Artist : Chalood Nimsamer
Technique : Carborundum Powder And Glue, Acrylic On Wood
Year : Unknown
Size : 115x115cm
It was about 10 years ago when a little adventure brought Khun Narong, our founder, to go visit a derelict theatre for a possible treasure that has been lost with the past of its building. Upon confirmation with the identity of the artist, Khun Narong quickly took the 3 art works for restoration. The 3 circular murals were later identified as the works of the legendary Chalood Nimsamer.
Chalood Nimsamer was born in 1929 in Thonburi, he graduated from both Pohchang Academy of Arts and Silpakorn University. He also received a diploma of Fine Arts from Rome’s Accademia di Belle Arti.
Chalood was one of the first cohorts to have graduated under the teachings of Silpakorn’s University’s founder, Silpa Bhirasri and in 1975, he became the Dean of Silpakorn’s Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Print Making after establishing the Department of Graphic Arts in 1965 and the Department of Thai Arts in 1976. He also won top art prizes and been featured in multiple solo and group exhibitions.
Acrylic On Wood, 110x110cm. N.d.
His works have seen 6 periods of styles and concentrations, with the latest set of works before his passing in 2015, being ink drawings and acrylic paintings made on mulberry paper. After 60 years creating art, Chalood was still very true to his “Rural Artist” identity from his choice of canvas.
He authored “Composition of Art”, a guide book for visual art students and teachers alike, that has been considered to be a bible for understanding composition. Chalood Nimsamer was awarded the honourable title of National Artist in 1998.
These 3 circular mural pieces truly embodies the characteristics of the artist from the choice of a material like carborundum powder, which is used in printmaking for a technique known as collagraph. A technique only Chalood was using at the time, not to mention similar abstract works, of which he also popularised, have appeared with the same technique and material around 1967. His collagraph collection consists of the sun and the moon, where both can be found in the red background and blue background murals.
Acrylic On Wood, 110x110cm. N.d.
It is moments like these for collectors where their passion gets reaffirmed, with opportunities of being a keeper of cultural heritage and honouring the memory of important artists to Thailand like Chalood Nimsamer.