|
Coming from a family of musician, Nab Sotthibandhu one of Thailand's renowed artisits, has uniquely utilized the abstract style with cubism and impressionism. His father, a well-known traditional thai musician, was influential in inspiring his works of art. Nab was born on the 27th, December, 1939 and was given a general education in his early years in the southern Thai province of Songkhla. He studied art at the pre-university of art school before entering Bangkok's Silpakorn University majoring in art and sculpture.
After graduating with a degree in the arts, Nab returned to his hometown at Songkhla where he taught painting. sculpture and music. To him, these topics were inseperable-when he painted, he was inspired by music and when he played music,he was inspired by images. Nab mastered both the traditional Thai music as well as western classical music. His brother, incidentally, Nop Sotthibandhu is a well-known musician who combines traditional Thai and classical western music in magnificent improvisations. Nab himself plays thetraditional Thai stringed instruments - the "Saw Oo" and the "Saw Duang" as well as the violin. his neighbours - the instructors at the university are quite - accustomed to the sound of either the violin or the traditional Thai musical instruments. He would either play the Thai melodies or the classical western tunes.A lover of nature, Nab particularly loves orchids - a profusion of orchids surround his home at the university quarters.Apart from being artistically inspired by plants and flowers,he began to study the botanical science on his own. A s pecial nursery was set aside for Nab's favorite orchid - the Lady's Slipper. This very special orchid held a special place in his heart and day by day, he would tend them from saplings into full -grown beauties. he first major shock in Nab's life was the Lady's Slipper orchids were completely wiped out. For him, it was as if a portion of his life had drained away. Whenever things didn't turn out right, Nab would soothe himself with music. His emotions were like the waves, ebbings backwards and forwards and finally he drifted away from his hometown to the nearby province of Phuket, where he set up a restaurant by the sea, in the midst of exquisite scenery. Bedecked by his paintings, Thai and foreign tourists would wander in, to dine and wine in the atmosphere of exquisite scenery, art, poetry and music. That's right, Nab himself serenaded his guests. The restaurant became very popularly,but sadly, Nab was not much of a businessman and soon end didn't meet. The restaurant had to close down. This was the second reason for another bout of depression for Nab. Drifting to Bangkok, Nab rev up enough energy to start all over again. This time he played music at night clubs and restaurants. He was persistent and this time, he saved enough money to buy a 3 -storey building. Renting out the first and second floors, Nab became a hermit on the third floor, painting in oils and playing traditional and classical music. Matisse, Monet, Durant, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Picasso binspired him to create works that were unique in themselves combining the many an varied styles. And finally, for once in his lifetime, he reached an all time high, exhibiting his own paintings in a one-man show. This was Nab's stepping stone into the Hall of Fame. |