Chanathip Chaiyayangkul received Bachelor and Master's degrees from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Thailand. He used to live and studied arts in India and England for a period of time before returning to study at the same institution. He is an artist who has been in the art industry since he was young.

He was an outstanding artist, his reputation was contemporary in paintings and sculptures . His clients were mainly from China, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore.

13 years ago he built the Home Gallery in Khao Yai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thailand's third largest and one of the most visited national parks. It spreads across four provinces, namely, Saraburi (west), Nakhon Nayok (east), Nakhon Ratchasima. (north) and Prachinburi.

He told me it is home, a gallery to sell arts and to plant trees.

One day, he sent pictures of an art exhibition and mentioned an art collector named Liam Ayudhkij. I was very surprised because I used to go to khun Liam's house by the Ping River Chiang Mai Province. Liam Ayudhkij, from Dublin, Ireland was the founder and chairman of Property Care Services (Thailand).

Liam Ayudhkij had been interested in art throughout his life. Supporting art in various fields resulted in great changes among Thai artists, including works of art that Liam Ayudhkij had collected in his private gallery where he promoted the art circle of Thailand. With this artistic interest Liam established Liam Gallery which is considered to be the leading gallery in the eastern region.

Chanathip Chaiyayangkul described the work and stone carvings. that he had studied directly at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang. He likes the stone carvings by Cheeva Komolmalai.

An Interview:

JY. Please share the impression of being an artist from the past and the role of a leader from your creations.

CC. I came to the art industry when I was in the College of Art in Bangkok. I was very young. Luckily there were new projects for art collectors in Thailand. There are many art galleries in the center of Bangkok, especially spacious areas such as the Silom Galleria Art Space, five floors, that has been open for a long time. It was very modern at that time as it is now. My paintings and sculptures always show in this building.

The first person I want to tell you about is Liam Ayudhkij, an Irish traveler residing in Thailand. Liam was Irish. His original name was Liam O'Keeffe. He had been in Thailand since 1963. He helped the art of Thailand to make great progress during the government of Reverend Kukrit Pramoj when he stepped up to be president of various foundations. He organized art auctions to help with education and helped when the country was suffering from disasters.

Liam Ayudhkij was the president of Property Care Services (Thailand) Company Limited. He held important positions in various foundations, such as the Somdej Ya Foundation, Siri Wattana Cheshire foundation and many other significant foundations. He was the secretary-general of the Medical Scholarship Foundation under the royal patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Liam Ayudhkij supported Art in various fields that resulted in changes in Thai artists, including the art collection in a private gallery, Liam Gallery, in Pattaya, which is considered a leading gallery in the eastern region

Liam Ayudhkij had a beautiful Lanna-style house behind the Ping River, next to the house of  M.R. Pakpring Thongyai the ex-wife of M.R. Kukrit Pramoj. (Mom Rajawongse( M. R. ) Kukrit Pramoj was a Thai politician, scholar and professor. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand. 1973-1974. and the thirteenth Prime Minister of Thailand, serving in office from 1975 to 1976.)

He kept many pieces of the artwork I had made when I studied at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. He liked my artworks, both painting and sculpture.

Liam Ayudhkij died on 28 February 2012
at the age of 67.

Other Thai collectors who had another job of mine, such as  Prapai Wongpathaya, gave me the success that had made me to be a collector as well. I can buy expensive art books. I was proud to be able to sell my works and I was in the eyes of art collectors. Job development must come from seeing a good prototype.

I traveled to India after I graduated from College of Fine Arts Bangkok to study at the university Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal India which heightened my admiration and interest in the Philosophy of India. When I went back to Thailand I decided to study at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and get my degree in Thailand.

After the Bachelor degree from Thailand I went to India again. I went there and returned many times. I had a chance to do an exhibition and pursued the Master’s at the Department of Philosophy Banara Hindu University India.

When I came back to Thailand I studied for a Master’s degree at the University King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. I studied there until graduated.

In my humble thought, I like India very much. India is a land of unity in diversity !

I had a chance when traveling to study English language in England, working, traveling, studying art, visiting museums as well. It took over one year.

What a wonderful life !!

JY. Please tell us about yourself and your family.

CC. I come from a family of Chinese descent. The family runs a business that produces steel used in construction. Considered to be from a well-off family works for me, apart from India where I traveled to study in India two times, before and after I got the Bachelor degree at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

Also, I am a person who always had a plan for my life. I am an artist who understands business. I have my own rental houses at Thon Buri, the section of Metropolitan Bangkok, so I have the right to use my money: buy things or travel.

