Thawan Duchanee

Thai national artist Thawan Duchanee has spent his life creating art that deeply reflects Buddhist philosophy. He is internationally renowned, and his art is masterful both for its intricacy and for its subtle portrayal of Buddhism.

Thawan expresses Buddhist wisdom with incredible versatility. His artworks depict the dangers of doubt, lust, fear, and lack of concentration, expose humankind’s pursuit of pleasure and escape from pain, and illustrate virtues exemplified in the previous lives of the Buddha. Using over one hundred images, the book succinctly examines these themes, often hidden deep within the art itself, and guides the reader through some of Thawan’s most interesting works.

This is the first book to combine a focus on these works with an exploration of Thawan’s outstanding architectural and decorative achievements in Chiang Rai and Germany.

Often told in his own words, this book offers insights into Thawan’s creative genius, explores his philosophy on the arts, examines his famous signature, and recounts his life story. It is fascinating reading for all those interested in Thai art and Buddhism.

What others are saying

“Larger-than-life Thai artist Thawan Duchanee is one of the foremost representatives of Thai and Asian art. His penchant for traditional Asian motifs and styles and his flamboyant personality have earned him popularity and renown as one of the leading lights of the international art scene.”—The Nation

Highlights

- The first book to examine Buddhist content in Thawan’s artworks
- Features over one hundred illustrations
- Explores Buddhist philosophy in relation to Thai modern art
- Includes a biography of Thawan’s life
- Compact overview of Thawan’s most well-loved and interesting work

About the Author

Russell Marcus is an American businessman and writer who originally met Thawan in 1970 and was impressed by his artistry. At that time, Thawan was just beginning his career as an artist, but his works were already powerful and steeped in Buddhist philosophy. In 1974, Russell Marcus wrote Forms of Man to focus on the synchronicity of Buddhist quotations with Thawan’s works. Over the years he visited Thawan at his homes in Bangkok and Chiang Rai and has spent years admiring the skill of the artist and absorbing the depth of Buddhist content in his artworks. This book presents his observations as well as many details related to the artist.

Other works Russell Marcus has written include: English-Lao: Lao-English Dictionary (as chief editor, Tuttle, 1970), Lao Proverbs : The intuitive wisdom of the Lao culture (1974), and The Guide to Japanese Food and Restaurants (co-authored with Jack Plimpton, Shufunotomo, 1985) which the New York Times food critic Craig Claiborne complimented as being “one of the finest and most comprehensive guides to dining I have ever encountered.” 

Russell Marcus lives with his wife in Japan.