The Moral Painting in Viharn Lai Kham

This mural painting should have been painted at the same time as the restoration of the Viharn Lai Kham during the reign of King Kawirolot Suriyawong in 1863 with 2 important painters, namely “Chek Seng” painted the image of the Golden Conch and “Nanpotha” painted the image of the Suwan Hong.

Dust painting

The mural painting at the Viharn Lai Kham has many parts, on the wall at the end of the viharn is a line of Buddhas in the past, the north wall is a picture of Suwan Hong, the south wall is a picture of Golden Conch, above the picture of Suwan Hong and Golden Conch is a Thep Chumnum. The image appears to be 3D and more realistic which is influenced by Rattanakosin art that influenced by Western and Burmese art such as the Payathat architecture form or various royal dressing and “Kak” picture that depicting the life of the people in greater amounts than murals in the central region.

The only example of the mural painting in the Chiang Mai school of art in Lanna art.

1. Both mural paintings have very different painting styles. The Golden Conch picture is considered the only example of a mural painting in the Chiang Mai school of art while the Suwan Hong is the work of a native painter who paints in the Rattanakosin style.

2. Both Golden Conch and Suwan Hong are not literature in Lanna but it is a well-known literature in Bangkok which may be an idea adopted from Bangkok. Because King Kawirolot Suriyawong had previously been to Bangkok.

1. The mural painting of Wat Buak Krok Luang, Chiang Mai province is an example of a mural painting of Tai Yai school of art that has great influence from Burmese art, causing the characteristics of the architecture and the costumes of the people similar.

2. The mural painting of Wat Sao Hin, Chiang Mai province is the only example of the mural painting in perfect condition which is influenced by Rattanakosin art in Chiang Mai.

ภาณุพงษ์ เลาหสม. จิตรกรรมฝาผนังล้านนา. กรุงเทพฯ: เมืองโบราณ, 2541.

ศักดิ์สายสิงห์. ศิลปะล้านนา. กรุงเทพฯ: มติชน, 2556.

วิไลรัตน์ ยังรอต และ ธวัชชัย องค์วุฒิเวทย์, เรียบเรียง. จิตรกรรมเล่าเรื่องวรรณคดีอมตะ. กรุงเทพฯ: มิวเซียมเพรส, 2555.