Contemporary Sculptures: Decoding the Body of Aesthetic Knowledge Suitable for Public Parks

Abstract

Problem statement: The contemporary sculptures are constructions in public parks for people to use and appreciate. These are new things which Thai society has just known. The knowledge and understanding of the matter as mentioned are still in the limited circle. However, there is a lack of research study to seek the body of aesthetic knowledge suitable for constructing sculptures in the public park in Thailand. The purpose of this research was to examine the background, current condition, problem and decoding the body of aesthetic knowledge of contemporary sculptures suitable for public parks in Thailand. Approach: The research area covered Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Songkhla and Ubon Ratchathani provinces in which there are constructions of contemporary sculpture permanently installed in the public parks. The research procedure used the qualitative research methodology. Data were collected from related literature and field studies using survey, interviews and focus group discussion from a group of totally 203 informants. The findings were presented by means of a descriptive analysis. Results: There are constructions of contemporary sculptures permanently installed in 15 parks with totally 101 pieces in Thailand. Saphan Hin Park in Phuket is the first place where there was a construction of a contemporary sculpture in 1969. In Bangkok there were 8 parks with totally 40 pieces of sculpture. In Chiang Mai there were 2 parks with 43 pieces. In Phuket there were 2 parks with 2 pieces. In Songkhla there were 2 parks with 15 pieces. And in Ubon Ratchathani there was 1 park with 1 piece of sculpture. At present it has been found that there are 98 contemporary sculptures in all the public parks. In Bangkok there are 39 pieces. In Lanna King Rama IX Park, Chiang Mai, 1 piece was stolen and 1 piece is not at the point of installation. In Saphan Hin Park, Phuket, the area has been adjusted to be the grass lawn. However, the sculptures in the other parks are in complete conditions and are well cared. The problems found generated from a lack of linking data concerning the background, importance and care-taking, causing a lack of understanding the matters as mentioned. Also, there were problems of sculpture's forms which are abstract art as personal characteristics of artists. There is appreciate, causing people to be unable to appreciate the aesthetics as they should. There were 3 aspects of aesthetics of the contemporary sculptures in the public parks: contents with subject matters which could mediate beauty, the way of life and local culture as things which everyone could appreciate and understand; semi-abstract art sculpture's form which people could appreciate the aesthetics more easily than the abstract art and the use of the form expressing the beauty of different visual elements which could respond to the content and environment and in the environment, there were designs and adjustments of the environment to suit and relate to the sculpture and activities of the people who used the services and to enhance to generate aesthetics of sculptures and environment. Conclusion: The aesthetics of the contemporary sculptures in the public parks consists of 3 aspects: content, sculpture's form and environment to be relate to activities of the people who use services in the public parks to be able to appreciate aesthetics of the sculptures completely.