Thailand loses renowned artist as Thawan Dachanee dies at 74

Hi ya! Great to see. Wassup? Help yourself to a mugga and a virtual treat while I tell you about the passing of a famous Thai artist...

Mourners visited the house of Thawan Dachanee on Wednesday to bid farewell to the venerated National Artist, who died early in the morning. He was 74.

Mourners visited the house of Thawan Dachanee on Wednesday to bid farewell to the venerated National Artist, who died early in the morning. He was 74.

After graduating from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art at Silpakorn, Thawan continued his studies at Rijks Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam.

Thawan received a scholarship from the Education Ministry after his studies at Poh Chang. He was declared a National Artist in visual art in 2001.

Thawan died of hepatitis at 2am on Wednesday in Bangkok.

He is survived by four sons including Doytibet, who announced the death of his father on his Facebook page. Mr Doytibet is managing director of the museum his father built.

Chai Nakhonchai, director-general of the Cultural Promotion Department, commended the late artist on his work which he said was invaluable and internationally recognised.

"Ajarn Thawan dedicated his efforts to promoting art in Thailand and made it widely recognised all over the world,'' he said.

His works were displayed across the globe, including solo exhibitions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Amsterdam, Paris, Hawaii and Santa Barbara in the United States. Among his famous works is the series Maravijaya some of which are on display at Baandam.

Robin Williams, Joan Rivers and Thai artist Thawan Dachanee all great artists in their own right. Sad but the world moves on. Let us hope new artists will emerge to take our minds off the loss of these creative people.

See ya, eh!

Bob