I was excited when I learned that there will be a new Art Museum in the Saraphi District, Chiang Mai Province Thailand .

I went to interview Thongchai Srisukprasert, a legendary artist. The Hall Zinthao Art gallery is being decorated. His intention: He wishes to keep his personal works, both paintings and sculpture.

A prototype of different ideas and expressions of art created from his inspiration and outstanding experience from Thailand and abroad. Moreover, he always tells people, he was the one who was not easy to get in touch, being himself all the time, of course. It's fortunate for Chiang Mai, the population and the youth, that the artist wants to keep his work for local and national pride. And of course, Hall Zinthao will be a charming place and will attract tourists who love art .The Hall Zinthao will be both an Art museum and Art gallery .

Let's listen to my interview with this very interesting artist.

JY. Please tell us your impression of being an art professor with the role of Thai artist, the work you have done in Thailand and abroad and the role of a leader in creating art for viewers around the world.

TS. I had the opportunity to be an art instructor, when I was a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University which was an experiment to teach before I had been a full-time instructor. At that time I taught art and I did my master's degree in Thai arts.

I also created visual arts as an artist, as stated by my original aspirations set out to be an art worker. Throughout the period of being a youth artist, I submitted work for national and international competitions. I received awards from many institutions. That was my intention.

I wanted to work with the uniqueness of Thai art, to be distributed globally, because I think that art and artists around the world can communicate with one another, without discriminating against religion. The important thing is that we must have our own identity, the home of one's birth, because the art that people are interested in, the whole world is always looking for, is identity from the art and the traditional culture of each artist In the sense of contemporary or modern art, it probably happens with an expression of attitude as well as aesthetics.

JY. Please share your personal history, education, interests, family, and tell us about works that go to art galleries in foreign countries. Or works that are very much loved and you would like people to see.

TS. My mother was from Chiang Mai. My father was from China and had lived in Thailand for a long time. When I was young I liked sports and I achieved both primary and secondary levels at school in Chiang Mai.

Then I went to study art in Bangkok. After that, I received a scholarship for arts field trips to Japan and many European countries

There was a job that I was proud of participating in: The mural painting at Buddhapadip Temple, London, England, with Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat and Professor Panya Wijinthanasarn (both of them are national artists). When I returned from England I received three awards from the National Exhibition of Art.

JY. Please tell us about Hall Zinthao Gallery & Museum.

TS. The beginning of Hall Zinthao in Chiang Mai: It was my intention to build an art gallery to preserve my own works, because in Thailand there are too few art museums and I would like to keep my own arts. The important thing You don’t want is to let your own work become scattered. I would like to gather them as an artistic heritage to the country of my birth, because home is in a rural area, far from the capital and our settlements are the pride that we were born into, along with the art galleries.

I always give personal funds to support the temple, WatNam Jo, Saraphi district, with the desire for local people to be proud of their homeland of beautiful things.

JY. I have seen you use color to determine very interesting reflections that can be seen, for example, from a professor‘s point of view?

TS. Most Thai people like to listen to various stories. Maybe a personal story or stories that are affected by society rather than looking for pure art that shows only the view of the art. When young people study art the form of abstract art, which is a search for knowledge accuracy in the arts and science after that, they become aware of things that affect your feelings, your mind and your way of life. The works therefore consist of religion, Dharma, society and the environment.

About the color Blue: It is a favorite color because it has a calm, cool and mysterious feeling.

JY. And to sum it all up?

TS. I resigned my professorship in order to build an art gallery in my home town because I was afraid that if I taught art until my retirement, there may not be strength, encouragement, physical strength, intelligence, or enthusiasm, just as it is at this point so it should be done right now.

Thongchai Srisukprasert

Born

21 June 1963, Chiang Mai Thailand

Art Education

– B.F.A., (Thai Art) The Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic
Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand

– M.F.A., (Thai Art) Graduate School, Silpakorn University, Thailand
Solo Exhibitions

1992 – “Thai Contemporary Art Exhibition by Thongchai Srisukprasert”,
– The National Gallery, Chao-Fa Road, Bangkok, Thailand

1995 – “Thai Contemporary Art Exhibition by Thongchai Srisukprasert”,
– PSG Art Gallery, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

2006 – “Intangible – Tangible”, 9 Art Gallery, Chiang Rai, Thailand

2008 – “Mahabhinishkramana”, ARDEL’s Third Place Gallery,
Bangkok, Thailand

2012 – “Logiyadhamma”, ARDEL’s Third Place Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

Selected Group Exhibitions

1997 – “SYMBOLIST”, Place of Art Bangkok, Thailand

2001 – “Ruppadham-Nammadham Thai”, Open Art Space,
Bangkok, Thailand

2011 – “Once in Venice”, ARDEL’s Third Place Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
– “See Saw Seen IV”, DDB Hualamphong Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

Honors and Awards

1985 – Special Prize, Photographic Contest by Photo Magazine

1988 – 1st Asian Traveling Exhibition of Art, Photography and Children’s Art, Brunel Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand

1989 – Worked on Buddhapadipa Temple’s mural painting

– Award Winner, 1st Toshiba “Bring Good Things to Life” Art Competition

1990 – Participated in “The international Osaka ’90 Triennial of Painting", Osaka, Japan

– Grand prize, Contemporary Art Competition Promoted by Thai Farmers Bank

– Top Award Winner, 2nd Toshiba “Bring Good Thinks to Life” Art Competition

– 1st Prize, Gold Medal, Thai Traditional Art Section, 14th Bualuang Painting Competition.

