Activity

REAL EXHIBITION opened under the patronage of H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali. Invited to World AIDS day reception.

Real Exhibition = Red Cross Eternal Love and Art Exhibition

November 30, 2009, at the ceremony

Red Cross Eternal Art and Love Exhibition
A project recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of the events for the Japan-Mekong
Exchange Year 2009

Report on the Opening (including photographs of the Thai Royal Family)
Grand Opening Ceremony Attended by H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali of the Thai Royal Family

The Red Cross Eternal Art and Love Exhibition is a project recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of the the events for the Japan-Mekong Exchange Year 2009. It opened on November 28, 2009, at Bangkok Metropolitan Art and Culture Centre in Thailand, and continued through December 1, World AIDS Day. It was hosted by the World Art and Culture Exchange (WAC), which invited H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali to Japan in early 2009. In broad terms, the aim of the exhibition was to promote “world peace,” but more specifically, the major connection with the Kingdom of Thailand was an art exchange through the Thai Red Cross Society. Artists active in artistic fields in both countries were keen to protect precious lives through activities aimed at the eradication of AIDS. The goals of holding this art exhibition were to promote mental health care for AIDS patients, to support the administration of new drugs such as J2C and GPO for children who contracted AIDS virus from their mothers, and to advocate world peace in such a specific way. We are very grateful for the wonderful support and cooperation we received from so many people, especially H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali, as well as the Thai Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the ASEAN-Japan Centre, and the Japan-Thailand Association.

Host: World Art and Culture Exchange (WAC)
Support: Thai Red Cross /Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand/Tourism Authority of Thailand/Bangkok Metropolitan Administration/ASEAN-Japan Centre/ Japan-Thailand Association
Cooperation: Bangkok Art and Culture Center/Silpakorn University
(Cooperation: Prof. Panya Vijinthanasarn, Prof. Amrit Chusuwan)

Her Royal Highness’s visit raises the curtain on a Decade of Japan-Thailand Art and Culture Exchanges

H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali (right) is
welcomed by a Japanese girl as she arrives
at the BACC.

The Red Cross Eternal Love and Art Exhibition was a large-scale exhibition taking up the first through fourth floors and the first basement floor at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC). The highlight of the event was the Grand Opening Ceremony on November 30, which raised the curtain of the exhibition. This is because on that day, H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali of the Thai Royal Family was in attendance. In addition to representing the Thai Red Cross Society, Her Royal Highness busied herself with a variety of official businesses, even including the development of the menu for the event. This kind of her dedication makes her so popular with the Thai people. She is regarded as one of the public faces of the Kingdom of Thailand as she supports His Majesty King Bhumiboladulyadej, who is now quite elderly. With Her Royal Highness, one of the faces of the country, coming, the BACC undertook even more meticulous planning than before. The BACC was closed to ordinary visitors that day, as the strictest security was enforced.

Former Japanese Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand
Mr. Nobutoshi Akao and Minister of the Embassy of Japan to theKingdom of Thailand,

Mr. Yuji Kumamaru greet H.R.H.Princess Soamsawali at the entrance to the BACC.

The Japanese artists tensely await Her
Royal Highness’s arrival.

Japanese contemporary artists whose works were being exhibited were invited to the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Red Cross Eternal Love and Art Exhibition. They were not merely present at the ceremony; they were treated as honored guests. Of course, this kind of unusual event would not have been held without the kind agreement of Her Royal Highness.
Underlying such a special gesture for this event were 10 years of Japan-Thailand art and culture exchanges promoted by Her Royal Highness and the Japanese artists. When Her Royal Highness visited Japan in January 2009, in addition to celebrating the strong ties that have been promoted between Japan and Thailand over many years, she hoped that these beautiful art works could again be presented in Bangkok, Thailand.

The head of the WAC’s Tokyo
bureau (left) presents Her Royal
Highness with a donation to the
Thai Red Cross.

After the workshop session with Thai school children in the morning, the Japanese artists rehearsed for their audience with Her Royal Highness on the BACC’s first floor. No matter how important the guests, failure to follow proper etiquette would be considered impolite. As those gathered waited for the arrival of Her Royal Highness, the atmosphere grew unusually tense. There was tension when Her Royal Highness visited Japan in January as well, but this time there was far more. Personnel from Thailand’s Bureau of the Royal Household in white uniforms with epaulets stood by the entrance, waiting for Her Royal Highness to make her appearance.

