Khon Kaen University Lecturer Secures Third Class Honours Certificate (Bronze Medal) in the Printmaking Category from Thailand’s Most Esteemed and Long-standing Artistic Platform.

Dr Theerawat Mikhawan, a lecturer in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Programme, Visual Arts Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Khon Kaen University (KKU), has been awarded the Third Class Honours Certificate (Bronze Medal) in the Printmaking category at the 70th National Exhibition of Art. The exhibition, hosted by Silpakorn University, is recognised as the most prestigious and historic competition and showcase for artistic expression in Thailand.

The award-winning piece is titled “Aesthetic Club” (Sutreeya Samosorn). It is a mixed printmaking artwork measuring 158 x 127 centimetres. The work conveys a contemporary social concept regarding “beauty, diversity, and human coexistence in a multicultural society.” This message is presented through the symbolism of “clasped hands,” which signifies cooperation, understanding, and acceptance of the differences in gender and identity within the LGBTQ+ community.

The artwork’s composition employs varied lines and textures, combining delicate and harsh elements, to reflect the complexity of emotions, feelings, and the multifaceted aesthetics of gender identity in contemporary society. The work thus serves not merely as artistic expression, but utilises art as a medium to question social structures and invite viewers to recognise the “aesthetics within difference,” an essential cultural value in modern society.

This national-level recognition is significant evidence of the potential possessed by Khon Kaen University personnel in creating valuable contemporary artworks that resonate socially, culturally, and spiritually. This achievement reflects KKU’s mission to serve as a hub of knowledge and innovation, committed to developing artistic expertise that plays a driving role in advancing Thai society towards equality and sustainability.

📸 ขอบคุณภาพประกอบจาก: The 70th National Exhibition of Art