– Granted a scholarship from Toshiba (Thailand) to visit France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Netherlands

1991 – 3rd Prize, Bronze Medal, Painting, 37th National Exhibition of Art

– 2nd Prize, Silver Medal, Thai Traditional Art Section, 15th Bualuang Painting Competition

Exhibitions

1993 – 3rd Prize, Bronze Medal, painting, 39th National Exhibition of Art

– Participated in “The international Osaka ’93 Triennial of Painting", Osaka, Japan

1994 – 3rd Prize, Bronze Medal, painting, 40th National Exhibition of Art

1993 – Aspace, Art Exhibition, Faculty of Painting Art Silpakorn University, Bangkok.

- Art exhibition at the conference on art education In the 7th Asia-Pacific region, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University.

- Invited artist Thai Painting Exhibition on the 60th Anniversary of Nakornthon Bank, Thailand Cultural Center, Bangkok

- Invited artist The Great Art Exhibition of Art # 1, Hall of Frame, The Liberty of Art, Bangkok

- Invited artist Art exhibition "The First Step on the Lanna Road" by Pornchai Jaima, Aungsa Gallery, Chiang Rai

- Art Exhibition in honor of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations at the Art Gallery of Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University.

1996 - Thai Art Exhibition by Master and Post graduate students of Thai Art, Silpakorn University, Art Gallery, Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University.

1997 - Invited Artist The 19th contemporary art exhibition by Kasikorn Bank at the National Museum Chao Fah rd. Bangkok

1998 - Invited Artist Asian Art Fair (Art and Environment) 13th Asian Games, Bangkok, Muang Fah Amon, Bangkok

- Bangkok Art Project 1998

2001 - Art Exhibition for Dharma on the Agenda of the World Buddhist Association at Athenee Plaza Hotel at Thailand Cultural Center.

- Thai Contemporary Art Exhibition by Thai Artists in New York, USA

2003 - 60 Years Exhibition of Contemporary Thai Art by the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, at the The Bangkok National Art Gallery Bangkok.

2004 - Art Exhibition on the Occasion of His Majesty presiding over the Opening Ceremony at the Queen Sirikit Art Gallery .

2005 - Exhibition of Thai Artists Unite to Help the Disaster in the South at the Queen Sirikit Art Gallery Bangkok

- Fine art exhibition Chalermprakiet Visual Arts HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Siam on the occasion of the 50th birthday of His Majesty at the Queen Sirikit Art Gallery Bangkok

2005 - 2011 Thai Art Exhibition No. 1,2,3,4 by the graduates from Master of Fine and Applied Art of Thai Art

2007 - Art Exhibition with World Environment at Silpakorn University Art Gallery, Bangkok,

- At the Jim Thomson Art Gallery and San Jose State University, California, USA

2008 - Art Exhibition for the Artist, Save the World, Save the Artist by Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok

2012 - Exhibition of Thai Artists Together to Help Flood Victims

2013 - The 1st National Art Auction, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Bangkok)

2014 - Bronze World Exhibition by Hop Art, Bangkok

- The 1st Double Great Charity Dale Daily Charity Art Auction, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Bangkok)

2015 - An exhibition to honor the 5th anniversary of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn by Praew Magazine

- The 2nd Great for Charity Dara Daily Charity Art Auction, Wangna Arts Gallery Bangkok.

- Thai Auction House, Great Art, Bangkok.

2016 - The 3rd Double Great Charity. Dara Daily Charity Art Auction, Wang Na Art Gallery, Bangkok.

2017 - 1st Great Star Charity. Fine Art Exhibition, Centara Grand at Central World, Bangkok

- The Golden Sound Art Exhibition Charity. Arts Keetarat Foundation: Painting from songs of His Majesty the King (Destiny) Bangkok

- Exhibition for charity auction 1st UNHCR Refugee Art, Bangkok Museum of Contemporary Art.

2018 - The Exhibition of Legends, Kochasan, Thai Museum of Contemporary Art, Bangkok

- The Art of Heart exhibition. Weaving Art to the Place of Birth Chiang Mai Art Museum

- Bhutanviman on the Roof of the World Exhibition at Emporium and EmQuartier, Bangkok

- The Faith Exhibition, a joint exhibition at the Bangkok Biennale Art Exhibition 2018, MOCA Museum of Contemporary Thai Art, Bangkok –

- The 3rd Great Star for Charity Art Auction At Central World, Bangkok

2019 - Exhibition for Charity Auction Fine Arts for Refugees, 2nd UNHCR, Museum of Contemporary Thai Art, Bangkok

- The 3rd Great Star for Charity Art Auction, Centara Grand at Central World, Bangkok