Khru Thongyu

THAILAND, Bangkok; Bangkok period

Khru Thongyu was a painter known for his skills in producing varied and refined lines and colors. His mural of King Nimi Jataka, in the ordination hall of Wat Suwannaram in Bangkok is his most well-known work. This painting features gold tones that conspicuously portray human figures and trees, red tones to adorn the heavenly palace, and green to express foliage. He also utilized a deep blue hue for the background, creating an overall bright and distinctive color contrast.
Features of this mural replaced the traditional Thai style, including the replacement of zigzag-patterned partitions with wave-like sashes that encircle the artwork, forming a somewhat sporadic pattern that intensely contrasted with the portrayal of the heavenly palace and human figures within. The overall effect gives the heavenly palace the ethereal appearance of floating in space, an original and ingenious design by Khru Thongyu.