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The 800-baht (approximately 20 USD) wave painting by Kittichate Rattanakhunsat (Film), a freshman at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University, Thailand, has made waves in the Thai art scene over the past week. His latest piece has already been auctioned for 159,999 baht (around 4,300 USD).
Tae Art Man will bring you one of the most fascinating (and debatable) stories in Thai contemporary art history. (Please follow Tae Art Man on various social media channels.)
First Wave Sold for 800 Baht, Netizens Praise Its Exceptional Beauty
The story began on August 27, 2024, when Film posted this sea wave painting for sale at 800 baht in the Art & Craft Lovers Market group. It quickly went viral as many believed the painting was worth far more than its asking price. The post was shared over five thousand times, garnering over 5 million views. Despite going viral, the first wave painting was sold at the original fixed price of 800 baht.
Second Wave Auctioned, Price Skyrockets to Hundreds of Thousands
On August 30, 2024, Film posted another artwork, this time opting for an auction starting at 800 baht. The piece attracted enormous interest, and bids quickly surpassed 100,000 baht. When the price hit 200,000 baht, Film expressed concerns over the authenticity of some bids, prompting him to ask netizens to monitor the auction. By the morning of September 1, 2024, Film announced that the auction would close earlier than planned, moving from 22:30 to 13:20.
Ultimately, the painting was auctioned off for 159,999 baht (around 4,300 USD).
Waves Impact the Thai Art Scene
With the rapid viral spread of the story and the dramatic rise in price, critiques inevitably followed. Some argued that the piece wasn’t worth the price, others suggested it was overhyped, and some questioned the extent of its artistic references. This led to a heated debate on the value of art.
This phenomenon has sparked widespread dialogue and given new artists the chance to showcase and sell their work. The Art & Craft Lovers Market group, where it all started, is now more vibrant than ever, with a plethora of sea wave paintings flooding the scene.
This story has captivated the Thai art scene, raising questions about the pricing and valuation of artwork. Stay tuned for more discussions on this topic on Tae Art Man Live on TikTok. Don’t forget to follow!
What about you? Would you be willing to pay thousands of dollar for this painting?
Other works by Kittichate
(Images courtesy of the artist Kittichate Rattanakhunsat)
Story by: Tae Art Man
