Assoc Prof Piyasaeng Chantarawongpaisarn Calls Art Lovers to View Ancient Chinese Masterpieces at ‘Up the River During Qingming’ (Sponsored)

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20 February 2019, 10:58

Currently creating quite a buzz in the Thai art scene, “Up the River During Qingming”, an exhibition of Chinese art and culture currently on show at River City Bangkok (RCB), Asia’s largest center of art and culture exhibitions, marks RCB’s collaboration with the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong), which is home of the world’s largest historical Chinese artifacts. The exhibition brings together a priceless collection of painted scrolls and historical artifacts dating to the Qing Dynasty for an interactive, multimedia presentation for the first time in Southeast Asia. The exhibition runs at River City Bangkok’s second-floor RCB Galleria.

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One of the viewers was Assoc Prof Piyasaeng Chantarawongpaisarn, a lecturer in art theory at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University. Piyasaeng specializes in East art history. After viewing the exhibition “Up the River During Qingming”, Ajarn Piyasaeng said that the exhibition is one of the most interesting that Thais should spare time to come and view. The works on display are important artworks of China and worth checking out without the need to visit the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong) in Taiwan. The exhibition offers an immersive art exhibition thanks to the use of multimedia technology.

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“We have heard of digital museums to some extent. In the West, multimedia is commonly used in art exhibitions, but not so in Asia. When it comes to Chinese art, there has never been a multimedia exhibition like this one before. With River City Bangkok and the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong) showcasing important artworks, Thai people will benefit from viewing the exhibition. Most importantly, they don’t need to fly to Taiwan,” said Assoc Prof Piyasaeng.

As an expert in art theory, Assoc Prof Piyasaeng explains that Chinese art has distinct qualities that have been developed and evolved under philosophical principles and reflects local folklore and belief systems. During the golden age of Chinese art that straddled the Tang and Song Dynasties, Chinese people were attached to Buddhist and Tao philosophies which permeated paintings at the time. These paintings depicted the natural scenery on a grand scale while humans were portrayed as small components to highlight the greatness of nature. According to Taoism, human beings are a small part of the universe. To create paintings, artists used brushes, ink and paint.

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Works on display in “Up the River During Qingming” are renowned, historical artifacts from the Tang, Song, Yuan Ming and Qing Dynasties. The highlight is the painting “Up the River During Qingming” that portrays scenes of prosperity along the banks of the Biàn Hé in Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng),the Northern Song capital. It’s a painted silk scroll that can absorb ink and paint, allowing for the artwork’s durability. The painting features everyday scenes of prosperity in China in the twilight years of the Qing Dynasty including a wedding, an outdoor theatre, a bustling market and a runaway pig.

“The painting “Up the River During Qingming” is the most outstanding artwork of this exhibition and of the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong). I’m beginning to think that this painting is the best work of Chinese art. If you can come to see, you will realize that why it’s such a great artwork. The horizontal painted scroll displays a variety of scenery that unfolds from right to left to present a narrative of its own. The exhibition features an interactive screen that depicts this painting in full view that makes it easy for viewers to understand what’s going on in it. Furthermore, the exhibition showcases magnificent works of Chinese calligraphy that are masterpieces in their own right. Calligraphy is an art form that has existed alongside Chinese painting throughout China’s history. It’s an art form that’s an expression of the power of lines and emotions of the calligrapher in an abstract way. Therefore, viewers don’t need to understand the meaning of the written words of the artist. They can experience the soul of these lines and of the artist. This exhibition displays two great works of Chinese calligraphy, which is a good thing,” says the expert in Asean art history.

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Those who have yet to see the exhibition “Up the River During Qingming” might want to heed the advice of Assoc Prof Piyasaeng. This exhibition is ideal to people of all ages, especially those from the art world and the new generation. It’s one of the exhibitions that all Thais should come to see at least once.

