Support the Restoration of Mural Paintings inside the Chapel at Wat Phleng (Klang Suan)

Wat Phleng (Klang Suan), Bang Phrom Subdistrict, Taling Chan District, Bangkok

 Thai painting refers to paintings that have distinct Thai characteristics that set them apart from other cultures’ art. Even though it has some influences from other countries’ art, it can be modified, unraveled, shortened, or added until it is uniquely its own, beautifully, perfectly, and proudly, and there has been an evolution in style and methods throughout the present that can be developed further in the future. Thai painting works best in a two-dimensional picture, with near objects at the bottom and far objects at the top. Monochromatic colors are used, which means that multiple colors are used but only one is dominant.

“Wat Pleng” is a royal temple run by the Maha Nikaya Sangha. According to the Department of Religious Affairs, the temple was built and received the Royal Wisungkhamsima in 1827, or during the reign of King Rama III, based on the original chapel, which resembled a Chinese sedan and was popular at the time. The temple thrived until around 1917, when a lack of maintenance workers caused the various buildings to deteriorate and no monks stayed during the rainy season, leaving the temple completely deserted.

Previously, it was stated that “In the middle of the garden between Khlong Bang Noi and Khlong Bang Phrom. It is the next abandoned temple north of Wat Krachom Thong. The temple hall is still intact, but the roof is completely perforated. The Buddha image inside dates from the Ayutthaya period, but the temple pillars are stuccoed and belong to King Rama III. It demonstrates that King Rama III came to do renovations but was unable to bear it and became deserted... Phra Archan Bunma, the abbot of Wat Mai Thep Phon, kindly informed me that this temple had recently been abandoned more than 40 years ago.”

The Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation went to support the restoration of mural paintings inside Wat Phleng’s (Klang Suan) Ubosot. The operation is currently scheduled to be completed in 2022 with the following works:

1) The Noble Eightfold Path, the path to ending suffering, is depicted on the wall behind the main Buddha image.
2) Painting a portrait of King Taksin the Great and the soldiers who used to stay at this temple in front of the main Buddha image, left and right, between the doors.
3) On the second neck wall, painted Thep Chumnum coming to worship the Buddha on the left and right.
4) Write about Phra Malai, a story that influences Thai Buddhists’ thoughts and beliefs, on the left and right window walls.
5) Draw a vine and lotus pattern on the inside of 6 pairs of 16 window panes.