Limited Box Set “Songkran Devi” BY SOMPOP BUDTARAD

The images of celestial maidens and Songkran goddesses with gentle faces and graceful figures have left a lasting impression, making people remember the name of Sompop Budtarad. He is an artist well versed in various forms of art, particularly in conveying Buddhist philosophy through mixed media and earth-based painting techniques. However, this aspect is often overshadowed by his captivating portrayals of beautiful women. Upon seeing his works, viewers are often compelled to wonder about the artist himself-whether he might be a celestial being descended to communicate the beauty of heavenly apsaras.

His life has been deeply shaped by folk traditions closely tied to religion and nature. As a result, his early award-winning realistic paintings often revolved around themes in Buddhism. These works earned him recognition at the National Exhibition of Art in 1983 and the Bualuang Painting Competition in the same year.

The “Songkran Devi” box set by Sompop Budtarad was created with great intention to convey the meanings of the seven Songkran Devi, ensuring that Thai people do not forget this cultural belief. These figures are an essential part of the charm of the Songkran Festival, a tradition for which Thailand is widely known around the world.

This special box set was produced in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the artist, with only 29 sets available. The prints inside are produced using high-quality inkjet giclée printing on Canson paper, sized 20.8 × 42 cm with a weight of 315 gsm. The paper is acid-free and lignin-free, certified for long-term preservation. Each print is reproduced from the original artwork, individually numbered and personally signed by the artist.