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I was fascinated by a picture of a mountain climber who climbed to the top of "Khao Phu Mai Daeng" in Kanchanaburi Province Thailand. This mountain is just around 590 feet high (180 meters) but it has the highest peak in Kanchanaburi. Looking down below, this cliff is pretty steep but the scenery is really spectacular.
It was his intention to bring his art book to the mountain top. The book, entitled "Shroud", was published about a decade ago. The back cover of the book is a black and white picture of Anurot sitting beside his mother.
After his recent mountain-climbing pictures were posted on the internet, I eagerly contacted him for an interview. The works of art from Anurot are well known and followed by many people who love his unique art. In the past he had exhibitions in Thailand and then his creations were decorated in Wat Nhong Saw temple in Hua Hin District, Prajuab Kirikhan Province.
First, you must understand that Buddha's doctrines teach us to look at things to gain knowledge, to put misery out of our mind. So it is with a shroud, which is a piece of fabric that is used to wrap the body of one who has surpassed all mortal lusts. The intensity of each breath drawn varies from person to person as with lust within us all. Cadavers are without lust, wrapped in white linen to be embraced by purity. Pieces of cloth sewn together by vertical and horizontal seams reflect the rising of life and its cessation. The dye represents lusts that are buried deep within and arduous to uproot. It illustrates that lust is like dye, it has to be purged from the soul. Change has begun on the surface of the linen. Truths become corrupt. When witnessed they are acknowledged and purged from the soul on which they have clung through time and conditioning. Detachment sets in and the soul is nurtured. Artistic creativity is generated and realized in the blending of substance and content into veritable elements to become contemporary art on a length of linen. The art will lead you to thought and knowledge for peace of mind and to understand "Buddhism Wisdoms."
Anurot is the artist who attempts to present the viewpoints about art and philosophy of Buddhism. His previous two exhibitions (Shroud and Stacked Shroud) were profoundly insightful. Candles were used to paint on the cloth in the same method as batik cloth.
The murals on the temple's walls portray stories of the Buddha and his teachings. His works were mixed media art with Thai north-eastern dialect (Isan) explanations written in both art books for exhibitions from 2006 and 2009. This feels like the story book for children.
His exhibition at Jamjuree gallery shows thinking, feeling and faith and then his works will be sent back to keep at Wat Nhong Saw temple. There he was able to arrange his old and new works to Jamjuree gallery many times including his thesis work when he was the postgraduate student at Silpakorn University.
"For some time I knew that one day my mother will leave me since she had cancer. One way to keep my memory about her is a picture of my mother and I on the back cover of my two art books. This way, I can keep the memory of her with me all the time."
At the end of December 2012, I had a chance to have a short interview with him before he went to Mae Hong Son Province. It was a great day to meet him in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
JY: I found your works quite scary but they are also captivating. Anyway, at this moment I would like to ask you some questions for people who do not know about you or are unfamiliar with your style of work. Here are the questions.
JY: What is your inspiration for the painting?
AC: My painting inspiration is mainly from the old and damaged murals in temples. In my view, it is the charm of time and faith that encourages me to do my works.
JY: What is important for your current works?
AC: It is the search for the Buddhism principles that teach us to contemplate about uncertainty of everything.
JY: What is your viewpoint to create works called "Buddhism wisdoms"?
AC: Actually this wisdom teaches us to consider everything with our own wisdom.
JY: Can you tell me more briefly about the shroud
AC: The Shroud is a piece of cloth worn by one who has surpassed all mortal lusts. All works of shroud were made to decorate Wat Nhong Saw temple. All pictures were placed near the Buddha statue there. This is my interpretation for the Shroud .
JY: Some last words, please.
AC: Many of my works are called "Buddhism Wisdoms" due to my scholarship with Silp Phirasee a long time ago. My next artistic creations will continue to focus on the teaching of Buddhism and I will try to make them more meaningful and beautiful.
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