Niran explained to The Phuket News that although, on the face of it, all of his pieces depict beautiful, quaint and traditional Thai scenes of fishing, there is something deeper at play in his work.
“I like the sea, when I first came to Phuket and saw the Andaman Sea I thought it was amazing, and it was quite normal to see many different types of fish, but that’s all changed now,” said the quietly spoken, introspective Chiang Mai-born artist.
While some of his paintings are bright and airy, including a series of conical-hat-wearing fishermen in a background of Andaman seascapes, others have a darker feel, with anarchic squirls of red and oranges representing Niran’s social commentary on the destructive, mass fishing industry.
“It’s symbolic. Many of my pieces are about the symbol of life,” Niran says.
At the opening, Niran also had the opportunity of displaying examples of his other creative outlet – fashioning sculptures of colourful fish from reclaimed wood.
“I go to Rawai when the tide goes out and collect lots of driftwood, I store it at my gallery in Nai Harn and then when the time is right put it all together.”
In a case of life imitating art, sushi and fish and chips were served during the exhibition, though it is uncertain whether it was a satirical comment on the state of the ocean.
The ‘Art of Fishing’ exhibition runs from October 18 to November 15 at The Pavilions.
For more information, visit: thepavilionsresorts.com