Yanapon Musiket

Numthong Sae-tang once dreamed of becoming an artist. There was a period of time when he tried to exhibit some of his drawings and paintings, but he soon realized that the art world might not be his true calling. Now renowned as an avid art collector and gallerist, Numthong recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Numthong Gallery by showcasing his own private collection of high-profile local and international artists, from Montien Boonma and Natee Utarit to Bun Xun Phai and I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih, to name a few. How did you begin your path as an art collector? I actually didn’t plan to be one. I just started as a man who really appreciates art. I remember clearly, in 1977, I was walking around Ploenchit Gallery – one of the top galleries with artworks by famous Thai artists – and found a painting by Niti Wattuya. I didn’t know who Niti was at that time, but his painting truly touched me. Back then, the painting cost around four thousand baht and I couldn’t afford it. I started to want to know more about art and get a chance to work at Bhirasri Institute of Modern Art. Later, I got to know Niti personally and even worked with him. This exhibition also features two of his paintings, which I bought many years after that first painting made an impression. How do you feel about the current art collecting scene? Recently, there have been a number of new collectors approaching me for advice. I’ve started to feel concerned that art collecting has become just a trend. In

Many of us are aware of the late King Bhumibol’s talents in different fields, but only a few art history buffs know about Manohra ballet, the first Thai-style ballet in history co-composed by His Majesty. It all started when King Bhumibol Adulyadej paid an official visit to the Phattalung province in 1959. There, the local governor presented His Majesty with a unique performance inspired by manohra, a performance based on southern Thai culture and Thai folklore. Inspired by the show’s exotic moves and the story of a half-human, half-bird mythical creature, His Majesty later reinterpreted the traditional dance into a Western-style ballet, a performance art that he’s fond of. Under his supervision, ballets experts were brought in to perfect the project. Choreography was created by Madame Genévière L. Damon, while costumes were designed by Pierre Balmain. The king himself composed a number of songs such as “Nature Waltz,” “The Hunter,” and “Kinary Waltz” for the show. The extravagant Manohra ballet was first staged and professionally filmed in 1962 at Suan Amporn Dance Hall. To honor His Majesty’s contributions to the Thai contemporary dance scene, the Royal Cremation Committee decided to restage the performance—for the first time in decades—during the royal funeral ceremonies. “Following ancient tradition, there will be festivities and performances the day after the royal cremation to celebrate the journey to heaven of the late King’s soul. The Royal Cremation Pre

If someone offered you the chance to recreate your last moments with a lost loved one, would you take them up on the offer? Stick Figures, Thonglor Art Space’s current play, is based on a script by US playwright, Josh Ginsburg. The play follows a “surrogate” tasked with re-living the last days of recently deceased individuals in order to help their friends and family better cope with their personal grief. After reading the original English script, director Pattarasuda Anuman-Rajadhon found it so perfect that she decided to produce both Thai and English versions of the play with two separate casts; a bonus for bi-lingual audiences who can experience the nuances of two different interpretations. In the play’s English version, Sasapin Siriwanij stands out for her portrayal of a seemingly cold-hearted surrogate who makes a living by impersonating the dead. We follow her to meet two clients: a family who have lost their daughter, a 17-year-old cheerleader, and a young man whose deceased girlfriend once dreamed of auditioning for the Broadway show, Cats.  The Thai version inevitably loses some meaning in its translation, and references to Western culture may cause a little awkwardness, but a powerful ensemble cast ensures that each actor shines in their role. The Thai cast’s performances are so convincing and touching that we recommend a pre-show visit to the tissue shelf of 7-Eleven across the street. You have been warned! The set is cleverly designed with movable furniture items