Opening of the “Rak Si” Painting Exhibition at Chula Museum Showcasing Thai Art Rich in Cultural Value
The Office of Art and Culture, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Department of Art Education, Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, and the National Research Council of Thailand, held the opening ceremony of the “Rak Si” Painting Exhibition on August 22, 2025, at the Chulalongkorn University Museum.
The event was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yootthana Chuppunnarat, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yotsawee Saifah, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University; and Ms. Saowanee Mungsujaritkan, Deputy Director of the National Research Council of Thailand.
The “Rak Si” Painting Exhibition showcases Thai artistry filled with beauty and cultural significance. It is distinguished by the use of mineral pigments mixed with clear lacquer (rak sai), producing layered colors similar to oil paints, which can be further decorated with black lacquer, gold powder, gold leaf, or silver leaf. This form of art requires high skill, particularly in the polishing process, which reveals the delicate and profound overlapping of colors.
Although Rak Si painting is an art form of great cultural value, access to traditional techniques and materials remains limited due to the high cost of equipment and the difficulty of sourcing certain materials that must be imported. This poses challenges to the transmission of knowledge and the continuation of Rak Si painting in Thailand. To address this, researchers initiated the project “Rak Si Painting from the Invention of Substitute Materials for Conservation and Dissemination.” The team successfully developed substitute materials that are practical and comparable to the originals and created 93 paintings using these materials.
This exhibition thus serves as a learning space where visitors can explore the experimental processes, techniques, and knowledge of substitute materials.
The “Rak Si” Painting Exhibition is open to the public from now until October 3, 2025, at the Chulalongkorn University Museum, Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays).
More details: Chula Museum Facebook
For inquiries: Tel. 0-2218-3645-6, 0-2218-3624
