Bangkok, well known as a shopping and food destination also offers plenty of things to see and do but little is known of its modern art scene. For those visitors who wish to get in touch with another dimension of the city Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum in the Phra Nakhon district is the place to visit. The facility named after Prof Silpa Bhirasri widely acknowledged as the father of Thai modern art is appropriately located in the building that was once his studio in the premises of the Fine Arts Department of the Silpakorn University where he taught when it was the Fine Arts Academy.
The museum’s exhibits are displayed in two sections. One contains the personal effects, tools of the trade, memorabilia and art work that belonged to the professor and the other section contains the sculptures and painting done by many of his students who have gone on to become great names in the Thai modern art scene. The collection is considered by Thailand’s art aficionados to be among the best early modern art collections in the country. The art works displayed in a bright and airy space, was the ideal space in which to execute the landmark sculptures and paintings. Pieces that catch the eye include paintings with Buddhist themes executed in the Cubist style and sculptures and paintings with definite influences of Rodin, Gauguin and other European artists, graphic art and even paintings executed by the King. During his tenure as Professor in the Fine Arts Department, Bhirasri was involved in sculpting some of the most prominent monuments in Thailand. Selected replicas of his major public works such as the Democracy Monument, the Victory Monument, statues of the Buddha and the Statue of Rama IV in Lumpini Park are also among the collection at the museum. The Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum is one of Bangkok’s best free museums to visit if there is an interest in modern art, time permitting.
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