A Trip down Memory Mural Lane: Mapping the Evolution of Thai Temple Art, from Tradition to Globalization
It is said that colours and shapes have afforded self-expression when words fail. Instead of telling someone what they’ve said was funny, how often do we exchange verbal vocabulary for something more visually representative like the 😂emoji? Similarly, art and illustrations have always conveyed stories, feelings, and tradition beyond the capacity of words. Thus, in this blog, we’ll be diving into the powerfully universal tools of religious storytelling– temple murals!
In the past, temple murals were important ways of sharing Buddhist teachings with the Thai population, of which a majority was illiterate. Therefore, the style of these narratives was crucial to standardise to ensure effectiveness among the congregation in understanding the sermons. However, as time passed, these murals have become a testament to the indomitable Thai culture which creatively adapts and refreshes global influences.
Read on to learn how this traditional art has evolved in the face of globalisation, taking on a fresh look in the modern era!
Traditional Roots of Thai Temple Art: Wat Thong Thammachat
Starting our journey chronologically at the root of this artistic tradition, we begin with Wat Thong Thammachat, a Buddhist temple with a long history located in Bangkok's Khlong San district. Wat Thong Thammachat’s origin dates all the way back to the Ayutthaya period and has undergone restorations by King Rama I, King Rama III, and King Rama VI, allowing it to remain well-maintained and grand today.
Its murals feature a flattened landscape, putting minimal effort into creating depth in the painting. For instance, in the painting below, see how the corners of the various architecture might overlap. Doesn’t it feel like they are stacked one on top of the other on a two-dimensional plane instead of seeming like one structure is directly behind the other? This ‘stacking’ effect is attributed to the lack of depth in the artwork, making it feel less realistic but allowing the painter to fit more illustrations in a specific space.
Such crowded scenes are also signature to traditional Thai murals, where a single wall has its space occupied not simply with multiple characters and locations but also multiple scenes. Such a ‘comic-book-style’ effect where different scenes occur in a singular space is called a synoptic narrative style. This might make it difficult for the layman viewer to navigate and understand the narrative flow, due to the repeated depictions of characters but in different scenes being on the same side of the wall. While each synoptic mural may have its own way of reading the stories presented, a tip we recommend for travellers to decode the narratives is to take note of any jagged lines, trees, or palace walls that are dashed across the space – these act as narrative dividers, denoting a new scene. Can you spot one such divider in the painting above?
Plus, when it comes to depicting characters in these murals, the traditional Thai painter does not depict them with much individualistic features. Rather, as shown below, each character sports the same bulbous nose, thin and curved eyebrows, thick lips with upturned ends, and a rounded jaw.
Finally, these traditional murals are an explosive sight of reds and golds, a trademark style that you would see in today’s commonly touristed Thai temples! While many might be familiar with the iconic red and gold palette, did you know that there exists a traditional Thai colour palette used by Thai artisans of the past comprising of not just 2 colours but 5? These colours, named the benjarong colours, are red (“chard”), yellow (“rong”), blue (“kraam”), white, and black which were all colours that could be easily produced by natural means like extractions from plants, minerals, and spices.
Moreover, few are aware of the Lai Rod Nam technique used to create these glowing gold hues on the paintings. Wood sap is extracted from a native Thai species called the Rak Luang to produce these gold leaves. This sap is often mixed with Din Sor Pong, a type of powder that is also used during Songkran.
Brief History of Globalisation in Thailand
Fast forward to the reign of Rama V from the 1860’s, the king headed to Europe for his own field trip. There, he learnt much about the Western world, from its economy to its engineering and even down to its art. This led him to becoming close acquaintances with Tsar Nicholas II, the former emperor of Russia, as well.
Image Credit: Bangkok Post
To Rama V, this trip signalled the need for change in Thailand’s relationship with international influence – adaptation and innovation were duly necessary. Amidst a time when the colonisation of regional countries had been extremely prevalent, Rama V decided to incorporate these Western influences to protect Thailand’s independence, a strategic and successful move.
Introduction of Global Influences in Thai Art: Wat Rachathiwat
Naturally, the local temple art reflected Rama V’s adoption of the West. One striking example is Wat Rachathiwat – with its murals by the Italian painter Carlo Rigoli.
Carlo Rigoli had been the disciple of the Florentine artist, Galileo Chini, who had supervised the interior design of the Ananta Samakhon Throne Hall which was commissioned by King Rama V himself at the beautiful summer palace, Dusit Palace.
After seeing the hall to completion alongside Chini, Rigoli was commissioned a project of his own – illustrating the murals of Wat Rachathiwat. This instance showcases the intentional reception and exchange of culture that had been incited under the leadership of the King.
Unlike the traditions of temple mural art, Rigoli brought a Renaissance-like sensibility to depicting local and religious narratives. For example, Rigoli employed lifelike proportions and distinct features of characters, infusing depth into the landscape as his Western art education made him prioritise the realism of his artworks.
Furthermore, Rigoli swapped out the signature synoptic artistic fashion of the traditional murals for a monoscenic style, allocating one scene to one rectangular section of a wall. Most importantly, to enhance the paintings’ realism, the colour palette no longer stuck to the reds, golds, and blacks of tradition but expanded to one of browns, greys, yellows, and whites.
Evolving a Unique Style of Their Own: Wat Kampang Bangchak
Finally, through Wat Kampang Bangchak, we see how these global influences have merged with the traditional roots of the art in Thai temples. Considered one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Kampang Bangchak was assumed to have been constructed during the Ayutthaya period (1351–1767) like Wat Thong Thammachat, but has undergone major reconstruction under King Rama III (1824–51) and King Rama V (1868-1910). Its ordination hall’s murals also narrates Buddha’s past 10 lives.
As shown from the buildings in its murals, there is a greater attempt at realism through a singular perspective – where the architecture of Wat Thong Thammachat’s murals bends and curves at different angles, employing various perspectives in a single artwork, the murals at Wat Kampang Bangchak’s style adopts shadows which highlight an objective angle at which the sun falls on the buildings as well as the objective angle of the artist’s illustration of the buildings. In addition, these shadows also contribute to a sense of depth in the image, where the figures finally appear to be behind each other as opposed to being stacked on top of each other.
Despite this singular perspective that could be more connotated with a Western style, a majority red and gold palette is retained as a nod to traditional roots. Furthermore, the scenes continue to be synoptic. This portrays the success in which the traditional Thai arts have evolved itself in the global landscape, analogising even their adoption of certain international habits without compromising on the local culture and tradition.
Want to Take Home a Piece of History with You?
It is not just in the large gilded Thai temples that we can glimpse this historical evolution from local tradition to global influence. If you head on ‘The Lingering Tales of Bangkokians’ self-guided route found on our website, you’d come across Dinso Art Gallery & Studio where some contemporary Thai artists have reimagined Christian biblical narratives through traditional motifs. Taking home a piece of Thai history has never been so easy through these unique postcards!
For more interesting deep-dives into Thai culture, head to our ‘guided tours’ section or ‘self-guided’ section where we guide your exploration into a Bangkok like you have never known!