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Grade 8 ARTS 1ST QUARTER

Module 1:THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART

Third Week: The Art of Thailand and Cambodia

The Art of Thailand

Thai visual arts were traditionally Buddhist only. Thai Buddha images from different periods
have a number of distinctive styles. Thai temple art and architecture form a unique combination of
elements derived from ancient Siamese architectures. Thai contemporary art often combines
traditional Thai elements with modern techniques.

The famous sculpture of Garudas in Wat Phra Kaew The biggest Buddha in Thailand

Elegance is the main impression that comes to mind when Buddha images of the Sukhothai
period are viewed. These images are identified for their graceful bodies, and oval, slender faces. The
style of doing away with small anatomical details gives emphasis to the spiritual aspect of the
Buddha. Artists usually used metal casting of images instead of carving.
Sukhothai artists observe the marks of a Buddha such as lotus hands, round fingertips, smooth
skin, round arms, scorpion stinger-like hair, deer legs, massive shoulders, eyelashes like a cow’s,
long earlobes caused by royalty earrings and egg like head.
They also produced glazed ceramics in Sawankhalok style.

Paintings
Thai paintings express two- dimensional subjects but do not have perspective. Each elements
degree of importance is reflected by its size. Sukhothai artist isolate main elements from each other
by space. This technique of composition eliminates intermediate ground which will imply perspective.
 The usual subjects for paintings are Buddhist heavens and hells, episodes from the life of
Buddha, Jataka stories, themes from Thai versions of Ramayana and Mahabharata. They depict
scenes of daily life and those with Thai folklore influence

Thai style painting art old (1931) of Ramayana story on the temple wall of famous Wat Phra Kaew

Architecture
The Major part of the country's cultural legacy and reflects both the challenges of living in
Thailand's sometimes extreme climate as well as, historically, the importance of architecture to the
Thai people's sense of community and religious beliefs. Influenced by the architectural traditions of
many of Thailand's neighbors, it has also developed significant regional variation within its vernacular
and religious buildings.
Buddhist temples in Thailand are known as "wats", from the Pāḷi vāṭa, meaning an enclosure. A
temple has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world. Wat architecture has seen many
changes in Thailand in the course of history. Although there are many differences in layout and style,
they all adhere to the same principles.

Phra Maha Chedi Si Ratchakan at Wat Pho, Bangkok. Wat Chaiwatthanaram ,a temple complex in Ayutthaya

The Art of Cambodia

The traditional arts and crafts of Cambodia include ceramics, kitemaking,lacquerware,

nontextile weaving, pottery silversmithing, stone carving, textiles and wat murals

Textile Weaving
Cambodia was into silk weaving and textiles were used for trading in the Angkorisn times. The
two main types of weaving are the ikat technique and the uneven twill. Lattice, apots, and stars are
their common motifs.
Ikat or chong kiet techniques deals with production of patterned fabric. Weavers create patterns by
tie-dying parts of weft yarn before starting to weave .And the uneven twill technique is done by
yielding one or two color fabrics.
 Cambodian textiles utilize natural dyes. Blak dye is extracted from ebony,bark, blue dye is
taken from indigo, green and yellow dye is from phohut bark, and red is produced from lac insects
nest.
Cambodian silk is used in furnishings, pictorial tapestries or pidan, and in wrap skirt called
sampot.

Sampot, the tradional Cambodia Dress

Nontextile Weaving
1. Tbanh Kantrak means basket weaving which is done by the Cambodian farmers for household
use and as a source of additional income. Baskets are usually made of thinly cut bamboo.

2.Tbanh Kantuel or Mat weaving is a seasonal occupation of the Cambodians.These mats are
usually laid out for guests and important building and home materials.
3.Tbanh Kanchoeu or Rattan crafts and wicker are made from dryandra trees.

Carving and Sculpture

The best stone carving in Cambodia can be found adorning the temples of Angkor.These are
renowned for the details, richness and scale of the sculptures.

Stone carving has been both a passion and a livelihood for many Cambodian sculptors. The
art of stone carving in Cambodia has a very long, fascinating history which goes back to the
foundation of the Khmer nation.

Ceramics/Pottery
Cambodiam ceramics were commonly used for domestic purposes such as container for food
and water. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, ceramics in the shape of birds, elephants, rabbits and
others animals are popular.

Traditionally, potting was done on a pottery wheel or with use of shaping tools such as anvils
and paddles. Clay kilns were used for firing.
The major center for pottery is Kampong Chhnang Province.
Wat Murals
The best known existing wat murals are the Silver ZPagoda in Phnom Penh, Wat RAjabo in
Siem Reap province and Wat Kompong Tralach Leu in Kompong Chhnang province.

Painting
Artists earn their income from art inspired by Angkor for tourist. They also earn from painting
commercial signs and reproductions in bulk which are mechanically produced in Western countries.
The art of tattooing is also practiced inCambodia. This serves as a body ornamentation and a
way of clothes replacement..
Architecture
Angkoria architecture focuses mainly on religion. Religious temples and buildings were the only
ones constructed of stone. Nonreligious structures, such as houses, were constructed with wood
which does not last or stand permanently.

Elements and motifs are structural characteristics of religious architechture of Angkor.

Activity 1: Answer the following questions.

1. What is the traditional visual arts in Thailand?
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2. What is the usual subject of paintings in Thailand?
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3.What is the meaning of “wats”?
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4. What are the traditional arts and crafts of Cambodia?
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5.What are the two types of textile weaving in Cambodia?
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6.What are the three non textile weaving in Cambodia?
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7. What is Cambodian ceramics were commonly used?
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8. Where does Angkoria architecture focuses?
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Activity 2
Write a paragraph convincing people to come and have a vacation in in Thailand or in
Cambodia.
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