other living creatures.
Two paintings, Legend Of Romance 1 and Legend Of Romance 2, depict a European style of stained glass and themes found in churches which set them apart from his other works. Vorasan explained that he painted this collection while he was in the UK.
"Legend Of Romance 1 and Legend Of Romance 2 aren't about a romantic relationship. They were inspired by a feeling of gratitude to the places I visited."
Born in Si Sa Ket, Vorasan realised his passion for painting while studying at a vocational school in Ubon Ratchathani. He aspired to study at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University. It was rare for students in his school to be accepted in Silpakorn University, but he worked hard and achieved his goal.
As the youngest son of a low-income family consisting of 10 children, Vorasan had to support himself financially from freshman year. He created many paintings and proposed them to art galleries. Due to his hard work, he developed his skills and earned a scholarship from the Japanese government in 1990.
After earning his Bachelor's degree, he became an art lecturer at Rangsit University for one year. Subsequently, he had the opportunity to work with a private art gallery in Singapore where he discovered that almost all his paintings with the theme of life on a floating boat could be sold. He created another collection with the same theme in Thailand and that sold out.
Riverside Collection.
Legend Of Romance 1.
"At that time, I could have purchased a car or a house in cash, but I decided to travel to Australia and went to the UK to study English. When I received a scholarship from the Japanese government, it gave me an opportunity to live in Japan. The advanced Narita Airport impressed me. This experience inspired me to travel abroad to experience things I have never seen before," said Vorasan.
Although he enjoys travelling abroad, the inspiration for his paintings still comes from things within Thailand. Since his paintings reflect Thai culture and way of life, they are appreciated by international viewers.
In the past, people used Eiam Jun boats to transport merchandise from one place to another. Now, not many Eiam Jun boats remain but Vorasan is still determined to continue painting life aboard them.
"Eiam Jun boats are unique because people live on them. Their limited space fosters a sense of close-knit family life. I have about 10 photo albums of Eiam Jun boats, so I absorbed everything about their structures. My recent paintings emphasise the activities of the people who live on these boats. My artwork is idealistic in that it combines real elements with my imagination, rather than simply copying reality,' Vorasan explained.
"As for the future, I don't know what will inspire me. But for now, I think I'll stick with the concept of 'Life Along The River'. This theme has been characteristic of my work since my first exhibition. International viewers don't want to see works that imitate their own countries. They want to see something different. As an artist, I will continue to paint until I die. I will never retire," concluded Vorasan.
"Life Along The River" runs on the ground floor of Moca Bangkok's Temporary Exhibition 1 and 2 until Sunday. Admission fee is 280 baht for adults and 120 baht for students (with student ID card). Visit facebook.com/mocabangkok.
Legend Of Romance 2.
