Fua Haripitak
Encyclopedia
Fua Haripitak (22 April 1910 – October 1993) was a celebrated Thai artist.
, the son of a court painter who had served under Phya Anusat Chitrakorn.
He studied art for four years at Bangkok's Poh Chang School of Arts and Crafts before quitting after he found the teaching method too academic.
), a student of Silpa Bhirasri
. Among his finest surviving works from that period is an oil portrait titled "My Grand Mother".
During 1940-1946, he received a scholarship from Thanomsakdi Kridakorn to study at Visva Bharati University in West Bengal
, India
. After returning to Thailand, he served at Silpakorn University.
He won gold metals at the 1st and 2nd National Exhibitions of Art in 1949 and 1950 for "Petchaburi", a tempera on paper and "Portrait of Madame Rienpracha", an oil on canvas.
During 1954-1956, he was granted a scholarship by the Italian government to study at the
L'accademia Di Belle Arti (The Academy of Fine Art) in Rome
.
During this period, he experimented with a variety of painting techniques, including chalk, colored pencils, ink, and the palette knife. He also dabbled with abstract and cubist styles. His subjects were mostly Italian landscapes, but also included some nudes. He was later recognized as a pioneer in Thailand's modern art.
In 1957, he again won the gold metal at the National Exhibition of Art.
A noted art restorer, from 1969-1982, Fua worked on the restoration of the Tripitaka
Library at Wat Rakang Kositaram temple (also known as Wat Bang Wah Yai), built during the reign of King Rama I. During that period, he paid for part of the restoration with his own funds. The restoration project cost him his health. The right side of his face and right arm were paralyzed.
In 1991, he was admitted to Siriraj Hospital
. He died in October 1993 due to inflamed blood vessels of the brain.
Early life
Fua was born in 22 April 1910 in ThonburiThonburi
Thon Buri is an area of modern Bangkok. It was capital of Thailand from 1767 to 1782, during the reign of King Taksin, after the previous capital Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese. It is located on the opposite bank of Chao Phraya River to Bangkok...
, the son of a court painter who had served under Phya Anusat Chitrakorn.
He studied art for four years at Bangkok's Poh Chang School of Arts and Crafts before quitting after he found the teaching method too academic.
Key works and development
He later graduated from the School of Fine Arts (later known as Silpakorn UniversitySilpakorn University
Silpakorn University is a well-known public university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Italian-born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It is the leading Thai university in the fine arts and archaeology,...
), a student of Silpa Bhirasri
Silpa Bhirasri
Silpa Bhirasri , born Corrado Feroci was an Italian-born sculptor who worked mainly in Thailand. He is considered the father of modern art in Thailand and was instrumental in the founding of today's Silpakorn University....
. Among his finest surviving works from that period is an oil portrait titled "My Grand Mother".
During 1940-1946, he received a scholarship from Thanomsakdi Kridakorn to study at Visva Bharati University in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. After returning to Thailand, he served at Silpakorn University.
He won gold metals at the 1st and 2nd National Exhibitions of Art in 1949 and 1950 for "Petchaburi", a tempera on paper and "Portrait of Madame Rienpracha", an oil on canvas.
During 1954-1956, he was granted a scholarship by the Italian government to study at the
L'accademia Di Belle Arti (The Academy of Fine Art) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
During this period, he experimented with a variety of painting techniques, including chalk, colored pencils, ink, and the palette knife. He also dabbled with abstract and cubist styles. His subjects were mostly Italian landscapes, but also included some nudes. He was later recognized as a pioneer in Thailand's modern art.
In 1957, he again won the gold metal at the National Exhibition of Art.
A noted art restorer, from 1969-1982, Fua worked on the restoration of the Tripitaka
Tripiṭaka
' is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various canons of scriptures. As the name suggests, a traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a , a and an .-The three categories:Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the...
Library at Wat Rakang Kositaram temple (also known as Wat Bang Wah Yai), built during the reign of King Rama I. During that period, he paid for part of the restoration with his own funds. The restoration project cost him his health. The right side of his face and right arm were paralyzed.
In 1991, he was admitted to Siriraj Hospital
Siriraj Hospital
Siriraj Hospital is the oldest hospital in Thailand, located in Bangkok on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus...
. He died in October 1993 due to inflamed blood vessels of the brain.
Awards
- 1980 – Honorary doctoral degree in fine arts, Silpakorn UniversitySilpakorn UniversitySilpakorn University is a well-known public university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Italian-born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It is the leading Thai university in the fine arts and archaeology,...
. - 1983 – Magsaysay Award for public service. The award citation noted his "life-long profession of seeking the origins of his national artistic tradition, preserving the tradition, and through painting, restoration, writing and teaching, enlivening it with a future".
- 1985 – Named National ArtistThailand National ArtistThe National Artist is a title given annually by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand, recognizing notable Thai artists in literature, fine arts, visual arts, applied arts and performing arts .Since 1985, the honors have been presented on...
, the inaugural year for the honor. - 1990 – Recognized by the Thai government as an Outstanding Cultural Conservator.