Lecturer wins prize for picture book
The cover of Suthasinee Suwutho’s book ‘A Kind-hearted Old Woman’, which won the Gold Prize at an international handmade picture book contest held in Japan recently.
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A 29-year-old Thai lecturer's book recently won the "Gold Prize" at the Oshima World Handmade Picture Book Contest 2006 in Japan.
Suthasinee Suwutho's impressive 14-page book tells the story of a compassionate heart. "I worked on the book because I wanted to express the generosity of someone who does good deeds and expects nothing in return," Suthasinee said yesterday. Suthasinee teaches at the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute's Faculty of Fine Arts. Her award-winning book "A Kind-hearted Old Woman" has a rural setting and tells the story of an old woman who loves to give fruit to children and others in her neighbourhood. She is also quick to help those in distress, but never expects anything in return. Her compassion doesn't go unnoticed and on New Year's Day, people come knocking to flood her with gifts in appreciation of her good deeds. Held between May 10 and June 9, the Oshima World Handmade Picture Book Contest attracted hundreds of contestants. The Gold Prize includes a plaque, a certificate of honour and 100,000 yen (about Bt30,000). The recipient of the award is also taken on a sightseeing trip of Japan. The official award-presentation ceremony was held on August 26. However, Suthasinee said she could not afford a trip to Japan and thus could not enjoy the free sightseeing tour. "I simply asked the contest's organising committee to send me the award," she said. Suthasinee earned a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, and a master's degree from Silpakorn University's Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts. In the same contest, another Thai, Pimpawan Chaipanit, won a commendation. In other cultural news, Thailand and Great Britain have signed a three-year agreement on cultural cooperation starting this year. The agreement covers various activities including a music-video contest, the Thai government's ongoing Bangkok Fashion City project and the development of museums in Thailand. Peter Upton, country director of the British Council, Thailand, said museums in Britain were designed with the interests of younger people in mind. "We plan to introduce this concept to Thailand," he said, adding that Thai curators and experts would be taken to Britain in December to see the many museums there.
Pakamard Jaichalard The Nation
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