When he got his start in the 1990s, the Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat was known to captivate and anger audiences in equal measure. His style was distinct to Thailand, focusing on murals that crossed traditional art of Buddhist temples with more contemporary images. But if his early works were controversial, he’s gone on to become a successful painter financially, selling his pieces for as much as $17,500. And perhaps it’s those resources that have given him the ability to take on his most ambitious project, Wat Rong Khun (or the White Temple). A space-age Buddhist temple in northern Thailand, it boasts elaborate spires, stunning statues and an all-white paint scheme that makes it look like it could’ve come from another galaxy. He began building in 1998 and is still working on it to this day.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:26:40 +0000