A strong family bond can be a pillar of strength for individual family members. With solid support from family, two artists -- Theerapong Kamolpus and Ronachart Mahakphichian -- were inspired to turn their inspirations into paintings. At the RCB Portrait Prize 2022, these two unique paintings stood out from a total of 200 entries and 80 finalists. Relationship by Theerapong won the RCB Portrait Prize of 500,000 baht in cash, Time And Care by Ronachart was awarded the Packing Room Prize of 200,000 baht.
This is the second year of Thailand's national portrait competition. The Portrait Prize was judged by a panel of seven individuals who come from varied backgrounds such as business, state agencies and media. The Packing Room Prize was judged by an exhibition team who had seen a wide array of art exhibited at River City Bangkok throughout the years.
The two winners -- Theerapong and Ronachart -- expressed their surprise and excitement at the results. They both said they were thrilled to receive their award. Life spoke to the young winners about the ideas behind their paintings.
Relationship
Theerapong Kamolpus The RCB Portrait Prize Winner
The 26-year-old artist earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. Theerapong specialises in realistic and impressionist paintings. When he saw the news about the RCB Portrait Prize 2022, he did not hesitate to enter the competition.
"I have drawn portraits for years, so I wanted to have a go at this competition. Since I like realism, I felt that this competition was suitable for my skills and ability," he said.
Relationship is a portrait of Theerapong's family members -- his father, mother and brother. In the painting, three casually dressed people stand in a back yard under the sun. Judges praised this portrait for the artist's technical ability and the mixture of warmth, humour and realistic family portrayal.
Theerapong revealed that he decided to create Relationship because he wanted to mend a broken family relationship.
Ronachart Mahakphichian, left, Packing Room Prize winner, with his grandfather and father.
"My father and brother have had a financial conflict since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Once, my father brought up the subject of the financial issue, but my brother decided to avoid the argument by using the silent treatment on his father. After that incident, they stopped speaking to each other. They avoid each other; they do not even have meals at the same table. I used this painting as an excuse that they have to be in one frame while my mother stands between them," Theerapong said.
Although his father and brother do not get along, they did not mind posing for his painting. The artist said they initially refused to be sitters, but after telling them he wanted to create a painting for the competition, they agreed. "Their relationship seemed to be better the first few seconds when they had to stay in the same frame, but after that, they never communicated with each other. I am disappointed because I do not know how to make them reconcile. My family is an important foundation to me. Throughout the years, they supported me and my career choice. However, I had never painted a portrait of my family members. Now, I have," said the artist.
Theerapong explained that he used the chiaroscuro technique of contrasted light and shadow because he wanted to depict Thailand's hot weather. If viewers look closely, they will see the mother of the artist standing in the middle, holding a trophy with the inscription "Best Family".
"The message on the trophy is an irony since it is what I dream of, but it cannot come true," he explained.
It took Theerapong two months to complete the painting, explaining the most challenging part was drawing the male anatomy since he's more used to drawing women.
"Drawing the male anatomy is difficult. In the painting, I had to draw many wrinkles and much body fat. To fix any blind spots, I turned the painting upside down. It is my personal technique. I unintentionally found this technique after turning a painting upside down. I then could see flaws, which I did not see in its normal upright position. This technique helped me to make my painting flawless," said Theerapong.
As a full-time artist, Theerapong hopes that winning the RCB Portrait Prize will help him to further his career.
"My hands were numb when I heard the results. It was unexpected. River City Bangkok is a place for art collectors and exhibitions. Hopefully, there will be many more opportunities to come," said Theerapong.
Time And Care
Ronachart Mahakphichian The Packing Room Prize Winner
A Mathayom 6 student from the Demonstration School of Silpakorn University, Ronachart has been interested in painting since Prathom 6 and his father encouraged him to paint.
Like Theerapong, this amateur artist decided to participate at RCB Portrait Prize 2022 because he is fond of realism art.
"I like to draw in realistic style. It is fun to look at objects and sitters and draw them in elaborate detail. I participated in this competition because drawing portraits is what I like. I entered painting competitions before, but this is the first competition that I have won," said Ronachart.
Some 80 paintings by finalists are exhibited at River City Bangkok.
Time And Care depicts his father holding his grandfather's hand while they sit in their living room. A giant clock is seen behind them. Ronachart said he was inspired to draw this painting because of his father and grandfather's caring relationship for one another.
"My father is concerned about my grandfather's health because he is not so strong. My grandfather also worries about my father, so he does not tell my father when he is sick. I am impressed at how they care for each other. I added the clock in the background as a symbol that time will pass and their care for one another will eventually come to an end," said Ronachart.
The young artist said his skills began to improve after an art teacher advised him how to observe details of various objects.
Ronachart completed Time And Care in a little over a month. He hopes this award will help him to be recognised in the art industry.
"I was excited to receive this award. I had kind of hoped that Time And Care would be selected as one of the 10 finalists, but I did not expect to be the winner. In the future, I aim to be a professional painter as well as learn more about other forms of art. With this award, I hope people will recognise me more," Ronachart said.
Relationship was created to mend a broken family relationship.
Time And Care was inspired by the caring relationship between the artist's father and grandfather.
"RCB Portrait Prize 2022" runs at RCB Galleria, 2nd floor of River City Bangkok, until Nov 13. Visit facebook.com/RiverCityBangkok for more information.