“Firstly, this exhibition is something new for Thais. High school and university students should come to see it. Secondly, this exhibition is the first in Thailand that uses multimedia to create a digital museum that would be familiar to the new generation as they are used to playing digital games. But in this exhibition, they will find the familiar sights in their everyday life that are presented as art, and it’s about classic art and great masterpieces. So, I hope that the new generation will come to see this exhibition and get a better understanding of beauty that’s part of Chinese philosophy. They will be able to see Chinese art up close. Most importantly, the exhibition offers an interactive art experience that is fun and exciting. I would say that this exhibition is suitable to every age group, but youngsters rather than adults will have more fun viewing the exhibition. If you want to see the real paintings at the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong), you won’t be able see the paintings up close. At NPM, there are no captions in Thai aside from the Chinese and English captions. In this exhibition, it feels like the National Palace Museum has been moved to River City Bangkok. The exhibition is presented in a way that makes it easy to understand. If you miss this exhibition, you’ll have to fly to Taiwan. So, I would say if you don’t come to see, you’ll be sorry,” says Assoc Prof Piyasaeng.

The exhibition “Up the River During Qingming” is on view at River City Bangkok’s second-floor RCB Galleria. Tickets at Bt350 (for adults) are available from www.thaiticketmajors.com . Children, students and family groups are subject to special ticket prices. For more information, call (+66) 2 237 0077-8 or visit www.rivercitybangkok.com .

Beijing’s Forbidden City Illuminated for Lantern Festival

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Associated Press

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20 February 2019, 10:16

Visitors watch the Wumen Gate wall of the Forbidden City is illuminated during the Lantern Festival in Beijing, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Photo: Andy Wong / Associated Press

BEIJING — Beijing’s Forbidden City has been illuminated and opened to the public for night visits for the first time to celebrate China’s Lantern Festival.

As night fell, visitors were welcomed by a light show at the Meridian Gate exhibition hall. A dazzling array of lights also lit up the Supreme Harmony Hall. Chinese characters and traditional decorations were projected on the outer walls.

Along a corridor, the ancient Chinese painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” was projected on rooftops.

The Forbidden City, which was China’s political center for more than 500 years, is now known as the Palace Museum. China’s Lantern Festival marks the end of Lunar New Year festivities.

AP19050555175320 — Visitors tour the Forbidden City decorated with red lanterns and illuminated with lights during the Lantern Festival in Beijing, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. Photo: Andy Wong / Associated Press

Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s Iconic Couturier, Dies at 85

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Associated Press

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19 February 2019, 19:22

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 file photo, Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld poses during the Champs Elysee Avenue illumination ceremony for the Christmas season, in Paris. Photo: Christophe Ena / Associated Press

PARIS — Chanel’s iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, whose accomplished designs as well as trademark white ponytail, high starched collars and dark enigmatic glasses dominated high fashion for the last 50 years, has died. He was around 85 years old.

Such was the enigma surrounding the German-born designer that even his age was a point of mystery for decades, with reports he had two birth certificates, one dated 1933 and the other 1938.

Chanel said Lagerfeld died early Tuesday.

Lagerfeld was of the most hardworking figures in the fashion world holding down the top design jobs at LVMH-owned luxury label Fendi from 1977, and Paris’ family-owned power-house Chanel in 1983.

Lagerfeld’s designs quickly trickled down to low-end retailers, giving him an almost unprecedented impact on the entire fashion industry.

Honda to Shut Plant in Britain, Imperiling 3,500 Jobs

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Associated Press

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19 February 2019, 16:39

A Honda W-RV on display in 2017. Photo: Jengtingchen / Wikimedia Commons

TOKYO — Honda said Tuesday it plans to close its car factory in western England in 2021, imperiling 3,500 jobs in a fresh blow to the British economy as it faces its March 29 exit from the European Union.

The Japanese automaker announced the decision at a news conference in Tokyo, where Honda’s president and CEO, Takahiro Hachigo, told reporters the decision was based on what made most sense for its global competitiveness in light of the need to accelerate its production of electric vehicles.

Brexit was not the main factor behind the decision, he insisted.

“We still don’t know what sort of changes Brexit will bring at this point,” he said. “We have to wait until we have a better idea about the situation.”

Hachigo said the company immediately would begin discussions with affected workers at the factory in Swindon.

“I very much regret this,” he said, adding that “this was the best choice the circumstances.”

Honda makes its popular Civic model at the factory, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of London, with an output of 150,000 cars per year. Its restructuring is aimed at adjusting its operations to reflect stronger demand in Asia and North America, Hachigo said.

The next model of Civic to be sold in Britain will be exported from Japan, the company said.

