A Visit to Lamphun

Lamphun is a small city and capital of its own province only 26 kilometres from Chiangmai. A very old city indeed, it was once called Haripanchai and its early art bears strong traits of the Khmer style. In 1281 it became part of the Lanna Kingdom and the change of administration brought a marked artistic licence that produced Buddhas with portrait like similarity to the faces of local shop assistants with Lanna ancestry. My friend Rosie and I went to visit with Arjan Lloyd's ever helpful taxi driver Sammy.

The beautiful main temple of Wat Phra That Haripanchai attracts

contemplative local people and a smattering of farang tourists.

The school study trip at Wat Phra That Haripunchai Lamphun.

Gold does grow on trees.

The Pacifying Buddha secondary image house Wat Phra That

Also in the grounds of the Wat, a magnificent Scripture Tower called Ho Tham

 In a far corner, the oldest evidence of the foundation of the Wat - the

 tiered Suwanna Chedi from 13th century was originally gold plated.

  Every sacred site marked by devotional flowers and burning incense.

Before leaving the Wat we view a ceremonial relic carriage, so

 reminiscent of another relic - the Coronation Coach in London

and near the exit a strange case of compatability, that puts one in mind of

  Rogers and Hammerstein's Oh the Farmer and the Cowboy can be Friends

Another older Lamphun monastery Wat Ku Kut

In the Wat Ku Kut Temple a copy of the Emerald Buddha

The interior of the Wat glitters with new mosaic pillars 

that, even in a monastery explains the lust in lustre.

Driving home was a delight driving along the great avenue of mature

 yang trees that line at least half of the 26 kilometre journey.

More Art in Chiangmai

Anapat Pakdee turns his installation into a performance.

Title unknown, I call his giant caged rose "La Vie en Rose"

Anapat proposes with roses to a fellow artist.

The artist - Bright - poses with her romp of a painting Sextourism.

 Paint deliciously applied by Bright who is artist by day chef by night.

Marilyn as a Beer Bottle looks like a work for my friend Isaiah

when he turns his bar Alchemy in Singapore into a gallery.

My friend Nok - Aries monkey like myself she exudes arts entrpeneur.

Here at the art exhibition opening she chats with an expat from Poland.

  

A traditional Lanna ( North Thai Culture) provided music at the opening.

Chiangmai artist and street perfromer Anapat Pakdee serenades

a recycled Royal personage on his almost tuned saxaphone, that 

he has created from drink bottles, can tops and paper cups.

Anapat and Nok - Jade's friend and Chiangmai cultural worker Nok

 A fanciful Lanna costume by dance lecturer Manop Manasam and

a traditional Lanna crafted religious banner in cloth and gold leaf.

A disturbing work by Tawatchai Puntusawasdi who has exhibited in both Venice and 

  and Sydney Biennales. Born in Bangkok, he  lives and works in his Chiangmai studio.

The Animal's World by Pongdej Chaiyakut 2012. Pongdej is Dean of the Fine Arts CMU

Wood sculpture by Peerapong Duankaew - who has exhibited ANU Australia and a detail of The Animal's World by Pongdej Chaiyakut  shows no reluctance to present human suffering

  Installation by Padungsak Kochsomrong. Political opponents make war in an unstable  house built on the the red white and blue colours of the national flag.

CMU sculpture insructor CMU Fine Arts Udom Chimukdee in front of his installation 

Word from the Intuition, which uses a traditional calligraphic Buddha form with mounds 

of ash and salt, to prick the consciences of gourmet Thais who enjoy a rare and expensive mushroom at the expense of the forests that are regularly burned to cultivate the plant.

The artist Arun with one of his huge burlap and palm leaf creatures that symbolize 

the inner evil of man as giant gluttonous animals that consume their own innards.

One of Arun's creatures in the act of consuming the evil contents of its own stomach.

CMU students developed a puppet troupe based on traditional Lanna puppets

A final tribute to Lanna culture in this glorious lantern crafted by a CMU graduate.

Chiangmai North Thailand

During my first few days in Chiangmai where I have come to house sit for my friend 

  Jade from Brisbane, we had a full moon -  auspicious event for Buddhists everywhere.

At nearby Wat Suan Dok the sunset was marked with special prayers and ceremonies.  

The forecourt of the Wat Suan Dok temple is filled with memorials mostly containing the ashes of royalty and great great monks. The Wat also hosts the Buddhist University of Northern Thailand attracting young studious  novices and monks from many SE Asian countries including Laos, Bangladesh and Burma. Farangs can attend monk chat weekly.

Perfect bouquets cluster everywhere for the ceremonies at the wat.

This leafy soi ( lane) leads to Jade's house where her plants, fishes, frogs and me live.   

Although close to busy Suthep Road and Chiangmai university its a quiet place.

 The spacious loungeroom with solid wooden chairs and the essential fan.

The roomy kitchen could delight a chef. I am able not capabale.

A beautiful water bloom in Jade's little fish pond. I provide them daily breakfast.

The Shade of Doctor Who haunts the garden. It's as mysterious as a Dalek.