Featured Stories
Look at portraits and look back at the society
The winners of the first portraiture competition in Thailand by River City Bangkok, RCB Portrait Prize 2021 have already been announced. The organizer was impressed with nearly 200 professional, amateur, and student artists, male and female, Thai and foreigner, young and old painted portraits with at least one live sitting. Besides the quality of each painting that you are going to experience by yourself at the exhibition on the 2nd floor, the stories behind these portraits can be perceived as a mirror that reflects the society especially during the time of Covid-19.
All of us have had to endure living with Covid-19 for almost 2 years. But have you ever thought if anything good could come from this crisis? One positive aspect is that many got to spend more time with their family and pets at home. Some homes have transformed into a school or an office. “Learning in Covid Situation” by Tanawat Muratatunyaluk has won The Packing Room Prize because of the realness in artistic techniques depicting in the painting and how it reflects the society in the time of Covid-19 where the father spends more time with his son named ‘Eiffel’ and watches his son studying at home which has become a norm for many.
Meanwhile, there are many people who are struggling desperately. “Khun Yai Buaphan” by Manop Momin has captured the judges’ hearts and won the RCB Portrait Prize 2021. It is a large oil painting depicting a portrait of a 74-year-old melancholic woman who is topless while sitting on a bed. Due to lacking financial support, Khun Yai Buaphan has resolved to work as a prostitute to make ends meet for herself and her cats.. The artist met this lady in one particular area in Bangkok. This portrait prompted us to ponder the problems of the society including social welfare for the elder and the homeless in Thailand.
According to Thai traditional saying ‘To reflect ourselves from the dramas that we watch’, it can be applied to our today’s society in that the portraits that we are looking at can reflect the society that we live in.
All 178 artworks from the entries of the inaugural Portrait Prize depict a wide range of interesting stories including human relation, loneliness, love, LGBTQ, retirement community and families in the city and countryside.
Discover the stories of the artists’ sitter at the Portrait Prize exhibition from now until 7 December 2021 at RCB Galleria on the 2nd floor of River City Bangkok.
In addition, there is the People’s Choice Prize with prize money of THB 100,000 which is to be decided by the viewing public who visit the exhibition, with each visitor casting one vote.
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