The tolling of a bell announces the start of another 10 years of Japan-Thai art and culture exchange

H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali (center) rings the Peace Bell,
and the Red Cross Eternal Art and Love

At 6:30 p.m., H.R.H. Princess Soamsawali’s car arrived in a convoy of police vehicles. A purple umbrella (the Princess’s color) was immediately opened above Her Royal Highness’s head, and dignitaries such as WAC Advisor Mr. Nobutoshi Akao (former Japanese Ambassador to Thailand), Thai Red Cross Member Emeritus Mr. Anuwat Boonithee, and Minister of the Embassy of Japan to Thailand Mr. Yuji Kumamaru lined by the red carpet to greet Her Royal Highness. Having arrived in a six-vehicle convoy led by police patrol cars, Her Royal Highness walked on the red carpet into the site of the Opening Ceremony. After Her Royal Highness was seated on a raised chair, the Master of Ceremonies conducted the event, with opening speeches by the Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Thai Red Cross Member Emeritus Mr. Boonithee, and WAC Advisor Mr. Akao. They were followed by the head of WAC’s Tokyo bureau, who offered a contribution to the Red Cross on behalf of the Japanese artists. Next, each of the Japanese artists and others involved were honored with a medal directly from Her Royal Highness. The medal was very special and beautiful in gold and purple (Her Royal Highness’s color), with Her Royal Highness’s crest on it. As their names were called one by one, the Japanese artists tensely proceeded to the front as they accepted the honor.

Her Royal Highness examines the artwork (above four photos).
She looked carefully at each piece of work, while listening to
explanations from the Japanese artists. Her smile made a strong
impression on everyone there.

Following the presentation of medals, Her Royal Highness went aroud the exhibition hall, appreciating the art works on exhibit. The venue had the installation of a Peace Bell, which she started ringing it. As the sound reverberated throughout the site, it seemed to signal the beginning of the exhibition. Her Royal Highness walked through the exhibited works of the Japanese artists. Compared with her January visit to Japan, she had more time with us, and the way she took her time walking through the exhibit was very impressive. The Japanese artists seemed very excited as Her Royal Highness listened carefully to the explanation of each work as she studied it with a serious expression. Undoubtedly, the Japanese artists and others involved felt that their hard work had been rewarded.

Her Royal Highness (right) watches
intently as Ms. Hosen Nakamura writes
calligraphy. Her Royal Highness said
that she likes Japanese calligraphy
and would like to study it someday.

After she toured the exhibits for more than an hour, it was time for Her Royal Highness to depart. She was seen off by the Japanese artists as she departed. Her Royal Highness seemed reluctant to go as she smiled at the Japanese artists and bid them farewell. Thanks to this auspicious event, Japan-Thailand art and culture exchange has no doubt made a new start and will be even more fruitful in the future.

Mr. Joji Hagiwara, WAC Advisor Emeritus, sent a message and a poem he composed

Her Royal Highness departs amidst tight security.

Former Ambassador Akao (second from left) and the head of the WAC’s Tokyo bureau (far left) see off  Her Royal Highness.

December 1, 2009 (Tue.)
At 5:00 p.m., the Japanese artists attended a World AIDS Day ceremony through a special arrangement by Her Royal Highness. In the center of the venue, there was a candle more than one meter tall, with the logos of the Red Cross and WAC inscribed on it. After speeches by several officials involved with the activities of the Red Cross, including its Chairman, Her Royal Highness lit the candle to highlight the occasion. After publicly recognizing prominent Thais for their contributions to the Red Cross, Her Royal Highness departed to the sound of a youth choir. The path to her car was lined with people who wished to see her off. At the beginning of her passage through the audience, three of the Japanese artists, Ms. Kaun Matsumoto, Mr. Kuniaki Edamatsu, and Ms. Kyoko Kito, presented Her Royal Highness with works they had created. Her Royal Highness thanked them with a smile and then departed in her car.

Ms. Kaun Matsumoto

Ms. Kyoko Kito

Mr. Kuniaki Edamatsu

Period: 28th November 2009-1st December 2009
Venue: Bangkok Metropolitan Art and Culture Centre, Bangkok