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For the New Year 2017 I am very pleased to present the artist road of northern Thailand. The Art Bridge Gallery is situated in Chiang Rai
Province. Chiang Rai is the first province that has the highest number of professional artists with the strongest common sense of cooperation. They encourage and help other less
experienced artists to achieve great success like them. Chiang Rai is also a city with many places of interest.
I had a lengthy interview with Suwit Jaipom, a Thai artist who was selected to be a cultural representative, traveling to exhibit art in many
countries in Asia and Europe. He also participated in the World Watercolor Arts.
In 2011, Suwit used crayons to draw 84 paintings of the King Bhumiboladulyadej in his solo exhibition. All of these paintings
were auctioned and sold. After that he became an independent artist and returned to his hometown in Chiang Rai Province
where over local 300 artists lived and formed an artist’s community. With full support from local government and complete management control by the artists themselves, the
future of the artist’s road in Chiang Rai is quite promising. The city is strong in organizing important events.
Suwit Jaipom also holds a position of vice president and conducts public relations for the Art Bridge Gallery. Here is the interview
JY: Tell us about your work and what you consider to be its unique development.
SJ: I acquire many inspirations from everything around me. These may be about people, animals, objects, wind, sunlight,
society, surroundings, ways of life, movies, music, life stories of important people (both alive or deceased), impressions of travel
abroad (Italy, Vietnam and China) and all regions in Thailand. Most of them were recorded in various mediums such as
photography, sketching, watercolor painting, acrylic painting, crayon and charcoal. These methods depend on suitable circumstances. It is important for me to work as quick as
possible within the limited time. Sometimes we can see other images in different viewpoints but it is still within the boundary
of vision. To clarify this, try to think about adding or removing some elements of the painting. This is definitely not the same as
a photograph but it should give larger emotional impact. My favorite color tone is black and white which I found to be
particularly charming as black and white are basic colors. The most important aspect of art creation is constant practice for
better accuracy. For myself, there is not a single day that I skip working on art. I have several sketchbooks that I bring with me wherever I travel.
For unique art development, I choose to create realistic portraits with a crayon technique that I practice constantly. Moreover, I
use all kinds of physical painting techniques such as watercolor, acrylic and digital painting. Personally, my favorite painting
technique is crayon. There are two reasons that the “T sweeping” technique of crayon is my preference. One reason is that I like
the sharpness and quickness of the color so I can create painting as quick as my thinking. Another reason is that I do not like too
dazzling color. The contrast level of black and white from sweeping crayon is something I use for my creations.
For me, one of the most important things for the art creations at the present is the journey through on-line social networks to
study techniques from various artists in order to adapt and improve them for my own use.
JY: I have heard that you were the first artist who started the
“the Thailand’s longest portraits of King Bhumiboladulyadej”.
SJ: In accordance with the passing of King Bhumiboladulyadej on 13 October 2016, Thai people, government and private
organizations are in the long moment of mourning. On this occasion, I was a leading artist who collaborated with other
artists from the Art Bridge. This project is called “Wad Pap Puer Poh” (painting for our king) and is meant to be the best
recording of history for Thai artists by using drawing and painting to deliver the most benefits for all. All the content this
time is a page in the history that Thai people could never forget: artists working together to make an acrylic painting on canvas 2.5m (high) x 17m (long).
For this grand event, around 200 artists, who loved the King and his royal grace, worked together to make this painting complete
and successful. The story was told through various drawings beginning from his life as a young prince in Lausanne,
Switzerland, coronation, ordination, ascension to the throne, his happiness in working, art, music, sport, agriculture, his works
and royal projects in the mountains and his visits to faraway villages: Doi Tung Palace of the princess mother and many other
areas in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province such as Doi Pha Mi Mountain. One of the apparent images is that the main
attraction of Chiang Rai is Wat Rong Khun temple, designed and constructed as the temple for the King Bhumiboladulyadej by
Thai national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat and his team. The rest are continuous images narrating significant events starting
from life in a foreign country through the entire 70 years of his reign.
The overall color tone we used is black and white which stands for faith and sufficiency. On 24 October 2016, we spent time
from 10 am to 7 pm to complete this painting. Chalermchai Kositpipat, Chiang Rai Governer Boonsong Taechamaneesatit and Amorn Kittikwangthong, vice president of the Chiang Rai
cultural council came to give encouragement. Fellow artists at the Art Bridge and other people provided food and snacks for
the working artists and there was a free shirt screening service all day long by Krit-anan Chaiyasombat and Thanakan Chaiyasombat (the youth cyclist for Thai national team). We
were also grateful to the government sectors and the private company, Boonrod Brewery, for their support as well as all the
media channels that publicized this activity, and all artists of the Art Bridge who participated.
This is definitely not the last painting we will make for King Bhumiboladulyadej although he is not with us anymore. As
artists, we would like to continue making paintings about him. The finished paintings are exhibited in front of the Art Bridge
Gallery so that people can come to see and record our paintings of history.
JY: Tell us about your trips to other countries.
SJ: During my work at a company, I also worked on painting until I was selected to be a cultural representative for an
important government organization. I was assigned to promulgate Thai art in neighboring countries around Asia including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore
as well as in Europe, such as Italy and Spain. After I resigned from my job and became a full time artist, I had the time to make
more overseas trips to find inspiration and to publicize my work. This included participating in World Watercolor Arts with some
artists from various countries to learn and exchange working techniques for improving my work.
JY:What about your decision to be full time artist?
