Thai Artists

The contemporary art scene in Thailand is centred around its capital – Bangkok - although there are artists who prefer to live and work outside the mega polis such as in Chiang Mai. The numbers of artists are constantly on the rise, so an increasing variety of works are available on the art market. The Thai contemporary scene is now one of the more dynamic in Southeast Asia and the artists utilize a variety of traditional and contemporary media. Examples of the artists' focuses are the loss of traditional values and the obsession with money in today's society. Several of Bangkok’s Universities have prominent art schools. Silapakorn University stands out as the most reputable of them. Established at the beginning of the 19th century it drew inspiration from the Italian teacher and artist, Corrado Feroci. Feroci was invited to Thailand by the Thai Government in 1923. He eventually remained in Thailand taking on the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri. Professor Bhirasri is regarded as the one who paved the way for Thai modern art and constructed a framework for it by promoting westernisation and at the same time striving to preserve the traditional Thai arts.