via Khaosod, 10 June 2024: The Fine Arts Department has defended its restoration of 400-year-old Lanna-style giant statues at Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham in Chiang Mai, which faced criticism for its cement coating. The department emphasized that the restoration aimed to protect and preserve the statues, considering historical evidence and the need for durable preservation methods.
After being widely criticized over the weekend about the restoration of more than 400-year-old Lanna-style giant statues in a Chiang Mai temple, where the cement coating made the statues look completely rebuilt, the Fine Arts Department defends its work.
On June 10, Mr. Phanombuth Jantarachoti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, told ‘Matichon’ that this topic naturally has both supporters and critics. He insisted that the Fine Arts Department team has documented all the evidence and steps of the restoration process at Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham in the Mueang district of Chiang Mai province.
Earlier, Assistant Professor Dr. Surachai Chongchitngam, a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, has posted a complaint that Wat Umong Suan Phutthatham, a famous temple in Chiang Mai Province, has plastered cement over the statues, leaving no trace of the ancient artifacts. This act has diminished the value of these precious ancient artworks and caused damage to the arts.
Source: Fine Arts Dept. Defends 400-year-old Lanna-style Stucco Giants Restoration
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