Thailand
Boonrueng Ketpongsuda
The Artist
Boonrueng Ketpongsuda was born in 1955 to a farming family in Chachoengsao, Thailand. He graduated from Bangkok Technical Institute with an emphasis on industrial technical training in 1975. Within a few years he moved to Los Angeles, where he studied electronic technology at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. More recently, he has been studying art at Los Angeles Valley College—continuing an interest that was piqued while taking a Thai Classical art class at Wat Thai of Los Angeles. As a consistent volunteer for the Thai community in Los Angeles, Ketpongsuda has helped orchestrate the annual Thai Cultural Day in Thai Town for the past 18 years. He has been recognized by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his ongoing dedication to the Thai community.
The Elephant
The inspiration for his elephant design stems from his ongoing interest in the Thai classical arts, along with help from friend and well-known Thai artist Vasan Sitthiket. The motifs he has chosen for the elephant were pulled from decorative elements of classical Thai architecture, sculpture, painting, and pottery. These motifs are most notably known for their intricate design, representing the natural environmental beauty of Thailand. These elements are connected to Thai culture through Thailand’s Buddhist history, reflecting Buddhist philosophies of karma and the transience of life.
Patchara Wonprasat
The Artist
Patchara Wonprasat, a freelance visual artist and art instructor, was born in Thailand and came to the United States in 1979. She received a Diploma of Fine Arts at The Art and Craft College in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2005, Wonprasat was honored by The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco’s "Asia Alive" program. As a professional artist, she has produced many art exhibitions here in the U.S. and in Europe.
The Elephant
The Thai name for Wonprasat’s elephant sculpture is Dok –Pudtan. Wonprasat believes that Pud -Tan flowers are amazingly beautiful flowers. These white flowers turn a pretty pink when they bloom. Many Thai artists incorporate Pud -Tan flowers into patterns for their Thai designs. Wonprasat elected to paint Thai flowers on her sculpture because she deeply wanted to represent Thai culture and spirit with her designs; making the sculpture elegant and charming. She hopes everyone will enjoy her work.