The company said it will also adjust its operations in Turkey, where it makes 38,000 Civic sedans a year. It said it would continue operating there and hold a “constructive dialogue” with local stakeholders.

British businesses are issuing increasingly urgent warnings about the damage being done by the uncertainty around Brexit. The UK has yet to seal a deal laying out the divorce terms and establishing what trade rules will apply after Brexit.

In presenting the restructuring plan, Hachigo stressed that Honda was striving to adjust to a fast changing global industry.

“We have to move more quickly,” he said.

Story: Kaori Hitomi

Asian Shares Gain on Hopes for Progress on China-US Trade

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Associated Press

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19 February 2019, 16:23

The American flag flies in 2015 above the Wall Street entrance to the New York Stock Exchange. Photo: Richard Drew / Associated Press

BANGKOK — Share benchmarks were mostly higher in Asia on Tuesday as Chinese and U.S. negotiators geared up for trade talks in Washington this week.

U.S. markets were closed Monday for President’s Day.

Thailand’s SET dropped just slightly at 1,635.71 on Tuesday afternoon. Shares in Shanghai and Hong Kong fell back after early gains after an industry association reported that auto sales fell nearly 16 percent in China from a year earlier, the eighth straight month of declines.

Analysts said much is riding on the outcome of the trade talks after an inconclusive end to an earlier round in Beijing last week.

“Without sounding like a damp squib, there is now a vast amount of optimism baked into currency, stock and energy market prices globally and precisely zero concrete detail,” Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for OANDA, said in a commentary.

“The unwind, should no deal be struck, could be very ugly,” he said.

The Shanghai Composite index lost 0.3 percent to 2,747.77 in early trading, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged 0.1 percent higher to 21,302.65. Australia’s S&P ASX 200 climbed 0.3 percent to 6,106.90 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gave up 0.3 percent to 28,271.56. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.2 percent to 2,205.63. Shares were mostly higher in Southeast Asia.

A truce between the U.S. and China on increased American tariffs on Chinese good expires March 2, leaving the U.S. free to more than double its import taxes on USD$200 billion in Chinese goods.

Vice Premier Liu He, China’s economy czar, is due to arrive in Washington on Thursday, China’s state media reported, after two days of preliminary talks by lower-level officials.

President Donald Trump has said he may hold off on these if the country was close to a deal with China.

The U.S. is wrangling over trade with many nations. On Monday, the European Union warned that the bloc will hold back on a commitment to buy more American soybeans and liquefied gas if European cars are hit with punitive tariffs.

Energy

U.S. crude added 28 cents to $56.26 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained $1.19 on Monday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 14 cents to $66.36 per barrel.

Currencies

The dollar strengthened to 110.66 yen from 110.60 yen on Monday. The euro slipped to $1.1299 from $1.1309.

Story: Elaine Kurtenbach

Indonesia Makes 2032 Olympics Bid Official

By

Associated Press

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19 February 2019, 16:11

Pakistan's Muhammad Nooh Butt compete at the men's +105kg weightlifting at the 18th Asian Games in August in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Aaron Favila / Associated Press — Pakistan's Muhammad Nooh Butt compete at the men's +105kg weightlifting at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

JAKARTA — Indonesia has officially joined bidding to host the 2032 Olympics following its success staging the Asian Games last year, the deputy chairman of its national Olympic committee said Tuesday, highlighting the rising ambitions of the giant but perennially underperforming Southeast Asian nation.

Muddai Madang said letters from President Joko Widodo and the national Olympic committee were delivered to the International Olympic Committee’s president in Lausanne last week by Indonesia’s ambassador to Switzerland.

“Indonesia is ready to host the Olympics,” Madang told The Associated Press. “What we need now is support from all the Indonesian people and the international community.”

Widodo, who is campaigning for re-election, made a surprise announcement of plans to bid for the 2032 games after the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang co-hosted the 18th Asian Games in August, and the process has gathered momentum. The Olympics have never been held in Southeast Asia.

There were doubts Indonesia could successfully host the Asian Games, an event involving more than 10,000 athletes, but its reasonably smooth execution was praised by the IOC, paving the way for a tilt at even bigger sports events.

India is planning to bid for the 2032 games and North and South Korea have confirmed an intention to launch a joint bid. Australia and Russia have also expressed interest.

