Re: Questions about Thailand .

Corrado Feroci - the Italian Legacy in Bangkok
By Eric Lim

(Corrado Feroci (1892 - 1962) was a graduate of the Academy of Fine
Arts in Florence, the art capital of Italy. He came to Bangkok in 1923
when King Rama VI requested the Italian government for a sculptor to
train Thai artists and craftsmen and raise the standards of Thai art to
international levels.

The arrival of Corrado Feroci was to start a train of events that would
have a profound impact on the development of Thai art. He started as a
sculptor with the Fine Arts Department and taught sculpture to art
graduates.

Later, he was asked by the Thai government to prepare a curriculum and
the textbooks for the formal training of artists. With a formal
teaching system in place, the Silpakorn School of Fine Arts was set up
in 1937 with Corrado Feroci as the first director.

In 1943, as part of the government's policy to emphasize the importance
of art, the school was raised to the status of a university. The
Silpakorn University of Fine Arts was established with Corrado Feroci
as the first Dean.

In recognition of his services, Corrado Feroci was granted Thai
citizenship in 1946 and changed his name to Silapa Bhirasri. During his
career in Thailand, he was responsible for 18 famous monuments in
Thailand of which 9 are in Bangkok.

His better-known monuments are:

King Rama I Monument (1932) at the Memorial Bridge to honor the founder
of Bangkok and the Chakri dynasty that has reigned over Thailand till
this day.

Democracy Monument (1939) in Ratchadamnoen Avenue to commemorate the
coup in 24 June 1932 that ended the absolute monarchy and brought in
constitutional government.

Victory Monument (1941) in Phahonyothin Road to honor Thai servicemen
and civilians who died in the Franco-Thai war from November 1940 -
January 1941, over disputed Indo- Chinese territories that are now part
of Cambodia.

King Rama VI Monument (1942) in Lumphini Park, a monument that is
fittingly in memory of the king who was responsible for inviting Feroci
to Thailand.

King Taksin Monument (1954) in Thonburi in honor of the king who united
the kingdom after the fall of Ayutthaya, drove the Burmese out and
established the capital in Thonburi.

Corrado Feroci died in Thailand in 1962 leaving behind an institution
dedicated to the preservation of Thai art. The Silpakorn University of
Fine Arts has produced generations of Thai artists schooled in the best
traditions. His famous monuments in Bangkok and Thailand bear further
testimony to his legacy.
*****************************************************
Fascinating indeed Khun Maxwell. His legacy all around us, fitting
momuments to *his* life as well

Sandy
Huay Khwaang

.

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