Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Visual Arts
Divine Inspiration
The wát served as a locus for the highest expressions of Thai art for roughly 800 years,
from the Lanna to Ratanakosin eras. Accordingly, Bangkok's 400-plus Buddhist temples
are brimming with the figuratively imaginative, if thematically formulaic, art of Thailand's
foremost muralists. Always instructional in intent, such painted images range from the de-
piction of the
jataka
(stories of the Buddha's past lives) and scenes from the Indian Hindu
epic
Ramayana,
to elaborate scenes detailing daily life in Thailand.
The Modern Era
Although the origins of Thai art can be traced back to religion, today's cultural currents are
as likely to be swayed by Korean soap operas, Japanese manga comics, Chinese mass mer-
chandising, European fashion and American street culture as traditional Thai life. These in-
fluences are fuelling introspection among artists, with more art being created that pertains
to the condition of the self and the societal constraints imposed upon it. Whereas a decade
ago artists seemed to be the defenders of a precious national identity, now themes have be-
come more personal and reflective. Though such approaches seem more aligned to the
modern Western artist's mindset, there still remains an inextricable leaning towards a more
spiritual, and ostensibly Buddhist, path.
