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Lot Essay
Acclaimed as one of the foremost artists in Thai modern art, Thawan Duchanee was born in the northern province of Chiang Rai in 1939 and studied under the late Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci, also known as Silpa Bhirasri, who first introduced modern art practice into Thailand. Later on, Duchanee continued his education at the Royal Academy of Visual Arts in Amsterdam, and travelled extensively after, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of Western artistic traditions.
Upon his return to Thailand, Thawan created a unique visual language which fused traditional Thai aesthetics and Buddhist motifs, with a sense of Western modernism. There is an irrefutable and indomitable strength in his paintings, marked in his compositions by the sense of swirling, almost ferocious energy and explosive painterly expression. His works are a complex juxtaposition and blend of humans and animal creatures, creating within his own visual language powerful figures of half human or animal creatures.
Falcon God is a superlative example of the artist’s painting on canvas, with its depiction of the falcon, one of Thawan’s favourite subjects. The falcon gazes majestically upwards proudly, imbuing the painting with a quiet power and strength as it soars high above. The bold and expressive brushstrokes in white convey a sense of power, movement, grace and speed; with the vibrant gold colour signifying a solidity and sense of invincibility.
Upon his return to Thailand, Thawan created a unique visual language which fused traditional Thai aesthetics and Buddhist motifs, with a sense of Western modernism. There is an irrefutable and indomitable strength in his paintings, marked in his compositions by the sense of swirling, almost ferocious energy and explosive painterly expression. His works are a complex juxtaposition and blend of humans and animal creatures, creating within his own visual language powerful figures of half human or animal creatures.
Falcon God is a superlative example of the artist’s painting on canvas, with its depiction of the falcon, one of Thawan’s favourite subjects. The falcon gazes majestically upwards proudly, imbuing the painting with a quiet power and strength as it soars high above. The bold and expressive brushstrokes in white convey a sense of power, movement, grace and speed; with the vibrant gold colour signifying a solidity and sense of invincibility.