Phetchaburi temple under fire for destroying cultural plaster art

A prominent temple in Phetchaburi province is facing criticism for destroying cultural plaster art by a national artist to make way for a coffee shop.

Academic and renowned writer Niphatporn Pengkaew shared images and comments on Facebook yesterday, September 23, showcasing the plaster art, and local wisdom of Phetchaburi. The post revealed that the plaster art, created by national artist Thongruang Em-ot, was demolished at Wat Mahathat Worawihan less than a year after his passing.

Niphatporn also mentioned that her father, Lom Pengkaew, had passed away less than two months ago, questioning who would now protect and preserve the political plaster art of Phetchaburi.

Assistant Professor Saenprasert Panniam, a lecturer in the Thai language at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Phetchaburi Rajabhat University, commented on the matter.

With expertise and interest in folklore, local literature, local history, and art history, he noted that the temple owns the land and the artwork, giving them the authority to manage it. However, he suggested that there are better ways to handle the situation than demolishing the artwork.

“In my opinion, there are better management methods than demolition. For instance, preserving the plaster art by removing it and displaying it as outdoor sculptures can both beautify the area and educate visitors about the artist’s work.”

Vachirawate, the abbot of Wat Mahathat, responded on social media by emphasising the inevitability of change and the importance of adaptation.

“Change is something everyone must face. Don’t fear change; the key is adaptation. Those who can adapt to the circumstances will find opportunities every day.

“Opportunities are like ice cream, if you don’t eat it, it melts. They never wait for us. If you don’t seize them, they disappear and are hard to come by again.”

Niphatporn’s Facebook post stirred significant discussion online, with many expressing concern over the loss of cultural heritage. She highlighted the urgency of the situation, given the recent deaths of her father and Thongruang, both pivotal figures in preserving local art, reported KhaoSod.