SJ: When I was an art student, I always loved and worked on art continuously until I graduated and started a family of my own. It
was necessary to have a routine job, so I went to work at an advertising company for almost 30 years. Although advertising
is also an art career, it is not my true identity but I had to do it to earn my living. Along with the main job, I used my free time to
create more paintings. On some occasions, I went out to give lectures to school and university students as a guest lecturer in
Bangkok and other provinces. In December 2011 which was regarded as the month and year of great fortune for all Thai
people, I had a solo exhibition for 84 crayon paintings of the king Bhumiboladulyadej. The exhibition title was “84 years 84
paintings to give blessing for the father of the land”. One of the paintings is the largest and longest crayon painting in the world
with total size of 2m (width) X 15m (length). The auction price for the purchase of that painting made me feel that I had to
resign from the routine job and become a full-time artist but I did not decide do it back then. Then two years ago, the
advertising company I worked for ended its business. All of my colleagues felt so sad to lose their routine job. I am the only one
who felt very happy about this change and was ready to work on something that I loved and yearned for all the time.
JY: And your return to improve the Art Bridge Gallery.
SJ: When I lost my routine work, I returned to my hometown Chiang Rai because there were so many famous artists in
Bangkok already. In my view, Chiang Rai is the only province that firmly encourages the coalition of over 300 Thai artists from
many generations. This really makes me want to go back to help improve Chiang Rai to become the "city of art". It is worth
mentioning that two national artists, Chalermchai Kositpipat and Tawan Duchanee (deceased), are the pioneers of this project
. The Art Bridge Gallery is the center of artists and artworks of Chiang Rai. It was founded by Chiang Rai Artist Group for
connecting art and society. There are temporary exhibition rooms for old and new Chiang Rai artists as well as foreign
artists to promote regional culture. Upon arriving there, I was warmly welcomed by artist friends and they selected me to be
the vice president of the Art Bridge Gallery in order to publicize works of art and raise the overall quality of artists in Chiang Rai.
There are also many artists from around Thailand who settled down in this province. The important event at the Art Bridge
Gallery was “Painting for Our Father” on 24 October 2016 at the utility area in front of the gallery. The painting frame size is 2.5m
X 17m and there were 200 artists who worked on this painting. Apart from this event, I still have activities to commemorate the king such as:
14 December 2016: Group exhibition with other artists at Novotel.
24 December 2016 – 30 March 2017: The 5th Art Bridge Chiang Rai Exhibition “Inspiration from King Bhumiboladulyadej” to
commemorate his kindness.
25 December 2016: The art exhibition “99 Artists for Father’s Land” at Choentawan Garden.
JY: Chiang Rai is really a city of artists. The artist road was fully
mapped to help visitors to find artists' houses and galleries. In this aspect, I believe Chiang Rai is the successful pioneer city for art.
SJ: Chiang Rai is a beautiful city. Besides 300 local artists, a lot of visiting artists throughout Thailand who were impressed with
art activities in Chiang Rai also find places there. Moreover, art activities organized by the Art Bridge Gallery received strong
cooperation of government organizations such as Cultural Council, Chiang Rai Municipality, Provincial Administrative
Organization as well as private organizations such as Boonrod Brewery Public Co., Ltd. and PTT Public Co., Ltd. There are also
20 artists’ galleries that are registered with the provincial cultural council and the remaining galleries are following this
trend. All of the information including maps to visit all galleries is provided at the Art Bridge Gallery. The artists also endeavor
to set up art activities and act as guest educators to students in schools and universities.
The 5th Art Bridge Chiang Rai Art Exhibition
“Inspiration from King Bhumibol Adulyadej”
Opening: Saturday 24th December 2016 at 06.00 pm
Exhibition: 24 December 2016-30 March 2017
Art Bridge Chiang Rai (ABCR)
Open Daily10:00 am - 7:00 pm
More info: 053-166623 or 088-418-5431 artbridge.cr@gmail.com www.facebook.com/artbridgechiangrai,
Suwit Jaipom Prior Exhibitions
- Exhibition works of art to king’s golden jubilee, Thai farmer bank..
- Exhibition words of art to commemorate the 72nd year of the
king’s rule..
- Exhibition works of art commemorate the king’s golden jubilee..
-Boonrod Brewery Limited. (Thai agriculture center)
- Exhibition works of art of economy. (PTT)
- Exhibition works of water colors paintings to commemorate the king’s 80th birthday. (Siam Paragon)
- Art of painting houses and gardens fair 2007. (Muangtong Thani)
- Exhibition works of art and art of music, Sala muangphan. Phan’s hall. (Chiangrai)
- Exibition works of art for Hom-Fha-Hom-Poy at 9 Art Gallery, Chiangrai.
- Art Exhibition HEART of kingdom Taniya plaza
- Art Exhibition Drawing & Painting of Dream 9 Art gallery Chiangrai.
- Exposition and demonstration at the Fabriano Paper Museum, Fabriano Italy
- Exposition and demonstration in the prestigious headquarters of the Roman Watercolorist Association – Piazza del Popolo, Italy
- Watercolor Exchange Exhibition Vietnam-Malaysia-Thailand at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum Hanoi
- Watercolor Exhibition Vietnam-Malaysia-Thailand at Warren
Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
- The 1st International Watercolor Exhibition - IWS Vietnam 2015 at Hanoi, Vietnam
- Watercolor Exhibition "Sabaidee Vang Vieng" at I-cat Gallery Vientiane Laos.
- An exhibition of love depicted by 34 renowned Thai artists at
Sathorn 11 art space, Bangkok
- Watercolor Exhibition for The 234 year Anniversary of Rattanakosin 2016 333 Gallery, Bangkok
- The Double Great For Charity# 3 Exhibition in Bangkok
- Wonderful LifeWatercolor painting exhibition at Art Bridge Chiang Rai
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