A JOURNAL OF TRAVEL PAINTINGS
Veteran watercolourist Wichet Chantaniyom’s created 93 pieces of artwork of his travels through Japan, Laos, and Thailand.
Riding in a car in mist to the top of world heritage site Mount Fuji, veteran artist Wichet Chantaniyom and his companions felt disappointed because they could not get a glimpse of the spectacular view from the mountain top due to heavy fog. However, after deciding to return to the mountain’s foothills, they caught a glimpse of the stunning Mount Fuji.
Parts of those impressive sceneries are now on display at the Chamchuri Art Gallery as part of the artist’s latest exhibition titled: “Backpacking Through Three Countries, Painting As I Go”.
The idea of the exhibition started when Wichet planned a spontaneous trip to Japan with his wife, sister and nephew. As an artist, he loves to paint wherever he goes and collects those paintings for an exhibition.
“After returning from Japan, a friend in Laos invited me to visit him there. To complete the project, I decided to travel around Thailand because Thais always like to have paintings of their motherland hanging in their homes,” the artist — who also runs the art school Art For You — explained.
All 93 painting in the exhibition were painted by watercolour, which has been Wichet’s favourite material since the time he studied fine arts at the PohChang Academy of Art.
“I think watercolours are just like me. Its characteristic is transparent and it gives a chilled out feeling. Also, it is easy to carry a watercolour kit while I’m travelling. Because I am passionate about watercolours, I like to follow celebrated watercolour artist Suchat Wongthong to the places he paints and in doing so, I have learned from him,” he said.
When asked about details of the trip, the veteran artist had a hard time recalling the names of the locations he visited, however, he is the type of person who has a photographic memory.
“I couldn’t even remember the name of the hotel where we stayed but for a scene that I wanted to paint, I just needed to take one look and then I could go home and paint that scene,” Wichet said enthusiastically.
With the advent of new technology, he doesn’t have to capture every scene that he wants to paint in his mind anymore. Impressive shots can also be filmed in videos so that he can look at views or sites he likes again. However, there are some paintings that he finished at the actual location itself.
“Painting a picture at the location provides a fresh feeling, but the watercolour will dry quickly. Nonetheless, working in my studio, I can add more colours or things into the picture and the environment is in more of my control.”
During his eight days in Japan, Wichet and his companions took trains to visit and paint several natural and heritage sites such as Naruko Gorge Bridge in Miyagi Prefecture, Nyuto onsen in Akita Prefecture and a shire in Kawagoe City. His impressions about Japan are similar to that of many Thais, however, his bad experience was something unusual.
“Their nature sites were green and the public utilities fantastic. I really admired the cleanliness and order in Japan. There was no garbage at all.
Moreover, since I had to go to restroom often as a result of my medical condition, it was easy to find a nice restroom without fee. My friend told me that if I had to go to restrooms in Europe, it will cost me a lot of money,” the artist said.
“However, on a train, I came across a teenager with lots of friends sit in a seat meant for disabled people. He didn’t give up the seat when a disabled person came on board. Instead, he pretended to fall sleep. I didn’t expect to see things like this in Japan.”
In Laos, the watercolourist visited Vientiane and Vang Vieng for five days. His paintings of Laos include the landmark and war monument Patuxai, Si Saket Temple, Ho Phra Kaew Museum, and several landscapes from Vang Vieng, the place he enjoyed the most.
“I visited Vang Vieng for the first time and it was beautiful though the natural sites were invaded by constructions, especially hotels. People were friendly and nice like Thai people in countryside but the cost of living there was more expensive than in Bangkok. A bowl of noodles was 80 baht,” Wichet said.
For paintings of the kingdom, the native of Nakhon Si Thammarat decided to paint kolae boats, which are unique to southern Thailand, as well as old temples in Lampang and old houses and architecture in Bangkok. The watercolourist admitted that he was attracted to old constructions the most.
“They are beautiful. I don’t like to paint a building with an accurate scale and perspective. I prefer to make it not perfect. In Lampang, my friend drove me to Wat Phratahat Mon Chamsin, which is so striking, yet not many tourists were there. Another friend showed me old houses in the Sathorn area. I was surprised to so see many of them still in Bangkok,” he said.
In addition to old buildings, the artist can’t specify his second-favourite item to paint, but he will know when he sees it.
“A picture called Rose was painted from roses that were dropped from a garbage truck. [laugh] It is an example of a painting that I was immediately sparked by when seeing the item. After I saw the roses, I wanted to paint them. I picked them up and it became the painting.”
After years of hard work, creating 93 paintings for the exhibition was not troublesome for him at all.
“I had been through a lot. I was trained to do realistic paintings which are the kind of paintings that clients want me to work on the most. After I was able to paint realistic paintings, there was nothing difficult for me,” Wichet said.
Despite having a number of exhibitions under his belt, the artist still hasn’t done something that he thinks is challenging.
“I have never painted a portrait or wanted to do so. I want to walk on the street and ask a stranger whose looks I find interesting to paint, however, I don’t think they will let me paint them. It will be difficult to realise, so I have never tried.”
“Backpacking Through Three Countries, Painting As I Go” runs at Chamchuri Art Gallery until Sunday. Admission is free. Visit facebook. com/chamchuriartgallery or call Wichet Chantaniyom 093-235-4596 for more information.