By Thai Beverage Public Company Limited<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I shall continue, preserve, and build upon the royal legacy and shall reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the people forever.” <\/em>This is the royal aspiration of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn, the 10th<\/sup> monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, as stated in his first royal decree on 4th<\/sup> May 2019. It demonstrates his unwavering commitment to upholding righteous governance and continuing the projects and royal duties initiated by his father, all for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an organiser who has recognized the potential of Thai artists for the past 15 years, His Majesty’s noble intention has touched our hearts. We believe that with the right support, these artists will undoubtedly bring pride to the contemporary art scene in Thailand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, the 15th<\/sup> White Elephant Art award in 2026 has set the theme “Continue, Preserve, and Build Upon the Royal Legacy,” to encourage artists to explore their interpretations of “continuing,” “preserving,” and “building upon.” The judging panel for this year’s competition consisted of nine esteemed experts in the field of contemporary art: Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Professor Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Professor Emeritus Pishnu Supanimit, Professor Emeritus Thavorn Ko-udomvit, Professor Emeritus Yanawit Kunchaethong, Mr. Nitikorn Kraivixien, Professor Tinnakorn Kasornsuwan, Ms. Wannaporn Phornprapha, and Ms. Manurada Pornchanarak. The judging process was divided into two rounds. The first round involved evaluating 469 photographs submitted by 367 participants, leading to the selection of 50 finalists. Following that, a second round was conducted to evaluate the actual artworks and determine the 21 winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere during the final round was charged with vigorous exchange of ideas among the judges, who aimed to select artworks that convey the essential messages without leaving out the aesthetic principles. As a result, Teerapon Sisung<\/strong>‘s work, “Branches of the Era,<\/strong>” won the White Elephant Award, the highest honor in this competition. Using techniques of weaving, coiling, and twisting metallic threads, he created a large, gleaming golden tree symbolizing the cultural values \u200b\u200bof a society that begin with roots grounded in wisdom, accumulating strength to form a trunk representing identity, and spreading branches that adapt to changing times. Ultimately, it blossoms into new, beautiful, and lasting values. This piece of art stands out in terms of aesthetic beauty and profound meaning in a truly impressive manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Grand Prize was awarded to Boonmee Sangkhum<\/strong> for his artwork titled “Doi Ang Khang,”<\/strong> which utilizes the mezzotint printmaking technique, an ancient method passed down through generations with the requirement of a high level of precision. The artist skillfully created a delicate contrast of light and shadow, resulting in a vibrant depiction of Doi Ang Khang, the barren mountain where King Rama IX developed an agricultural learning center while passing on invaluable knowledge for future generations to benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Khunying Wanna Sirivadhanabhakdi Award went to Yerrinda Kaewsuwan<\/strong>, who uses embroidery to represent the threads of relationships handed over from one generation to another. The winning entry, \u201cMade in Thailand\u201d<\/strong>, reflects the country\u2019s rich and diverse culture. The CEO Award was given to the acrylic painting “New Life 2025”<\/strong> by Rapeepat Phonrattanapaiboon<\/strong>, which uses dots of color arranged to form lotus pods, symbolizing the cycle of life. As the pod reaches the end of its cycle, something small is born within it, ensuring the continuation of life, preserving its goodness and beauty, and allowing life to move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The five Excellent Prizes belonged to: “Eternal Bonds on a Day of (Spiritual) Enchantment”,<\/strong> a woodblock and mixed-technique print by Chayasit Orisoon<\/strong>; a woodcut print, “Pon: Fortress of Life”<\/strong>, by Teerapon Phopeasri<\/strong>; a mixed-media sculpture, “Spirit”<\/strong>, by Nara Viboonsuntipong<\/strong>; an acrylic painting on linen and plywood, “Little Khon Stage”<\/strong>, by Suviwat Wanarom<\/strong>; and “June in Northeastern Thailand,”<\/strong> a silkscreen print by Apicha Wanakasin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Thai Beverage Public Company Limited “I shall…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":90669,"template":"","archives":[554],"locations":[572],"attendees":[],"sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-90670","event","type-event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","archives-main-exhibition-789"],"yoast_head":"\n