THE POTENTIAL OF USING MODERN IT PRESENTATION OF THAI ART
Traditional artists and craftsmen of old have always sought for new techniques and materials to present the Tri Bhumi cosmology. The Sukhothai period craftsmen created glazed-ceramic Naga (great snake) head for use as roof finials. During the subsequent periods unto today, artist and craftsmen have found and used a number of materials which are all unnatural and not found in the natural environment. These include glazed ceramics, glazed metal, tin, gold and a host of bright and garish pigments. For example, in order to represent the flora and fauna invoked by descriptions of Himapaan magical forest, they invented the technique known as "lai rod nam" (literally the washed painting) gilded painting to achieve fine monochrome imagery in gold on black. This modern technology of the period made ingenious use of the water-soluble mask and the insoluble sap of the rak (lacquer) tree. They also perfected the technique of "hung krajok" (literally cooking the mirror) to make highly reflective metallic membranes which could be cut an bent at will to fit the contours of building and free-form decorative elements. This was used to give palace buildings that "crystalline" appearance mentioned in the Tribhumikatha.
Following the examples of the fine artisans of the bygone era, the classical Thai artisans have striven to conserve this exuberant style throughout the ages. Only recently i.e. during the early 19th century did Western "civilised knowledge" arrive and came to be accepted. The Thai began to learn of the new cosmology of a globular earth orbiting the sun, of the new geography of continents and oceans, and about the mighty Himalayas which men strove to conquer. The Tri Bhumi cosmology became out of date and was ignored, replaced with the more exciting western art and imagery of the Greek gods and humanities. Thai art remained as a conservation movement, more or less.
During the past 50 years and less, there has been a revival of interest in the traditional imagery. The art movement, now sectionalised into architecture, painting, sculpture, dance, music and the decorative arts are each finding new ways to present the cosmology. There are new presentations and misrepresentations of the Tri Bhumi in modern forms such as framed portable paintings, individual art objects not related to any other art form, etc. As yet, few have shown interest in using the new intelligent technology and computerised imagery techniques. Available are CD-ROMs of photographs of Thai art, huge inkjet prints of existing murals in immaculate details, and not much else.
Computer imaging techniques are an ideal carrier of the classical Thai visual arts. Computers will enable the artists of tomorrow to use their imaginations to take the classical Thai arts to new dimensions. Fantastic images created with three-dimension software such as those seen in the multimedia presentations and special movie effects can very well carry images of the Tribhumikatha. The cosmology can be brought to life even in a more exciting manner than traditional techniques.
IT can bring the myths of the Tribhumikatha to reality, or rather virtual reality. Cyberspace will be enriched with yet another branch of human wisdom.
Regards
Torben
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