I have just discovered a brilliant new project in Ubon Ratchathani. The Royal Thai Air Force base is on one side of Upalisan Road, and this is the route many people take to get to Ubon airport which adjoins the base. The RTAF base has a concrete wall that prevents people seeing into the compound and this has recently been painted white. (Previously it was the usual sad, dirty grey colour of most concrete buildings in Thai cities.) And now school students have started to paint murals at designated spots along the wall. The intention is clearly to cover the whole length of wall and schools have been allocated their own spots. Some have made a start and I have seen students of varying sizes at work. This time I was able to take some photographs. They seem to have the theme of the work of HM the King.
Some are not quite finished:
Some are just about to have a start made on them:
I am really looking forward to seeing how the wall develops. I shall make a point of driving along there every time I go in to Ubon.
There have been other similar projects in Thailand, I am sure, but I am not aware of having seen any. It shows great creativity and skill on the part of the students, I think, and imagination on the part of whatever authorities initiated and organised it. Well done them.
Lawrence one of the things I like about Thailand is lack of graffiti. However I think the idea of the murals on the wall is an excellent idea.
It will be interesting to see what the artists produce. I wonder if there will be any football players?
Posted by: Mike | 13 January 2010 at 07:45 AM
Lawrence I know this is a good idea to let the kids and students put their artistic talent on show but this kind of thing doesn't really float my boat. I think there's a place for graffiti projects and council estates, ghettos and any dim lit alley are my idea of the best places for them. I think they are just to much of a contrast against natural Thailand and all.
Posted by: Martyn | 13 January 2010 at 01:37 PM
Mike,
there was a lot more completed today, but still no footballers. I'll be keeping an eye out for them.
Martyn,
Ubon doesn't have the sort of places you mention. But this road is weird. It's in the heart of the city, but because of what is behind the wall, there can be no shops or houses on that side of the road. The wall is a km long. Look at the pavement -- nobody ever walks on it because of no shops or houses. This is not 'natural Thailand' unless dirty walls are natural. The road gets blocked with traffic because of lights where it meets the main drag. All round, it is the perfect place to be brightened up. The rain and sun will have their effect, but then nothing is permanent, right?
Posted by: Lawrence | 13 January 2010 at 04:57 PM
I love seeing it every day and hope they finish the entire wall up past my shop. Just a shame they pulled all the trees out.
Posted by: MeMock | 14 January 2010 at 07:10 AM
Memock, Glad I'm not the only one who appreciates it. I hadn't noticed the trees had gone. I hadn't noticed there were ever any there.
Hope your parents enjoy their visit, btw.
Posted by: Lawrence | 14 January 2010 at 09:20 AM