Thai Contemporary Art Reflecting Modern Thai Lifestyles.

Abstract

This research project, titled “Thai Contemporary Art Reflecting  Modern Thai Lifestyles” has three objectives 1) To study about Nang Yai Shadow Play at Wat Khanon for use in the creation of Thai contemporary art. 2) To study Thai lifestyle as reflected through Thai technique. 3) To create Thai contemporary artworks on the topic of “Thai Lifestyle in Modern Times.” This research is divided into three phases: Phase 1 Fieldwork and study of related artworks; explore Nang Yai Shadow Play at Wat Khanon in form and technique, then study about Thai and Western related artworks. Phase 2 Literature reviewing, Sketching and experimenting materials to create three Thai contemporary artworks. Research on Thai lifestyles in area of society, family, and economy – both in past and present. Phase 3 Creating the final artworks in this project. The study concludes that 1) The study about Nang Yai Shadow Play at Wat Khanon can be adapted for the creation of Thai contemporary art. This involves applying Thai traditional art combination with Western art, through leather carving and acrylic painting. 2) The creation of Thai contemporary art using Nang Yai Shadow Play at Wat Khanon and Western Art was carried out through experimental techniques to merge Thai and Western Art. The progress resulted in methods using leather carving and acrylic painting, combined with the installation of light boxes behide the artworks to present the leather craved details. From the art works in this research, it was found that Thai contemporary Art represent in both technical and conceptual frameworks. These techniques represent the integration of Thai cultural roots into contemporary Art, which helps conserve traditional Thai art and create new forms of artistic expression.