Every line that draws beautiful patterns on canvases or pieces of paper to create artworks carries profound meanings, delicately conveyed through portraits by artists. The three outstanding works are recognized by the jury of opinion leaders in “Italthai Portrait Prize 2023”, the national portraiture competition. This competition, now in its third year, is the first of its kind in Thailand, offering opportunities for professional, amateur and student artists to showcase their talents, thanks to the sponsorship of Italthai Group and the host venue, River City Bangkok. This platform presents artistic creativity in portraying living subjects using a variety of styles and techniques. The portraiture competition serves as a link that connects people together and fosters stronger bonds between the artists and their sitters. So, the artists can deeply express stories of their sitters from every perspective.
The winners of the three awards which are the Portrait Prize, the Packing Room Prize, and the Youth Prize for artists aged 16 and under were announced at the end of September. This year marks the first inclusion of the Youth Prize, providing young artists with an opportunity to express their feelings and imagination through their artworks. The three winning works depict portraits brimming with beauty and compelling stories.
The Portrait Prize was awarded to Mr.Thepporn Prikphet for his work, titled "Bliss," depicting his mother holding her favorite cat. The artist explained, “I intended to submit a portrait of my mother who is my bliss and her favorite cat, which always stays close to her. This is the origin of the title,
The winners of the three awards which are the Portrait Prize, the Packing Room Prize, and the Youth Prize for artists aged 16 and under were announced at the end of September. This year marks the first inclusion of the Youth Prize, providing young artists with an opportunity to express their feelings and imagination through their artworks. The three winning works depict portraits brimming with beauty and compelling stories.
The Portrait Prize was awarded to Mr.Thepporn Prikphet for his work, titled "Bliss," depicting his mother holding her favorite cat. The artist explained, “I intended to submit a portrait of my mother who is my bliss and her favorite cat, which always stays close to her. This is the origin of the title,
“Bliss”. Every detail in the portrait represents bliss. The artist and the sitters, his mother and the cat, were blissful. It took four months to complete the portrait, during which I meticulously focused on every single detail, including the leaves, to ensure the excellence of every part in the portrait. After 36 years of drawing and coloring; today, I have the honor of receiving the Portrait Prize for my second submission to this competition.”
Mr.Jakkrit Srisongkram was awarded the Packing Room Prize for the work “A Beloved Aunt with a Frail Body”. The portrait depicts his aunt who has been raising him since he was a child. The focal point of the portrait is her meaningful eyes. The artist said that “In this portrait, I aimed to emphasize a larger head to highlight her face, with her meaningful eyes filled with loneliness, yearning, and the bond for lost siblings, as well as the wrinkles which have developed due to aging. I painted the portrait by using acrylic pouring technique and layered the work with oil paints. This platform is my first competition and my first time winning a big prize.”
The platform also offers opportunities for young artist. The work “Childhood Memory” by Mr.Supakorn Punyasong was awarded the Youth Prize which is for the artists aged 16 and younger. He expressed his gratitude saying that “I am thankful that this event provides a platform to showcase skills and potential. The jury, composed of opinion leaders, selected winners in this competition. I believe it's crucial for Thai youth to engage in competitive events, undertake regular training and find motivation to participate in various competitions for new opportunities. Through this painting, I aim to convey the happiness in the smiles of my sibling, the subject, and the dog, radiating their positive energy to everyone who views it.”
The three works are currently on exhibit at RCB Photographers’ Gallery and RCB Galleria 4 in River City Bangkok. In addition, for the People’s Choice Prize, visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to vote for their favorite portrait. The portrait that receives the most votes will be awarded 100,000 baht. The prize will be announced on the final day of the exhibition, 12th November 2023. You can experience portraits filled with meanings, beauty, exquisite line art and coloring; along with casting a vote for your favorite portrait at River City Bangkok.
Mr.Jakkrit Srisongkram was awarded the Packing Room Prize for the work “A Beloved Aunt with a Frail Body”. The portrait depicts his aunt who has been raising him since he was a child. The focal point of the portrait is her meaningful eyes. The artist said that “In this portrait, I aimed to emphasize a larger head to highlight her face, with her meaningful eyes filled with loneliness, yearning, and the bond for lost siblings, as well as the wrinkles which have developed due to aging. I painted the portrait by using acrylic pouring technique and layered the work with oil paints. This platform is my first competition and my first time winning a big prize.”
The platform also offers opportunities for young artist. The work “Childhood Memory” by Mr.Supakorn Punyasong was awarded the Youth Prize which is for the artists aged 16 and younger. He expressed his gratitude saying that “I am thankful that this event provides a platform to showcase skills and potential. The jury, composed of opinion leaders, selected winners in this competition. I believe it's crucial for Thai youth to engage in competitive events, undertake regular training and find motivation to participate in various competitions for new opportunities. Through this painting, I aim to convey the happiness in the smiles of my sibling, the subject, and the dog, radiating their positive energy to everyone who views it.”
The three works are currently on exhibit at RCB Photographers’ Gallery and RCB Galleria 4 in River City Bangkok. In addition, for the People’s Choice Prize, visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to vote for their favorite portrait. The portrait that receives the most votes will be awarded 100,000 baht. The prize will be announced on the final day of the exhibition, 12th November 2023. You can experience portraits filled with meanings, beauty, exquisite line art and coloring; along with casting a vote for your favorite portrait at River City Bangkok.
