Jury & Team
Who We Are
Each year, a panel of opinion leaders from across Thai society: business, collectors, entrepreneurs, entertainers and civil society, are invited to judge this open competition. Artist details are not shared with the jury, they select the finalists and winner from the painting and story alone.
Yuthachai Charanachitta
Group CEO, Italthai
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul
Chairperson, BACC Foundation
Pranapda Chirathivat
Founder, Dragonfly360
Tom Van Blarcom
Managing Director, TQPR
ML Kathathong Thongyai
Assistant Director General, DITP
Naphalai Areesorn
Journalist & Editor
Anthony Tyler
General Manager, Mandarin Oriental
RCB exhibitions team
River City Bangkok
LINDA CHENG
Managing Director, River City Bangkok
David Robinson
Managing Director, OtiumOne
Past Winners
2021&2022 Prize Winners
Here are the winners of the Portrait Prize, Packing Room Prize and People’s Choice Prize 2021 and 2022
Portrait Prize 2021
I was strolling along Rattanakosin Island and Ratchadamnoen Road and stopped by the Sake alley and Ratchanadda canal. I saw many local and homeless people. Some are beggars, some prostitutes. I met an old woman sitting there and was interested to talk to her; a 74-year-old woman who has become a sex worker because of financial problem during the pandemic. Buapan needs money to buy food for herself and to feed her cats. She is living alone and cannot get a job because of her age. Her story made me sad and emotional so I decided to tell Buapan’s story through my painting. I hope more people will be made aware of the difficult circumstances people are finding themselves in at this time. I hope people take interest in the stories of the sitters from all walks of life in this competition. I want to call to the attention of the government, the private sector and individuals: some people are encountering this pandemic crisis desperately.
Details
- ARTIST: Manop Momin
- SITTER: Yai Buaphan
Packing Room Prize 2021
I heard about this competition from my wife and I was so interested. I was thinking who I chose to paint and that person is my son, Ifel. He inspired me to keep going everyday. I had him when I was 42 years old which is considered as late compared to others. However, it doesn’t cause any troubles for me. I work mostly at home and my son was homeschooling. We spent time with each other almost all the time until he went to normal school last year. We didn’t spend less time with each other. Due to Covid-19, he had to study at home like the time when he was homeschooling. This allowed me to observe how he studied closely again. He will wake up early everyday waiting for the classes to start. I was so proud of his responsibilities. In addition, during the time of the pandemic, we have to stay safe at home. I would like to express my feelings in this portrait of him which is like a letter that collects a moment. I would like to express my intention in creating this artwork to make my son proud of me as well. We will get through this Covid-19 situation together.
Project Details
- ARTIST: Tanawat Muratatunyaluk
- SITTER: Ifel (son)
People’s Choice Prize 2021
In the current situation, the number of deaths and infected people of Covid-19 has increased. Many countries around the world are facing problems from this epidemic as well. However, it is unlikely that the situation will improve, thus the government and corporate sectors are asking for people’s help in avoiding travel and working from home as much as possible in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Work From Home has become an option that makes us safe from COVID-19. Through oil linen painting, I was motivated to create a portrait of my family members which are my joy: my wife “Kik” and two sisters of my wife “Grace” and “Game” to document this current situation.
Project Details
- ARTIST: Navapon Huanchaiyaphum
- SITTERS:
Portrait Prize 2022
Relationship is an important thing. Family relationships are a foundation for living. Family problems would affect how we live our life.
I have encountered family problems. I feel awkward and stuck in the middle because of problems caused by personalities, financial points of view, and diverse demands. Sometimes words can unavoidably harm someone else. It keeps stacking up over the past years. Silence might be a way out and it brought a positive result at the beginning. Anyway, it could worsen family relationships in the long run. We spent less time together and lived our life individually. A family member seems to be like someone else.
This competition has motivated me to reconcile my family relationship. I desire to bring everyone to live together once again. Although it was a short time, it’s so precious to live together. This will last in our memories as captured in this portrait.
