Opulence and Vibrancy in Thai Art

 I've traveled to Thailand a few times now. At the start of my 2025 spring semester, I was in Bangkok. My mother is from Thailand so I often go to visit family. I've been able to reflect a lot on the values I've developed in America. In American culture, there's a very 'Go for it!' attitude. Many of our TV dramas focus on hero based stories: Chicago Fire, C.S.I., Hawaii five-O, etc. Many paintings and statues being made today represent some sort of heroic figure.

Thanks to a lot of observation of American values, I was able to notice a lot of the opulence that surrounds Thai culture. There is a lot of focus on creating an image of vibrancy and beauty. My mom is from Nakorn Phanom, Thailand in the northeast bordering with Laos. During the drive up, even the smallest of villages will often have a large, intricate statue of Buddha or a colorful, beautiful temple. Buddhism plays an important role in Thai culture but a basic element of the Buddhist religion is distancing oneself from things such as wealth and opulence. So the very decision to spend copious amounts of money to build such statement works of religious art is ironic. 

Though Thailand is still considered a developing country, there is much expensive art to see. 

This is a photo I took of the Naga Monument (2016) in Nakorn Phanom. The fountain doesn't shoot water at all times of day but is free to visit anytime. The monument is large, 15 meters high, and cast from bronze. Weighing about 10 tons. It's meant to be the head of a Naga, part-serpent, part-human mythical creature. They are believed to be protectors of Buddha and live in the Mekong River which borders the town. It's a beautiful commission by the town to help increase tourism to the northeast. 

Download Temple Thailand Religious Wat Rong Khun HD Wallpaper

The White Buddhist Temple, or Wat Rong Khun, (1997) is located in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed and constructed by Chalermchai Kositpipat. Though it's been open for viewing since it was opened to the public in 1997, it is still a work in progress. Estimated to be finished around 2070. The temple is slightly controversial as Kositpipat has created it from his own interpretations of Buddhism and his own mesh of global culture. Some hyper-modern imagery inside ranges from Kung Fu Panda to Spiderman. Although it can all seem a bit crazy, there are evident ties to Thai architecture such as the three tier roof. The project is not funded by the government but instead by Kositpipat and donations. There is also a team of volunteer architects, artists, and builders that work to create Kositpipat's vision. 

พระแม่คงคา | Thai art, Most famous artists, Famous artists 

 Phra Mae Khongkha, also referred to as Water Goddess (2019), is an oil painting done by Chatawan Rodklongtan. In the fashion of the Thai arts, this painting is incredibly potent with detail and color. The water has movement and the fish and serpents seem obedient to the goddess. The beauty and jewelry of the goddess give the sense of opulence that I often feel in Thai art. Rodklongtan is a heavily awarded artist and one of the most well-known in Thailand. Though there isn't much information on this painting, he has an active instagram account where you can find his description of this painting as well as his other works.

All the works I have chosen are very modern. I myself have not been alive very long, so my take on opulence in Thai culture could be a new one. If anyone has the opportunity to experience Thai architecture in person, I implore you to do so. It is so beautiful, colorful, and detailed.  

Images:

https://alphacoders.com/wat-rong-khun-wallpapers

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/311100286770994376/

Citations:

 Life, Thailand. “Naga Monument, Nakhon Phanom.” Thailandlife.info, 2019, thailandlife.info/naga-monument-nakhon-phanom/

Sawyer, Mitch. “In Thailand, a Buddhist Artist Is Building the Bizarre Temple of His Dreams.” Artsy, 7 July 2017, www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-thailand-buddhist-artist-building-bizarre-temple-dreams 

The4. “Chatchawan Rodklongtan | Ambassadors | Royal Talens.” Royal Talens, 2025, www.royaltalens.com/blogs/ambassadors/chatchawan-rodklongtan

Comments

  1. Oslyn NixonApril 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM

    Your perspective on the differences between American and Thai culture is really interesting. I liked how you explained the contrast between the bold, action-driven themes in American media and the rich, detailed visuals in Thai art and architecture. It was especially eye-opening when you pointed out the irony of seeing such grand, expensive religious art in a culture rooted in Buddhist values of simplicity and detachment.

    The Naga Monument sounds incredible, especially with its deep ties to Thai mythology and local beliefs. I also didn’t know that a temple like Wat Rong Khun could mix traditional Thai design with modern pop culture references like Spiderman or Kung Fu Panda. It’s cool that the artist was able to make something so unique while still honoring Thai architecture.

    Your experience of moving between two cultures gives you a unique view of both. It made me wonder, has being around both American and Thai cultures changed how you express yourself creatively or how you see the world?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ashley.penaperezApril 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM

    Juanwara,

    I really enjoyed reading your personal connection to this art and I think it's really cool how you presented a piece of art you saw in person. The second piece of art is so beautiful, I really like the architecture and the pearly white color on this temple. The third work of art appeals to me the most. It seems she's wearing a water dress with fish and serpents around her, like you mentioned, it just seems very mesmerizing to me. Great job on your blog!

    ReplyDelete

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