Problems with the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, a developing country that like Indonesia suffers endemic corruption, may count against the chances of the Indonesian bid.

By some estimates it cost Brazil about $20 billion to host the Olympics, the kind of bill that is likely to raise objections in Indonesia, despite projections it will be among the world’s 10 biggest economies by 2030 with a population nearing 300 million.

Tokyo is hosting the 2020 Olympics. Paris and Los Angeles have already been selected to host the following two games, in 2024 and 2028, respectively.

Story: Niniek Karmini

Makha Bucha Day Around Thailand: Campaign Edition

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Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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19 February 2019, 14:10

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha plants a sacred bodhi tree in Ayutthaya on Makha Bucha Day.

BANGKOK — Politicians aren’t taking Makha Bucha Day off. It’s election season, and that means continued campaigning – but with Buddhist traditions.

Tuesday is Makha Bucha, a national holiday that marks Buddha passing on his teachings to 1,250 of his followers. Here is how some of the parties nationwide are working through the holiday.

Pheu Thai Party

While campaigning in Ubol Ratchathani on Makha Bucha, Pheu Thai PM candidate Sudarat Keyuraphan said to market vendors that she wished their businesses well.

“Endure a little more with the suffering you experienced the past few years. If Pheu Thai Party gets elected, we can fix these problems,” Sudarat said.

Chadchart Sittipunt, another Pheu Thai prime minister candidate and Panthongtae Shinawatra, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s son, were also campaigning in Ubol Ratchathani. Chadchart, Panthongtae and Sudarat made merit to monks in the market to mark the special occasion.

Democrat Party

“Do good. Avoid evil. Make your heart pure, on this Makha Bucha Day,” Democrat Party candidate Abhisit “Mark” Vejjajiva posted on Facebook, along with a photo of him wai-ing at a monk Tuesday morning.

Along with other Democrat Party members Ong-Art Klampaiboon and Jermmas Junglertsiri, Abhisit made merit at about 7am at Wat Benchamabophit, or the Marble Temple, in Bangkok’s Dusit district.

Asked by reporters if he wished for anything, Abhisit said he didn’t “ask for anything in particular” but was just doing his duty as a Buddhist. Abhisit and his party members then went to campaign to early risers exercising in the Suan Romaneenaak park and Talad Trok Moh Market. The prime minister candidate even fried pork at a stall before making another round of merit at Wat Rakang Kositaram across the river in Bangkok Noi area.

Phalang Pracharat Party

While planting a sacred Bodhi tree Monday that arrived from Sri Lanka at Wat Wachira Thamma Ram in Ayutthaya province, junta leader and premier candidate Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha blessed Buddhist citizens.

“On this Makha Bucha Day, may everyone follow the virtues, mercy and purity of Lord Buddha in living out their lives, being good people in Thai society and the world,” Prayuth said.

He denied he was campaigning during his trip.

After planting the sacred bodhi tree, Gen. Prayuth takes a selfie with a fan.

“It’s Makha Bucha Day…I had to do the planting ritual here today, so I took the opportunity for an excursion too. I’m not doing it for anything else, understand? We all know it. We all love each other,” he said. “Since elections are coming, let’s campaign in a good way. Stop attacking each other. It damages the country. No one else does this, so stop pillorying ourselves.”

A sacred Bodhi tree sapling from Sri Lanka arrives Monday in Bangkok for the coronation of King Vajiralongkorn in three months.

Bangkok Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang makes merit on Makha Bucha Day at City Hall in Bangkok.

Future Forward Party

A call to spokeswoman Pannika Wanich revealed that Future Forward party does not have any activities specifically planned marking Makha Bucha Day, as she said party members had existing activities and interviews lined up.

Army Gets 100M Baht Fund for ‘Border Emergency’

By

Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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19 February 2019, 11:51

Two wounded soldiers are brought to a medevac Nov. 6, 2016, after a clash with unidentified gunmen along Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Mai province.

BANGKOK — The government on Monday approved a 100-million baht fund to be used by the army in case of unspecified “emergency” situations at Thailand’s border.

Under the regulations, army chief Apirat Kongsompong will have the sole authority to use the money for military operations if he believes border security is at risk. Government spokesman Atisit Chaiyanuwat said the fund would be necessary should unforeseen external threats arise.

