Sawasdi Tantisuk: The affordable pleasure

‘Old Masters’ are called the prodigious European artists between the year of 1200 and 1800 such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. Unlike the old master artists in Thailand, they were not as old as the European ones, but they were the direct students or trainees of Prof. Silpa Bhirasri. Most of them were about 80-100 years old while some passed away. 

When we talk about old masters’ works even in Thailand or in the western world, most people usually think that their artworks are expensive and rare. Besides, some collectors thought that their works should be placed in public places or in the museums as a national legacy rather than hanging on the wall in privacy. This was the misunderstanding I got when I first started collecting artwork, so giving kind support to the contemporary artists would suit my budget. After a while, I learned that the old masters’ works were not as costly as anyone felt. You could pay for the old master’s works around ten-thousands THB or more. This made me start collecting the old master’s pieces. One of the Thai old masters whose price of works was achievable was Sawat Tantisuk. 

A baby boy, Sawasdi, was born on 24th April 1925 at the twin roof Thai house by Phasi Chareon Canal. He lived with his big family consisting of Mr. Khew and Mrs. Man, his parents, and his two brothers. Sawasdi was the middle one. His family’s main income derived from selling their products from their vegetation farms at the market. Sawasdi entered his primary level at Wat Rangbua School and Wat Nuannoradit School as his secondary level. 

In 1940, Sawasdi decided to pursue his study at Pohchang Art Academy like his brother and his close friends because he thought that the graduates from this legendary academy could get the authority jobs easily. Moreover, he would have a high rank in society which he could be proud of. In his class, he was an outstanding student as he used contrast glittering colors in his paintings. Instead of being remonstrated by his teacher, he was praised for his notable color selection and his works were shown in public. This encouraged Sawasdi to create his painting with flashy colors which later became his signature and style. Owing to his talent, Sawasdi could graduate from this academy without sweating in 1942. 

Owing to his enthusiasm for art, he decided to attend a faculty of painting and sculpture at Silapakorn University in 1943. He was placed in the first class of the university which was directed by Phraya Anuman Ratchathon, and the faculty was supervised by Prof. Silp Bhirasri who taught Sawasdi about art history, western and eastern art concepts. Sawasdi also learned that being an artist is not the one who imitates the real objects flawlessly, but he has to deliver the feeling of the objects and impress the viewers at the same time. Otherwise, that realistic painting is indifferent to the photograph. For example, the painting of a flower bouquet has to convey the freshness and sweet scent of the flowers at the first sight which impressed the viewers’ minds till last. This was the greatest skill of the painter. 

After three years of study, Sawasdi has received an art diploma as expected. It was his luck that Prof. Silpa put him to work at the craftsmanship unit, Office of Architecture in The Fine Arts Department. Meanwhile, Sawasdi worked as an instructor at Silpakorn University, too. Despite loads of works, he could submit his artworks to the National Art Competition many years in a row resulting in an award in the first competition until he was honored to be the artist of distinction in the field of painting in 1955.

In the next coming year, Sawasdi was granted a four-year scholarship to study at Rome Academy of Art in Italy. It was found that the improved his artistic skills remarkably. His artworks were second to none. He fetched various awards in art competitions in Italy such as a gold medal award from Ravenna’s Painting Exhibition in 1959, and the first prize in a painting competition at Rome University in 1960. Before returning to Thailand, he had his solo exhibitions in Rome and Milan. It could be said that his works during his study abroad were the finest sets whose content was about western architectures or scenic views along with his trips around Italy. 

After his homeward bound, Sawasdi contributed Thai Art Circle by applying the knowledge he learned from Italy. He was among the first painters who introduced ‘Abstract Painting’ in Thailand. This style mainly involved the emotion of the artists through the brush strokes and tones of the paints. Some would misunderstand that it was easy for an artist to create abstract paintings, but, in the reality, making the whole picture look harmoniously and meaningful was the hardest process. Nonetheless, Sawasdi’s abstract paintings were widely accepted. 

Sawasdi dedicated his life half a century to the Thai Art Circle ceaselessly. Not only was he a renowned artist, but he also worked as an instructor, an art competition committee, and academy director, etc. His last position was the director of Pohchang Art Academy where he worked until he retired in 1985. As he has educated a large number of students and devoted his life to Thai Art, Sawasdi was honored to be a national artist in painting in 1991.

After his retirement, Sawasdi still enjoyed working on his water and oil painting. He created his artworks at his home studio and took some inspiration from several places: temples, jungles, and islands. He thought that creating art must be done pleasurably without stress. For example, when he did watercolor painting outdoor in the drizzling rain, he let the rain be part of his painting like it was a miracle assistance from the angels in heaven. However, for several people, they would keep all painting gears back indoors as they feared that the rain would ruin their paintings. Many times when painting in the rain, Sawasdi let the rain mix with his paints freely resulting in another feeling and charm of the painting. In the latter years of his life, Sawasdi still did painting, the activity he loved, intertwined with being a role model for his descendants until the last day of his life, August the 4th 2009, at the age of 84. 

All his lifetime, Sawasdi carried out a myriad of pleasure to the viewers in the forms of awesome color shades which impressed innumerable collectors resulting in the popularity of his collections. Instead of high pricing, Sawasdi was generous enough to price his paintings at a reasonable price because his paintings could be owned randomly by the collectors. ‘The Golden Field’ painting, awarded as a bronze medal in the first National Art Competition in 1949, was sold at THB 400 only. After his return from Italy, the price of his painting increased remarkably to THB 2,000. No matter the time flying, he still sold his painting at an affordable price like the new-coming artists. Nonetheless, he was categorized as an old-master artist in Thailand. His oil paintings cost about ten-thousands THB while the most deary painting was sold about hundred-thousands. When compared with the other old masters in Thailand, they sold their works more expensive than the price that Sawasdi offered. 

A few years ago, I had a chance to visit my senior collector who treasured dozens of Sawasdi’s paintings. This surprised me very much, so he gave me four reasons for his collecting. Firstly, the quality of Sawasdi’s paintings was high. Secondly, the name ‘Sawasdi’ has been undoubtedly coupled with the Thai Art Circle for ages as it was proved over the course of time. Thirdly, the themes and contents of his painting were immortal and were well-accepted among the collectors regardless of their ages although Sawasdi’s paintings were aged. Finally, his paintings were worth investing in owing to the reasonable price. He can easily reap the benefit by reselling Sawasdi’s paintings at a similar proportion of the high-priced painting. For example, if he wants to make a profit of 33% on the sold price, it is easy for him to resell Sawasdi’s painting at THB 300,000 based on the cost of THB 200,000 each. In contrast, it would be harder if he resold another old-master painting at two comma price like making a profit of THB1,000,000 from the selling price at THB 3,000,000. In short, the proportion of profit margin was exactly the same. 

After learning about the pricing system and logical thinking from the experienced collector, I hoped it wouldn’t be too late to own some of Sawasdi’s collections. His paintings have been still traded in the market despite lower trading velocity than before. I have no idea how long the affordable price was still maintained like they were in the past. It is because some of his excellent paintings were priced more than a million and automatically the other paintings’ prices will be leveled up for sure. This simply gave the ex-collectors the most regrettable feeling to release some of Sawad’s painting before the price was shooting. 

Apart from the pricing, the values of Sawasdi’s paintings were immeasurable as his painting was embraced ecstatically as intended by the artist. I decided to hang his painting by the door because I can feel the invigorating sip like having a cup of coffee before going out to work every morning. Thus, there’s no need for me to have some energy drinks nor Starbucks coffee. Only Sawasdi’s painting can fresh me up.