The Study of Form and Content of Intangible Culture in Thai Contemporary Art

Abstract

“Form and Content of Intangible Culture” is a part of a practice-based art research entitled “The Role of Culture in Thai Contemporary Art”. The overall research aims are firstly, exploring the roles of culture in Thai contemporary art, secondly, investigating three particular issues relating to the application of Thai culture in Thai contemporary art, and thirdly creating visual art that responds to the issues studied. The three issues include ‘a comparative study between art and craft’, ‘form and content of the intangible culture’, and ‘a relation between culture and internationalism’. This research article will focus on ‘Form and content of the intangible culture’only. This section has three objectives: (1) To investigate the meaning and implication of the intangible culture (2) To explore artistic media and applications of Thai intangible culture that appear in the artworks of Itthipol Thangchalok and Patyod Buddhacharoen and (3) To create a series of mixed-media art that show cultural meanings that reflect my artistic experience, perception, and interpretation of the intangible culture. Methodologies used are document reviews, fieldwork, interviews, observation, taking notes, studio practice, and analysis. The output includes three pieces of mixed-media art:‘Solitary Experience in Image, Sound, and Space’, ‘Solitary Expereince for Effort and Patience’ and ‘Solitary Expereince for Kindness and Mercy’. The analysis focuses on the meaning and implication of the intangible culture, the role of culture in  the mixed-media art, and my perception and interpretation of the intangible culture.