Who is Princess Marsi?

By Marsi Foundation

Marsi Foundation

"Beauty & Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi" exhibition (21th Century) by Marsi FoundationMarsi Foundation

Fifty years of Marsi's inspiration and expression

"Beauty and Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi” displays the remarkable paintings of H.S.H. Princess Marsi Paribatra (Marsi), which show her life experience, inspiration and expression over the past fifty years. 

"Beauty & Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi" exhibition : Room 3 - Ugliness (21th Century) by Marsi FoundationMarsi Foundation

About Beauty, Ugliness and Truth

There are four themes in the exhibition. The first theme is the Introduction to Marsi and her artistic life. The exhibition then continues to the second theme which portrays Beauty in Marsi's paintings

Chronology of Marsi (21th Century) by Marsi FoundationMarsi Foundation

The third theme portrays Ugliness through the eyes of Marsi and compares the artistic chronology of Marsi with the development of art in Thailand, and the World. The fourth theme reiterates the truthfulness in Marsi.

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi as self taught artist

Marsi created her artworks in a small cottage in France and exhibited her paintings regularly, becoming widely recognised internationally. Pictured here is Marsi working on one of her masterpieces, L'arche de Noé (1992), surrounded by her beloved pets.

The Day the Piano Arrived: Princess Marsi Sukhumbhand Paribatra (21th Century) by Shane BunnagMarsi Foundation

Being an artist is a choice, a calling...

Nothing could hinder Marsi's artistic vigor until her old age. This is the undeniable fact of life which comes to us all. Undoubtedly, Marsi understood well this eternal truth, which she has expressed in the paintings displayed throughout this exhibition. 

Le Mariage Mystique du Prince Noui Noui à Vellara (21th Century) by MarsiMarsi Foundation

Le Mariage Mystique du Prince Noui Noui à Vellara (2003)

130 x 195 cm.
Oil on canvas

The paintings of Marsi portray unique aesthetic values, which might not normally considered as traditional art in Thai society. This exhibition invites visitors to interpret and search their minds for the true meaning of “Beauty and Ugliness”. 

"Beauty & Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi" exhibition (21th Century) by Marsi FoundationMarsi Foundation

Glimpse of Marsi's life through her portraits

This section of the exhibition is dedicated to Marsi's life journey. We can see here, how her life was surrounded by many animal pets, a St. Bernard, Basset Hounds, golden retriever and macaws. Many of them she were featured in her paintings. 

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi throughout the years

Princess Marsi is the only daughter of H.R.H. Prince Chumbhot of Nagor Svarga and Mom Rajawongse Pantip Paribatra, and was born on 25 August 1931 at Bangkhunprom Palace (now the office of the Bank of Thailand) in Bangkok.

Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
Show lessRead more

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi in her teenage years

Marsi spent much of her childhood abroad in Java, Indonesia and England, as her father left Thailand in the wake of the Siamese Revolution of 1932. 

Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
Show lessRead more

Marsi in her teenage years

Marsi's Doctoral Thesis in Art History (20th Century) by MarsiMarsi Foundation

Marsi as an academic

She completed her education in Switzerland, France and Spain. In 1954, she was awarded a doctorate degree (Docteur ès lettres) at the University of Paris for her thesis Le romantisme contemporain

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

In 1959, Marsi was awarded a Doctorate degree in Art History from the University of Madrid, Spain in her thesis entitled 'Bases sociales, technicas y espirituales de la Pintura Paisajista en Chine'.

History of Western Art text book written by Marsi (20th Century) by MarsiMarsi Foundation

Marsi lectured on Far Eastern Civilization at the Faculty of Arts, University of Madrid and also lectured on History of Art at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. 

History of Western Art text book written by Marsi, Marsi, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
History of Western Art text book written by Marsi, Marsi, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
History of Western Art text book written by Marsi, Marsi, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
History of Western Art text book written by Marsi, Marsi, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
History of Western Art text book written by Marsi, Marsi, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
Show lessRead more

She published a text book on Western Art History. 

Marsi's Home (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi in France

After having her works exhibited many times in the South of France, she discovered a small village called Annot in the Alpes de Haute-Provence. There she built a studio, and since 1970, lived in this home named “Vellara.”

Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
Show lessRead more

Marsi relaxing time with her macaw,  her inspiration in various paintings

Apart from her love of art, Marsi also has a great love for nature and music, as well as being a good cook. “Vellara” had a studio where she can work, and was surrounded by trees, shrubs, flower garden, kitchen garden, with a small stream meandering below. The building, which was her home, contained a menagerie of animals, cats, dogs, and birds. Marsi never lacked animal models for her paintings!

Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
,
Portrait of Marsi, Unknown, 20th Century, From the collection of: Marsi Foundation
Show lessRead more

Marsi with her dogs in her home garden in Vellara, Annot

Marsi's Studio (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Inside Marsi's studio

Marsi has cage for her macaws inside her studios. She also carefully laid out photographs of her family, as seen on the table on the right.

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi working on wax paper sketch in her studio

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Sketch on wax paper of La Sepération (20th Century) by MarsiMarsi Foundation

Marsi's wax paper sketch on Déploration (undated)

Portrait of Marsi (20th Century) by UnknownMarsi Foundation

Marsi with her paintings; Le Mur, 1985 (left) and La Belle à la cour de la bête, 1995 (right). 
Marsi died in 2013 at the age of 83. 

"Beauty & Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi" exhibition (21th Century) by Marsi FoundationMarsi Foundation

According to Marsi, 'L'art est un reflet de la vie et de mort. je essaie d'en etre a mon niveau interprets'.
“Art is a reflection of life and death. I try to interpret this in my way”. 

See more on Marsi's Beauty here
Credits: Story

“Beauty and Ugliness: Aesthetic of Marsi”
7 November – 23 December 2018, The National Gallery Organised by Marsi Foundation
Artist
Princess Marsi Paribatra
Project Advisor
M.R. Jisnuson Svasti
Curator
Assistant Professor Dr. Supachai Areerungruang
Project Coordinator
M.L. Apichit Vudhijai
M.L. Chandrabha Svasti
Exhibition Design
Pruitsatorn Sakulthai
Kwanjit Chayapum
Exhibition Production
Kwanjit Chayapum
Graphic Design
Kwanjit Chayapum
Communication and Public Relations
Kullaya Kassakul
Event Operation
Ruamporn Thavornathiwas
Photography
Samatcha Apaisuwan
Documentary Production
Shane Bunnag

Acknowledgement
The National Gallery

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Interested in Visual arts?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites