May 24, 2009
Mai Khao Beach, Phuket
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Every Sunday 14.00-19.00 hrs.
On Si Takuapa Road at Talad Yai Market, Phang Nga Province
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Date : 3 May 2009
Venue : Ao Ko Ngam, Tambon Lamsak, Ampur Aoluk, Krabi
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Students at Baan Paklong-cheep Anusorn School are very happy with the U.S navy sailors volunteering to help paint their school. Lets go check out their art work!
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The Phuket Commercial Affairs office arranged a seminar to promote spa and traditional Thai massages operators to enter the franchise business to enhance their business opportunities. The chief of Phuket Commercial Affairs Office Sompong Onprasert revealed that in the past 5-6 years, spa businesses in Phuket have continued to grow. Customers are varied from Asia such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean followed by Russian, Middle Eastern, Indian and European tourists. He points out that the business earns the province around 1,000 million baht per year. The office has introduced and educated the operators about the franchise set ups, where customers are assured to receive the same standard and quality of services. He stresses that if business operators learn about the franchises, they can make use of it, maybe by offering Phuket Spa packages into overseas markets.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand

This is the opening of a street art exhibition performed by two Thai ‘Street’ artists D.E.A and T.G., at the ‘Galeria346’ café in Phuket town.

Inside this gallery, which is situated in an old Sino Portuguese building, there are works of two modern street artists put up on display, creating a very hip and relaxing atmosphere for teenagers, young adults or visitors to stop by and look at unique, vibrant, abstract and undeniably cool street art work. The two Thai street artists are ‘D.E.A’ or Kitja Yamunsabedin and ‘T.G.’ or Torlab Intararuensorn’; both came from the same graffiti crew which goes by the name of ‘DB-K’ which come from ‘Down-‘Bout-Krew’. ‘D.E.A’ drew his first graffiti in 1994, and he will mostly draw his graffiti by using characters and a touch of realism in his work. He also participated in many graffiti competitions such as Eminem T-Shirt Contest 2001 and Silom Skate-Park Graffiti Contest 2004 in which, he won the 1st place awards in both contests.

‘TG’, the other street artist, also started drawing graffiti in 1994 and claimed that his style is wildly futuristic and 3D. He performed and proved his talent by successfully receiving 1st and 2nd place awards in many contests such as ‘The Image of Graffiti’ competitions at MBK hall in Bangkok in 2002 and ‘Silom Skate Park Graffiti’ contest in 2004. D.E.A and T.G. both talked to Andaman News about their experiments on graffiti and the fun they have: “My name is ‘dea’ and my nickname for my art work is ‘D.E.A’. This gallery is interested in graffiti art and it is now the one only gallery in Phuket that displays this kind of street art work. Most of my work is in abstract style. For example, I use Arabic fonts in my graffiti and draw and mix fonts to make stories and graffiti out of it” TG also had a few things to say about his drawing style: “My concept of the graffiti work mainly comes from the origin of the graffiti and how it started. I pay extra attention when drawing and I will always produce work in 3 sets comprising Paint work, Spray work and Stencil work.” The two artists worked together collaboratively in many projects such as in ‘Graffiti Exhibition at Asian Hip-Hop Festival’ in 2006 or ‘Live Graffiti at Art Center’ in 2008 plus many more events. However, the two artists have their own preference in details, drawing, spraying and painting style within street art. Yet they can still produce such remarkable works uniquely enough, to make the gallery exhibition really stand out. The street art show at ‘Galeria346’ will be showing through April, May and until the 8th of June. You can stop by at the gallery at 346 Phuket Rd. to check out the cool graffiti work which the two artists put their heart and talent into. This is Zenniesha, reporting for Andaman News.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand

