After completing his art education at Poh Chang Arts and Crafts College in 1957, Thawan
followed the footstep of Damrong Wong-Upparat, a painter a few years his senior and a scholarship
holder from Lampang province, in furthering his studies at the Faculty of Painting and Sculpture,
Silapkorn University under Professor Silpa Bhilasri. This institute had a profound influence on Thawan
whose still life painting was soon evolved into Thai Impressionism. This period also marked the
beginning of the relationship between the artist and Gen. M.R. Kukrit Pramoj. The latter was a role
model for the artist’s way of life and thinking.
Thawan Duchanee was one of the few Silpakorn students who went on to complete a bachelor’s
degree. Most graduated with a diploma. After graduation and with the support of Professor Silpa Bhilasri
who was the faculty dean at the time, Thawan was awarded a fellowship from the Ministry of Education,
Culture and Science of the Netherlands to study at Royal Academy of Visual Arts, Amsterdam, for five
years where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees.
Thawan Duchanee devoted all his life to the study of and research in aesthetics, Buddhism, and
a combination of oriental and western philosophies on which his works were based. His creative genius
was seen in many forms, including painting, sculpture, architecture, decorative art, music, literature and
poetry. Thus, he is a role model for younger artists to emulate. He is one of the contemporary artists who
introduced “contemporary oriental art” to the international community.