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Published on November 12, 2007

It's clear that Thavorn Ko-udomvit absolutely loves sunglasses. On the weekend of the interview, he was dressed in a casual black pullover over loose corduroy trousers, all put together with dark-brown pair with tiny, upside down frames.

But apart from this passion for glasses, Thavorn is also interested in imparting his knowledge to children at his art school at the Ardel Gallery of Modern Art in Buddha Monthon. Thavorn is currently an associate professor at Silpa-korn University, and has also taught in Japan, Canada and the United States.

"It all began with the gallery," the 51-year-old artist says. "I realised that running a private gallery on its own could lead to bankruptcy, so I started to run an art school for children to subsidise the gallery.

"But now, I think it plays a much bigger role in society and it helps me enjoy my job a lot more. The worst thing that can suppress a child's development is fear, so you must do what you can to help get rid of it."

He started the school a little over a year ago with his own savings. "The money was meant for my children," he smiles.

The school is in a smaller building annexed to the 180-square-metre exhibition space. Classes are held every weekend with parents dropping young artists off for a couple of hours of pure fun.

"We are not here to teach children how to draw beautifully or prepare them for painting contests," Thavorn explains. "But we want art to come from the children's hearts and use as a means to make the more self-confident. In the classroom, children are encouraged to draw 'out of the box' and use different tools for their creations. I think restraining children's creativity by telling them not to paint outside the lines is like punishing a human for his nature."

The classes are small, with no more than 20 children aged between five and 12 playing with paint, sponges, print setters, crayons and a lot more tools.

Thavorn supervises while assistants, mostly students from Silpakorn, teach or rather encourage the children.

"See this sponge?" Thavorn asks. "It can do a lot more than just stamp colour on canvas. It can also be used to draw lines, long, long lines, which form curves and circles.

"See, you can mix different colours together, too. Let me show you what happens if I sprinkle some yellow on to the red. Anyone want to eat the papaya I just drew?"

Building love and harmony as well as establishing a sense of sharing and acceptance among the children are all a part of Thavorn's plans.

He hopes his classes can eventually build adults who go more with their heart, can share and work in groups and accept laws - all ingredients to a better society.

"We all 'think' too much these days," Thavorn laments. "We use less heart. You see, we have much less 'feeling' and we have way too much 'logic' and 'ego'. If children learn to share and live happily in a group, I bet our society will have more happy people."

Word of the classes has spread and now there is a waiting list. A session lasts six weeks, but the children are welcome to stay on for as long as they want. To get in, the child will have to wait until there is an opening.

The gallery features year-round exhibitions and has a small café overlooking a sculpture garden.

For more information, visit ArdelGallery.com or call (02) 422 2092.

Sirin P Wongpanit

The Nation