Suchao Sisganes

This painting from 1980, signed under the pseudonym “S. AINN,” is a clear example of Suchao Sisgane’s symbol-laden interpretation of the Thai countryside, painted in his characteristic impasto technique. The painting depicts haystacks, animals, and stilt houses in geometric shapes and warm tones of ochre, yellow, and muted pink. Through thick layers of oil paint and rhythmic brushstrokes, he created a mosaic-like surface with emotional and physical depth. Sisgane merged traditional Thai motifs with Western expressionism, influenced by his studies at Silpakorn University under Silpa Bhirasri. His style evolved into an expressive synthesis of local narratives, where themes such as the struggle of life, loneliness, and hope are portrayed with symbolism and stylization.
The work belongs to his well-known “Haystack Series” or “Village Theatre,” where the landscape functions as a stage filled with human emotion, even though people are often absent. It reflects both a cultural and existential portrayal of Thai rural life, as well as the artist’s own life story marked by hardship and marginalization. During his lifetime, he lived in economic scarcity and remained outside the established art market, gaining recognition only posthumously. Today, he is regarded as a pioneer of Thai expressionism, with works in major collections such as the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the National Museum Bangkok, and international institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bangkok and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. His art forms an important link between tradition and contemporary expression.