After two years of temporary closure for restoration, Ban Plainern, the residence of the late Prince Narisaranuvattiwongse -- the Great Craftsman of Siam -- is today reopened for a special occasion. Every year, the Naris Foundation and the Chitrabongs family celebrate Naris Day, the prince's birthday, by opening up the residence in Bangkok's Klong Toey district to distinguished guests on April 28 and to the public all day on April 29.
This year's celebration is special, since visitors will be able to see another royal mansion, Tamnak Tuek, as well as the theatre and music room besides Tamnak Thai, the prince's traditional Thai royal mansion.
Those with special tickets can visit Tamnak Thai from 9am-5pm. Visitors can admire the beauty of the prince's works of art, ancient artefacts and personal belongings.
Highlights include belongings found by descendants in his residence during the 18-month restoration.
In addition, there is an art exhibition by recipients of the Narisaranuvattiwongse Scholarships. Visitors can purchase books, souvenirs and rare Thai delicacies. Starting at 4.30pm, they can watch a classical dance entitled Rojana Hurling A Garland Of Flowers.
Born in 1862, Prince Naris was the 62nd son of King Mongkut (Rama IV). The prince has been recognised as one of Unesco's important persons. Among his achievements are his designs of the Marble Temple, the ordination halls of Wat Rachathiwat in Bangkok, Wat Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, and many royal crematoria. His design for the royal cremation of King Rama VI was acclaimed as the most beautiful busabok crematorium.
He also designed numerous praying fans, royal decorations and medals, and several statues, including that of King Rama I at the foot of the Memorial Bridge and the statue of the Goddess of Earth near Sanam Luang.
In terms of literature and music, the prince composed poetry and lakorn duek damban play scripts, including some episodes of Sang Thong, Khawi, I-Nao and Ramakien, as well as Thai classical song Khamen Saiyok and the lyrics of the royal anthem. Sarn Somdet, a compilation of correspondences between the prince and his half-brother Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, is a well-known book.
The newly found khon mask of Thotsakan.
He created numerous paintings, including murals on the interior walls of Wat Rachathiwat's ordination hall, the painting of the Sun God Riding A Chariot and the painting of God Indra On The Back Of Erawan The Elephant.
Each year, the prince drew a painting of one of the Lord Buddha's 10 past lives, and gave its copies to people as Songkran gifts starting in 1924. Eight paintings were completed, while the ninth is unfinished.
According to MR Chakrarot Chitrabongs, the prince's grandson, the prince was trained to be a military officer, but he loved art and opted for self-learning.
"No instructors wanted to teach him because he was a prince. Hence, he studied art by observing and remembering how masters worked. After his royal duties, he would visit a Thai classical-music band and ask musicians to teach him to play. When he felt bored, he would stroll the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, see artists painting murals, return to his royal mansion, and practise painting," MR Chakrarot said.
His artistic talent started to shine at the age of 12 when the prince won the first prize in the total-solar-eclipse painting contest among King Rama IV's sons. Later, at the age of 13, the prince was awarded for his painting Phon Chang (Capturing A Wild Elephant), to which the Western perspective style was applied.
"The prince did not stick to old traditions. He always created new things, such as stucco art and mural paintings at Wat Rachathiwat. His design of the temple's principal Buddha image reflect mixed media -- architecture, fine arts and interior design. He was the first mixed-media artist [in Thailand] and he dared to think out of the box," MR Chakrarot added.
According to him, the prince drew a one-headed elephant with four ivories instead of a three-headed pachyderm for the painting of god Indra riding his sacred elephant Erawan. The painting was presented by the prince to King Rama VI as a birthday gift.
Moreover, Sun God Riding A Chariot proves the prince's understanding of a horse's anatomy as well as his creativity for showing a one-wheel chariot drawn by six horses.
Prince Naris' personal eyewear. Pawat Laopaisarntaksin
Stepping into Tamnak Thai, visitors will see the prince's pencil drawings on the walls and his portrait bust sculpted by Professor Silpa Bhirasri, or Corrado Feroci, who served the Siamese royal court and was a younger friend of Prince Naris.
In the eastern part of the Reception Hall are pastel drawings of the walking Buddha, a disciple and an angel which served as the blueprint for the murals in the ordination hall of Wat Rachathiwat. On the left is the prince's palanquin, used as a seat for a preaching monk, while seats for monks are on the right.
The western part of the Reception Hall used to be the dining area. Now, it boasts a carved wooden busabok throne and gold lacquer paintings. The area is used for the annual wai kru ceremony to pay homage to great artists and teachers.
The northern section of the hall, which once served as the duty room for attendants, houses a collection of khon masks and wooden sculptures.
The westernmost part of the house is the bed chamber with an ornate bed that once belonged to Princess Bhanarai, the prince's mother.
On the bed is a plaster model of the statue of King Rama I designed by the prince and sculpted by renowned Italian artist Prof Silpa Bhirasri. There is also an oil painting of Princess Bhanarai by Italian artist Carlo Regoli.
Today after the 18-month restoration of Ban Plainern, interior lighting has been improved. Certain decorative objects may be rotated or replaced by some of the prince's newly discovered art objects and personal belongings.
If visitors are lucky, an exquisite khon mask of Thotsakan, the giant king of Longka City in the Ramakien, and the other bust of the prince sculpted by Prof Silpa Bhirasri may be on view. If not, it is well worth the wait to see these masterpieces during the next Naris Day celebrations.
Ban Plainern is located on Rama IV near MRT Klong Toey. For today's opening, the entry fee per person is 199 baht, inclusive of a cloth bag. All proceeds will go to the Naris Foundation, which supports artists and art students in need. Visit facebook.com/the-naris-foundation.
Tamnak Tuek. Pawat Laopaisarntaksin