Project Details
- ARTIST: Teeraphong Kamolpu
- SITTERS: Mother, father, brother
Packing Room Prize 2022
Who is the one who shows concern? Is it my grandfather who shows his concern to my father? Or is it my father who shows his concern toward my grandfather? Their facial expressions show that both show their concern toward each other. My father holds my grandfather’s wrinkled hand. He looks worried about his hand as it is the hand of a person who has been through obstacles in order to take care of his family and children. As my grandfather ages, he will become more susceptible to disease and disability. My father would like to take care of my grandfather as long as he can.
Meanwhile, my grandfather looks at my father with his ageing eyes. This pair of eyes has looked at my father since he was born. No matter how grown he is, you can still notice the way my grandfather looks at my father caringly.
The clock is ticking every day. There is no running back. It is the same in our life as well. There are only today and tomorrow. No one can freeze the good time so that happiness will last forever nor can we get rid of sorrow and sadness.
The love and care that my father and my grandfather is countless. Every morning, my grandfather will watch my father go to work and get back home in the evening. He has always been watching my father grow up. My grandfather’s health is my father’s concern. Sometimes, when my father got sick, he was afraid to tell my father as he realized that my father was working hard. However, due to my grandfather’s poor health, my father will always ask my grandfather about his health. My father used to tell me he knew everything has its own time. But it is impossible to ignore my grandfather.
Project Details
- ARTIST: TRonachart Mahakphichian
- SITTERS: Father and Grandfather
People’s Choice Prize 2022
Puntita Meeboonsabai or Bow is a talented young artist who creates unique artworks. She created such mesmerizing artworks that can make the audience feel like the living things in the painting are moving. Every element in the painting is well organized in order to create fantasy artwork. Her use of color is very unique. I consider her as one of the outstanding artists.
Project Details
- ARTIST: Sirawit Suharitdumrong
- SITTER: Puntita Meeboonsabai
Portrait Prize 2023
I have known Mother Fong Kaew since birth. I call her Mae Kaew. I have been wanting to paint a picture of my mother for a long time but didn’t have a chance until this competition allowed me to do so. I painted my mother in her cat lover mode, wearing a comfortable dress showing her darkened upper arms that were caused by the sun when she was out farming.
Artist: เทพพร ปริกเพ็ชร / Thepporn Prikphet
Sitter: คุณแม่ฟองแก้ว ปริกเพ็ชร
Packing Room Prize 2023
I have two aunts, both of whom are my mother’s older sisters. The two aunts had no family responsibilities so they brought me up, raised me and provided for my education from when I was a child until I grew up. I now graduated and work to support myself. The two aunts gave me great love and care. Therefore, I have a lot of love and connection with my aunt, like my real mother. Both aunts are over 80 years old. Last year in October 2022, one of my aunts passed away. So I only had one aunt left, Auntie Sri-arun Chaiphan. She is an inspiration and a model for me to paint this portrait. Since her older sister passed away. Aunt Sri-arun feels lonely and lost in her thoughts, missing her older sister. Currently, Aunt Sri-arun and I live in the same house. The feeling of loneliness and absent-mindedness that she feels, I know and understand very well. Auntie’s daily lifestyle changed due to her old age. She is doing things more slowly. Her memory becomes foggy. Her body becomes fragile. Although her eyes become blurry, in Auntie’s heart, she still misses her older sister who has passed away a lot. And that’s how I feel. Therefore this became an inspiration that I want to express in this painting “A beloved aunt with a frail body”
Artist: จักรกฤษณ์ ศรีสงคราม / Jakkrit Srisongkram
Sitter: ศรีอรุณ ชัยพันธุ์
Youth Prize 2023
A happy little boy sitting next to Grandma’s house in the picture is Nong Ongsa, who is my cousin. With a favourite dog that always stays by his side no matter what the little boy does. He makes me think back to when I was young. I liked to sit next to Grandma’s house with my favourite dog Chok in the midst of nature. I like to sit and watch the trees and feel comfortable. I like to draw because in nature there is something for me to discover. There are many things. The trees were not always green because I could see that the trees were purple and light reflected from nature are different colours that affect feelings, a colourful reflection to the mind to create a mystery that inspired me to have a passion for drawing even if there are any obstacles. And this is the inspiration that made me paint this picture because it is the origin and good memory that makes me love and like to draw until now. And I will continue to do it with love and pursue more knowledge and skill.
Artist: Supakorn Punyasong
Sitter: เตชิต วงษ์พันธ์