Getting Hot in Bangkok, City of 25 million Buddhas
It got hot in Bangkok on Tuesday...up til then, it had been quite nice, even compared to muggy Singapore. No longer.
My interview with Ajin (Professor) Panya Vijinthanasarn at Silpakorn on Tuesday yielded some great results, including an invitation to a gathering on Saturday that will bring together Thai and Austrian artists who work in similar traditions. I was very grateful for this invitation.
The same afternoon as the meeting with Ajan Panya, I had the good fortune to view another exhibition at the Silpakorn gallery by Ajan Ithipol Thangchalok titled Kindred Spirits. (PK from the Ganesh Art Gallery recommended that I view it while waiting). This was the first exhibit among the Thai work I've seen that addresses spirituality without any explicit references to Buddhism or the Buddha story. His piece "Faith" (2004) was absolutely elevating. Tomorrow morning I meet with Ajin Ithipol to discuss including his work on the site and (eventually) in the book. With his permission, it will appear here soon! In the afternoon, Ganesh Gallery has arranged a meeting with Ajan Alongkorn Lorwatthana, also at Silpakorn
Travel plans are shaping up a bit. Early next week I will head north to Chiang Mai, where, I am told, Thai artists prefer to reside after being educated in Bangkok. We'll see if the New York-San Francisco comparison holds (or London-Brighton for that matter).
For now, several photos that show, a bit, how pervasive and integrated spirituality in Thailand appears to be in daily life. This is a city of 20,000,000 (yes, 20 million) people, and I believe I've seen 25 million Buddha images so far...and counting.
My interview with Ajin (Professor) Panya Vijinthanasarn at Silpakorn on Tuesday yielded some great results, including an invitation to a gathering on Saturday that will bring together Thai and Austrian artists who work in similar traditions. I was very grateful for this invitation.
The same afternoon as the meeting with Ajan Panya, I had the good fortune to view another exhibition at the Silpakorn gallery by Ajan Ithipol Thangchalok titled Kindred Spirits. (PK from the Ganesh Art Gallery recommended that I view it while waiting). This was the first exhibit among the Thai work I've seen that addresses spirituality without any explicit references to Buddhism or the Buddha story. His piece "Faith" (2004) was absolutely elevating. Tomorrow morning I meet with Ajin Ithipol to discuss including his work on the site and (eventually) in the book. With his permission, it will appear here soon! In the afternoon, Ganesh Gallery has arranged a meeting with Ajan Alongkorn Lorwatthana, also at Silpakorn
Travel plans are shaping up a bit. Early next week I will head north to Chiang Mai, where, I am told, Thai artists prefer to reside after being educated in Bangkok. We'll see if the New York-San Francisco comparison holds (or London-Brighton for that matter).
For now, several photos that show, a bit, how pervasive and integrated spirituality in Thailand appears to be in daily life. This is a city of 20,000,000 (yes, 20 million) people, and I believe I've seen 25 million Buddha images so far...and counting.
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