200YEARS-010724 - Flipbook - Page 205
#8NA 5 N5!N#> NO 0> % > 5> 2 #8?P 0@ 1:0> % 8O / "N5 N:R!N R O :#
0@ 1:0> % 8:2:9 Q ON %9 RO #9 :#"5!#9 :B :2N / N#:8
B :5%: %5 :%91N?PNO9/5#8NA5 ?P!?9Q#8/9>
2N/9/?PNO!OPP 2CO?/>: 80>%>R2OO3O9 2CNÿ:O3N 80>%>O3N:>9
%:!?#::2C NO?P #:#:59282!9Q QO%85#8N0 #859B%>
2N/9/QN#A5P 5N2A5Q O:3O:!O%83/N#:?RP O%:"NO 8 :ÿ:9 50>%>R"
ÿ:Q3O#8NA5RO#9:#N>CQ3ONO0>%>#!#C
9Q ON B 0/##1 2500 #8NA 5 2QNAQ 5 3:N?P " /9 %9 ? /> O%8##!:>
@P9/0> %>RON:"555!:Q :N? "53"ÿQ: Q9 / N!%OO:/ BN:
!3:2!B # O 5 O : /5:> "N /9 #N O%89 #/:% N 5 !:QB 0/##1
2510 @#@PO#5B0/##1 2520 #8N0R"N>3O:9/:!@N#?"
::#N!A5 #8NA5O%80>%>#N/!"B3%:"N:ROÿ::0>%8?PO2@/:!
AP9/ 9QQON5:#28O5O%8/>:#N?3:29!O%8:#N!A5 QN/N/%:
O:O #8NA5RO2#O:>###!3%:">Q?PRO%:"NO%:0>%8#89#!#C
>Q#8/9>0:2#N?P#5%B!NAQ53:5?/> ##!:> 29! O%8:#N!A5
Pratuang Emjaroen is a self-taught independent artist who did not graduate
from any formal art institution. He gained recognition from all sectors due to
his work quality and robust and distinct persona. His vivid personal history,
rising from a 8starving artist9 to the status of 8National Artist9, coupled with his
distinctive appearance, e.g. his clothing, hair, and beard has made Pratuang
a legendary figure in Thai art.
Since the 1950s, Pratuang Emjaroen has focused on themes of life9s vitality and
nature, depicted through paintings of water droplets, lotus leaves, rice grains,
fields, oceans, skies, the sun, the moon, and the universe. During the politically
tense period from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s in Thailand, Pratuang and
other contemporary artists created art that reflected and critiqued social and
political issues. Many of Pratuang9s paintings from this time have become iconic,
covering themes of life, nature, society, and politics.
One notable work,
###!:":/O :!B!/O:
?P2#O:@QQ .0. 2521 AP5%:NOAP5?Pÿ:!::O5"ÿ:?PCQOQ:###:
@ /:!5B !2!C # N 55::9 #2B P 9 " @P N 5 !:C QO Q :###":"@
#8N0R"!:5"N:N5NAP5/?B9 O5"ÿ:9%N:/2AP528O5@>O?P
5B!2!C#N/O "#9":###!:>:ÿ:Q ?!P 2? 9 /N:ÿQ 2ÿ:3#9#>P O%8CO QAQ ?P ?Q
#CO9:#ÿ::O:/R/OQONO5:3:#O%82>O:2ÿ:3#9O%N%?P" #8NA5RO9/:
Q3O:5>#?NO:O3NN/3:>%:5"CN@P%: : P"!?NAQ53%9NO/8/9 The left side of the painting features coastal areas, mountains, islands, and
NO:O3N : COQ3Oÿ:N>%9ON2##2>Pÿ:%9N%N#90!?:":%2CN?/>NAQ5%N:
a sea teeming with underwater life, algae, and coral. The centre below the
eagle is filled with lush vegetation and forest flowers. The right side depicts
#8NA5/:Q3O:O O:"5 :NOAQ ?P 5:"?P NA5N: N:8ON A8N% O%8 complex mountain ranges, birds perched on branches and flying in the sky, vast
QOÿQ:?PNO!RO/"29/N2:3#N:"O%88:#9 Q2N/#%: : NAQ5%N::5>#? green fields, farmer9s huts, straw stacks, lotuses in ponds, temple spires, and an
NOAQ?P5A##O%85R!OQN:N:%ÿ:N:R# 2ÿ:3#9O:/:5 : ordination hall, illustrating the simple, beautiful life of farmers intertwined with
8NO2N/5BN:?P2%99O5 ::>N:85"CN:!>PR!OO%8P>5"CN agriculture and Buddhism. Although the painting includes an industrial factory
O5O: A:N?"/?/O:R%2B%C3C%C : #8N5!:/: 5: 9/Q@ "5N?"N emitting faint smoke, this intrusion seems a gentle warning, with the factory
O%8#85BP2?PB@Q%:BN O2@/>??/>:/:?PC992>##!O%8B subtly hidden among the serene fields and mountains.
0:2:?P:!N#?"N:" O!O/N:Q :?Q8!? :5P#:5B2:3##!?Pÿ:%9%N5"
/9: N 55:%:"%N5 ONCN3!A5/N:/:!O%%5!N5##!:>O%8/>? The overall cool colour tones convey peace and happiness, with minimal
?/>R"?Q "9NON?"N2?" 9"NA559ON/N: N3ORO :P#::N%O?PCN?" warm tones in the sun symbolising power and creativity. This grand panoramic
25O#BN55"CNQBN:O%8NA5N:?P2:!
painting, rich in detailed and noble imagery, powerfully embodies the phrase
8In the Water, There Are Fish; In the Fields, There Is Rice9, representing Thailand
P2?P"#/!?PNO2?Q/##8N"O2AP5@/:!#N!N"ONO2B P"!?2?/##8#O5?PNO magnificently.
2N/O5"5"CQN :/5:>"N5?P "CN @P %: : 59NO:#2A5P @%9O%8:#2#O:2##N
9Q3!?QC##:5"CNQ :!B!/O:?P">PQ3N5%9:# NO!N?P"!O/"#:"%8N5?"
?P%@@QO%8:!2N:2!9O5"ÿ:?P/N: 8QÿQ:!?%: Q:!?O:/9 @P2AP5@ON>R"
RO5"N:#%9NO5"N:">P
,2*"N2. '/0N#?/ N/-N/>
The photograph of Pratuang Emjaroen
203