The measure was passed by the cabinet which met on Monday instead of the usual Tuesday session because of a Buddhist holiday.

In the same meeting, the government also granted emergency funds of 10 million to 50 million baht to eight state agencies for expenses during national disasters or other crises. The agencies include the Public Health Ministry and provincial disaster relief commands.

Medical Weed Law Comes Into Effect

By

JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

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19 February 2019, 11:33

BANGKOK — The use of marijuana for medical purposes became officially legal late Monday through a royal decree.

The law was signed by His Majesty the King two months after it was unanimously approved by the parliament. It legalizes the medical use and research of not only cannabis but also kratom.

Those eligible for marijuana possession or cultivation are patients with prescriptions, drug or health related government agencies, certified medical professionals, educational institutions, agricultural community enterprises registered with the state and international transportation operators.

Cultivation, however, must be approved and operated under the direct supervision of the Narcotics Control Board.

As proposed by the Food and Drug Administration, individuals and organizations that already possess marijuana should notify regulators within 90 days to be legally pardoned.

Australia Police Say They Didn’t Know Bahraini Was a Refugee

By

Associated Press

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19 February 2019, 11:17

Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali AlAraibi, shackled at his feet, arrives at a court in Bangkok on Feb. 4, 2018.

CANBERRA, Australia — Australian Federal Police did not know a Bahraini soccer player was a refugee who feared persecution in his homeland when the agency alerted Bahrain and Thailand that he was on a flight bound for Bangkok, Australian officials said Monday.

Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram told a Senate committee he blamed human error within his own agency for a failure to email to police Hakeem al-Araibi’s refugee status in time. But Outram would not concede under questioning by senators that the 25-year-old former Bahrain national soccer team player would not have been arrested in Bangkok on Nov. 27 without the Australian tip-off.

“I apologize for the error that occurred within the ABF, but I can’t say, nor can I accept, that that error necessarily led to his detention in Thailand that would have occurred anyway,” Outram said.

Police Deputy Commissioner Ramzi Jabbour told the committee Bahrain and Thailand were alerted by police almost six hours before al-Araibi landed after a nine-hour flight from Melbourne on his honeymoon.

The bungle drew the Australian government, international soccer bodies and human rights advocates into a top-level dispute with the Thai and Bahrain governments to gain al-Araibi’s freedom. He was detained at the airport and was held 76 days under threat of extradition to Bahrain before he was released last week and returned to Melbourne.

The rules of international policing organization Interpol prevent a Red Notice from being issued for an acknowledged refugee to be sent back to the country from which he or she fled persecution.

Australian officials face days of questioning by a Senate committee this week to determine how the bungle arose.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin told the committee that police did not know that al-Araibi was a refugee and did not have access to his visa status when Bahrain applied for a Red Notice to Australia’s Interpol bureau on Nov. 9.

The Australian Border Force did not advise Australian police that al-Araibi was a refugee until a day after he was detained in Thailand, Colvin said.

Interpol subsequently withdrew the Red Notice, but Bahrain did not drop its bid to extradite al-Araibi until last week.

Jabbour said Bahrain issued the Red Notice on the same day Thailand issued al-Araibi a tourist visa.

“I cannot comment as to what was the trigger” of the Bahrain Red Notice, Jabbour said.

On whether Thailand knew before Australia’s notification that al-Araibi was coming, Jabbour said, “We didn’t get a response either way whether this came as news to them.”

Thailand said in a statement two weeks ago, “We would not have become involved in the issue had we not received the Red Notice alert from the Australian Interpol and the subsequent formal request by Bahrain for his arrest and extradition.”

Australian law does not allow for al-Araibi’s arrest in Australia under a Bahrain Red Notice and warrant.

Bahrain had wanted al-Araibi to serve a 10-year prison sentence for an arson attack that damaged a police station. The former Bahrain national soccer team player has denied those charges, which he was convicted of in absentia, and says the case is politically motivated.

He said he believed he was targeted for arrest because of his Shiite faith and because his brother was politically active in Bahrain. Bahrain has a Shiite majority but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy.

Al-Araibi says he fled Bahrain because of political repression and that he fears torture if he returns.

Story: Rod McGuirk

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