After graduating with a master's degree at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lad krabang, the teacher invited me to teach art there, but I refused. I found myself to be a traveler.

My favorite things are carvings. In one of my collections I have a great Thai sculpture by Cheeva  Komolmalai. He was very famous and there are shows in various places of the exhibition. I had the opportunity to buy many pieces after the grand exhibitions. I had tried to find his work when he got old and sick. I wanted to help him. The style of his works inspires me.

Collecting items such as pots, jars and pottery of Ban Chiang: I have a lot them as well. From that day until today. In exchange trading. I buy and sell. I also collected amulets, I have a lot of them because I like their art. The Buddha images are among the most beautiful in the world.

I'm different a bit from other collectors: when I bought then sold. I do not stick to life from a philosophy. I have no burden to accumulate, no regret when I sell something. We come from a family of businessmen, we will know how to sell, what is the right piece, what is the right price.

My collector's customers are foreign: Singaporean, Taiwanese, Korean or Western. Each time they come, they understand my projects. Some bought ten pieces of work. What was known was that most of my work has been studied and I am satisfied with the work. I still work on art every day, each year. The colorful drawings are Chanathip design as well as sculptures. Viewers who like the work can tell what my job is like.

I have a relative who went to buy land at Khao Yai  Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Khorat, a northeastern province in Thailand,  which is a very beautiful plot, with mountains and creeks in front of land and houses of the Chirathivat group. Pak Chong District, which is considered a beautiful and very refreshing land, only two hours from Bangkok. I was the owner of 13 rai. I built a big house with beautiful views. I planted trees because it is one thing that I like. I use the philosophy of sufficiency, I've stayed there 13 years until now.

Last year I built a coffee shop and gallery next to the street. Every day is happy with clients and friends who come to buy my artworks. I always cook, one of the most favorite things I can do. I love food. Western food, Chinese food and Thai food.

At Khao Yai, I have many dogs as friends. They keep me so busy.

JY. From now on, what are the reflections you see and would like to suggest to the younger generation?

CC. I have been an independent artist all my life, reading and studying art. I made a lot of investment in buying books and traveling.

Education is now much easier. Many museums in the world have been open to studying online without limit. Exchange of views and viewing art, young artists must have the principles. English is important which is an academic language, researching good works in the world, learning with your heart and continuing to be your own way for the style.

I can see there are a lot of works from Thai artists that you like and try to copy them.

It was not the real you, you just want to have big money and your passion but it was not you.

I practiced drawing and carving work throughout life. It is True Art and All Science that must be studied, developed, rather than stand on my own beliefs. Collectors select their own satisfaction.

And that all seems to be the answer!

Chanathip Chaiyayangkul

College of Fine Arts Bangkok Thailand

Visva-Bharati University  Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.

Department of Fine Arts, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology LadKrabang Bangkok.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture and Sculpture for Society)

Department of Philosophy Banara Hindu University  India.

Master of Fine Arts Program in Visual Arts

Solo Exhibitions

1993 Seven Seas Gallery Bangkok

1994 Visva-Bharati University India

1996 Goethe-Institut Thailand

1999 Bangkok Art Gallery Bangkok

2000 Sipprapa Art Center. Bangkok

       -Bangkok Art Gallery Bangkok

2002 Genesis Art Gallery Bangkok

2003 C.V.N . Art Center  Bangkok

2006 Tuba Gallery Bangkok

       Liam Gallery Pattaya

Selected Group Exhibitions

1990  Art Exhibition from the students college of Fine arts (KMITL)

Contemporary Art Exhibition organized by Thai Farmer Bank Bangkok

Contemporary Art Exhibition organized by BangkokBank Ltd.

Art for Peace exhibition Thammasat University Bangkok

1991 37 th National Art Exhibition

1992 young Artists Art Exhibition

        38 th National Art Exhibition

60 years of Democracy in Thailand organized by Thammmasat University Bangkok

1995 Group Exhibition at Tniya Plaza  Bangkok .

1999 Group Exhibitions at  Sipprapa Art Center. Bangkok.

Artist Junction 2000 at Sipprapa Art Center. Bangkok.

2000 ‘Two men show ‘ Si Am Art Space Bangkok

        Sculpture for Life  Ban Rachawat Bangkok

2001 love in Frame Mercury Art gallery Bangkok

       Invited Artists PATRAVADEE Gallery Bangkok

Group Exhibition IMPERIAL Hotel Koh Samui THAILAND

2002 Group Exhibition Open Art Space Bangkok .

2005 Invited Artists  50 years College of FineArts Bangkok

2007-2020

Phusil  Home and Art Gallery
House No.  35
Mou  20,  Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province