Chulayarnnon Siriphol's 'Museum of Kirati' installation reimagines Siburapha's classic novel 'Behind the Painting'
From November 2017 to January 2018, the Bangkok City Gallery showcased Chulayarnnon Siriphol's multimedia work titled 'Museum of Kirati', which offers a fresh perspective on Kulap Saipradit's 1937 novel 'Behind the Painting'. The installation delves into the sorrowful love story of Lady Kirati and Nopporn, presented through various artistic forms. It includes a 50-minute film featuring Siriphol in dual roles, merging live-action with animation. Additional elements comprise animated sketches, projected images, a bronze sculpture of Lady Kirati, an oil painting on ceramic, and a neon sign reading 'Forget Me Not'. A 'Kirati Memorial Book' gathers fictional notes, while Siriphol connects the characters to the social hierarchies in Thailand. Kulap Saipradit, a political dissident, faced exile in 1958 and passed away in 1974.
Key facts
- Kulap Saipradit, pen name Siburapha, was a Thai novelist and political activist exiled to China in 1958.
- His novel 'Behind the Painting' was serialized in 1937 and published in book form later.
- The novel has been adapted into films, including by directors Piak Poster in 1985 and Cherd Songsri in 2001.
- Chulayarnnon Siriphol's 'Museum of Kirati' installation was shown at Bangkok City Gallery from November 2017 to January 2018.
- The installation includes a 50-minute film, animated drawings, projected portraits, a bronze statue, and a neon sign.
- Siriphol's artist statement interprets Lady Kirati as representing pre-1932 nobility and Nopporn as the future middle class.
- Siburapha's more political work 'Lae Pai Kang Na' was published in 1957.
- The article was published in the Spring 2018 issue of ArtReview Asia.
Entities
Artists
- Kulap Saipradit
- Siburapha
- Chulayarnnon Siriphol
- Piak Poster
- Cherd Songsri
- Marcel Duchamp
Institutions
- Bangkok City Gallery
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Thailand
- China
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Bangkok