A Flower laying ceremony, in honor of the former Governor of Phuket in the old days during King Rama 6’s reign, is now taking pace at Phraya Rasada Nupradit statue at a public park on Rang Hill near NBT Phuket studio here in Phuket city. This is an annual event to commemorate the good deeds of Phraya Rasada Nupradit or Kor Sim Be Na Ranong who was instrumental in bringing about the civilization of Phuket in many ways during his government service in Phuket as governor. Some people said civil servants liked him as a scholar whose brightness was beyond any governor in his era. The Phuket authority, and this year the Office of Phuket City in particular, arranges a bigger event in honor of the man on this Thai national Civil Servant’s Day April 1st, as he was an excellent role model for civil servants. This evening the Office of Phuket city is organizing a musical event in the garden where his statute is situated and invites residents and visitors to participate. The relaxed event will start with old musical local band, who will play instruments and tell stories of the old town and its development by Phraya Rasada Nupradit, followed by the Sundaraporn Band from Bangkok and renowned national artist Suthep Wongkamhaeng. The evening event will start at 6 pm when participants can enjoy sunset views over the town from Rang Hill. Local snacks and refreshments will be made available. The Phuket City Mayor Somjai urges residents to wear local outfits to promote their identity and raise awareness among young people. The event will end at around 11 pm with a spectacular fireworks display. The office also arranges car parks nearby including at NBT studio and provides shuttle bus services.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand

“Welcome to the IB art exhibition 2009 called “Three Style”, where three artists have displayed their pieces throughout a journey of two years in different themes..” The international baccalaureate or IB Visual Arts exhibition called ‘three style’ at British International School was opened on Friday 27 March with the Deputy Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Culture, Srivikar Mekthawattchaikul and Advisor to Ministry of Culture, Savitree Suvansathit & BIS Headmaster George Hickman, & teacher Janet Williams who made some short speeches. The different themes for this IB art exhibition are ‘Self-cautiousness, Identity and Social Beliefs’ which have been portrayed using different mediums and inspired by artists from English artist, Jenny Saville, German-born British Painter, Lucian Freud to a local Thai artist in Phuket, Jay-da Rodnit.

The international baccalaureate is a demanding programme especially in the art course. Each student has to produce a range of 12-18 pieces which will then be moderated by an internal and external examiner. Followed by a 45 minute oral exam with an external moderator to examine how well each student can express what they are trying to portray through their pieces. After this two year course, the three artists, Num, me Mathilde and Zac have finally reached their grand opening for the presentation of their pieces to the school and the community. Each of them have their own distinct style. Num’s creations are about Identity and social and cultural beliefs. Her main media used in each piece is acrylic. My pieces are about Self-cautiousness and social beliefs with photography as my main media. Lastly, Zac’s pieces are a portrayal of relationships with oil paints as his main media. (The exhibition is on view until 24th April 2009 at BIS). This is Mathilde, at British International School reporting for Andaman News. Back to the studio.

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Minister of Culture Mr. Teera Salakpetch on Friday made a visit to three communities of sea gypsies in Phuket. The first site was at a what they called themselves a ‘Morkren’ tribe at Tha Chartchai and then the nearby Hin Look Diew community, both in Thalang district, before ending up at Laem Tukkae community in Rasada area near Phuket city before having a meeting to conclude the trip at the Rawai Municipality office. The minister’s visit aimed to follow up the work to resolve and support the ethnic issues and learn about the sea gypsy livelihood. The minister told Andaman News that a national level committee has been set up to tackle the land issue, housing, careers and public utilities. He also stated that governors in 4 provinces, in which sea gypsy communities reside in, are authorized to appoint provincial level committees to carry out the work on this issue. They are Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi and Ranong in the Andaman region. The minister however stressed that land issues need time to prove the ownership. He urged each community to be proud of their own identity and boost such outstanding culture to benefit their own community.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand

Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit was confident that Thailand would be ready to host the 4th ASEAN Education Ministers Conference in Phuket.

Mr. Jurin said after chairing a meeting of ASEAN Education Ministers Conference organizing committees that Phuket would be ready to host the 44th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council Conference (SEAMEC) and the 4th ASEAN Education Ministers Conference from April 6-8. The Minister believed Phuket was ready to host the international conferences which would help boost tourism in Andaman provinces.

The theme for the conferences are education for all goal, the solving of school dropouts, education for the underprivileged, the disabled, homeless children, children at the border and stateless children.

Mr. Jurin added that during the conferences, Thailand would hold bilateral meetings with Bruneian and Indonesian Education Ministers which might lead to MOUs on Education, to be concluded under the framework of ASEAN cooperation.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand