A Comparative Study between Traditional Dance and Mural Painting at Wat Chong Nonsi, Bangkok

Abstract

This article is about the analysis of a section of the mural painting in Wat Chongnonsi. The selected section illustrates the life of Phra Vithunbandit; one of the past ten lives of the Buddha, known as the Jataka Tale. The section shows characters acting and performing in a Western style. The style can be explored through the characters’ realistic performing aims and desires that lead to develop manner for each character, and reaction among the characters. These manners and reactions help to form explicit performing postures. Author support a concept which is art forms in all fields are interrelated. All art forms at a certain degree underline the true nature of human. Even though the mural painting presents still body images, these performing gestures do contain the characters’ aim and belief. Painter, in this case, can be considered taking a role of a play director inserting aim and belief into the characters.