The exhibition was officially launched at the Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday (Oct 2). Anchalee Vanich Thepbutr, President of the Phuket Art Association, presided over the ceremony, joined by representatives from the public and private sectors including Sitt Phoncharoen, Managing Director of the Royal Phuket City Hotel, and Chalam Attham, Vice President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO).
The show brings together the works of two veteran artists from Trang, Ajarn Aree Kongpol and Ajarn Samrit Phetkong, both of whom studied in Phuket before pursuing their careers in the South. Together, they have spent more than three decades contributing to the island’s artistic landscape.
Ajarn Aree’s ‘Imagination of Creation’ series explores the power of creativity through sculpture and mixed media, with ‘Dheveena’ ‒ a piece set to appear in the Thailand Biennale ‒ standing out as a centrepiece. In contrast, Ajarn Samrit’s ‘Way of Life’ series captures the simplicity and resilience of Southern communities through warm, understated paintings.
Adding depth to the exhibition are works by members of the Kalyanamitra Network, including Suwit Jaipom, Sakchai Utthito, Subin Muangchan, Somjai Patisiri, Maneerat Srikampa and Supachai Sittichai, who contribute additional layers of style and interpretation.
Described by organisers as a “parallel journey” of imagination and lived experience, the exhibition aims to inspire faith in art while reflecting Phuket’s growing role in the international creative scene, said an official report of the opening.
‘Two Experiences’, on display on the first floor of the Royal Phuket City Hotel, will run until Oct 30.