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THE PHUKET NEWS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2011
CULTURE
The spice is right The fragrant flavour of pak chee > 18
A matter of perspective Random View’s photographers’ fascination with the perspective of piers continues this week. For islander Wang Meiyun, who dabbles in photography, evening is a good time to take a slow-shutter-speed shot of the pier at Chalong Bay. The reflected purple light, adds a different dimension to the iron railings, lending them a strong sculptural quality
RANDOM view
and standing them out from the green sea. “Some people photograph nostalgic scenes of times past, but I am more interested in seeing Phuket as it is with its present buildings and structures, to help accept the fact that they are here,” says Wang.
Each month the best image wins a B500 gift voucher courtesy of Photo Hut (see www.photohutgroup.com). At the end of 2011, The Phuket News and Photo Hut’s ‘Photo of the Year’, chosen from all the entrants, receives a grand voucher for B5,000. os must have a Phuket theme, and be at least 1MB and 300dpi in size. Email to: editor@thephuketnews.com
Rural splendour GALLERY
Ceramics of Phuket:
71/3 Vichitsongkram Rd, Kathu; 185/6-7 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 076 326 870, info@ceramicsofphuket.com; ceramicsofphuket.com.
Chatriya Gallery:
2/18 Limelight Ave, Dibuk Rd, Phuket Town, 076 225 284, chatriyagallery@gmail.com.
focus
Montien Yangthong of the I-Mon Gallery and studio, in Phang Nga Rd in old Phuket Town, is absorbed in painting a tall blue canvas with an elaborate golden tree in the middle of it. A couple of Russianspeaking women tourists call in to browse the many elaborate paintings on show in the spacious and cool shophouse, drifting back out into the hot afternoon after a while. One of his young children cries out back as she wakes from her siesta – her mother is soon with her. Montien graduated in fine art from Pattani University, although he was bor n in nearby Songkla Province. He has been painting in Phuket for six years now. He ha s be e n able t o make a living from his art, selling his distinctive and thoughtful paintings for about B10,000 for a larger one. As the demand for his work is up and down, he welcomes the job to paint a decorative mural or two in resorts, to help make ends meet. He showed me catalogues of recent group exhibitions in Haad Yai and at the National Art Gallery in Bangkok, where his art blends well into the mainstream Thai scene. “Artists are entirely on their own here with no as-
Phuket galleries
Designed by Woulfe Studio
Baan Wana Park, 177/22 Moo.4, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang, 076 620 071, designedbywoulfe.com.
I Mon Art Gallery:
29/2 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, montien_29@live.com. Open daily 8am-7.30pm.
King Art Studio:
21 & 50 Soi Bangla, Patong, 086 682 9130, info@kingartstudio.com; kingartstudio.com. Open daily 10am-midnight.
Lat Design and Art Garden:
95/33 Sai Yuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971, ja_rassri@hotmail.com.
Little Monk Gallery:
95/33 Saiyuan Rd, Naiharn, 086 294 3971.
99 Art Studio:
23 Lagoon Rd, 076 270 845, s.niamkhuntod99@gmail.com.
Phuket Modern Art:
5/28 Haad Patong Rd, Patong, 089 646 8838, phuketmodernart.com.
Above: Montien Yangthong of the I-Mon Gallery. Below: His carefully crafted artwork.
Red Gallery:
Phuket Art Village, Soi Naya 2, Rawai, 087 323 321, redgallerythai@yahoo.com; phuketredgallery.com.
Sarasil Art Galllery:
121 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 224 532, somkiatkaewnok@yahoo.com; oilpaintingsphuket.com. Open daily 8pm-9pm.
Soul of Asia:
5/50, 2/F, The Plaza Surin, Surin, info@soulofasia.com; soulofasia.com.
The Love Art Studio:
28/13 Soi Naya 2, Naiharn, 089 471 5653, pui.t.l.a.s.@hotmail.com; theloveartstudio.com.
The One Gallery:
53 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherng Talay, 083 634 6840, inone_111@yahoo.com. Open daily 11am-9pm.
Veerachan Usahanun: sistance whatever from the provincial government. There is not even a suitable large public place to hold an art exhibition,” he says. Montien talks, fondly and respectfully, about his father Somsak who, on his
retirement, turned from a builder into a travelling poet who now also carves wood and organises funeral arrangements. “My father taught me that to have something done successfully, there is no other
way than to do it yourself,” Montien says. “And that has always stuck with me.” The artist’s own wonderful vision that celebrates Thailand’s rural ways and virtues, permeates all his work. –Norachai Thavisin
110/34 Cherng Talay, Bang Tao Beach Rd, 081 490 4359, usahanun@live.com; veerachanusahanun.com.
Watcharin Art Studio:
27 Yaowaraj Rd, Phuket Town, 088 386 1449, watcharintinorodnit@hotmail.com, rindamagicalart.com.
Wua Gallery and Studio:
1 Phang Nga Rd, Phuket Town, 076 258 208, wua.artgallery@gmail.com; wua-artgallery.blogspot.com.
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