Fanning the dharma

Wijit Apichartkriangkrai creates a painting for the charity auction organised by Sathira Dhammasthan. Whiterobed mae chee Sansanee Sthirasuta, founder of the centre, stands in the background. /Uthorn Sriphantha

Celebrated artists are creating works on "talipot palm" fans for a televised charity auction at the Sathira Dhammasthan Buddhist centre on January 31.

"We will have 50 fans for auction  nine will be auctioned live on TV," says mae chee Sansanee Sthirasuta. "Channel 5 will broadcast the highlights from 10pm."

Charity auction

This Buddhist nun founded Sathira Dammasthan in 1987 as a place where people can learn to live together harmoniously and with compassion. The power of art has always been part of that vision.

Used by monks during rituals, the fans are a familiar sight to most Thais. Buddhisminspired sculptures and paintings are also being contributed for sale by artists and wellknown Buddhists, Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn among them.

Learning centre

"Proceeds will be used to build a learning centre," Sansanee says. "Promoting dharma to help cure social ills is our aim."

HRH Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, will preside over the event, probably accompanied by her young son HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti.

"Her Royal Highness will also provide an item for the auction," Sansanee reveals.

Veteran artist Chuang Moonpinit has already completed his work, adorning a fan with the Khmer word for "Abandon", then "Which will be abandoned first  your life or your desires" in Thai.

"I joined the event because I want to help promote dharma," Chuang says.

Wijit Apichartkriangkrai, former editor of Art Record magazine, says he agreed to lend a hand after hearing the auction was for SathiraDammasthan.

"I've painted Cannonball Tree flowers because they're the very first things I see when I visit SathiraDhammasthan. They're also symbolic for Hindus and Buddhists," he says.

The auction and art exhibition is open to the public from 2.30pm.