Lot 97

East and West Art Gallery, Melbourne, acquired directly from the artist.

Melbourne, East and West Art Gallery, 'Exhibition of Wood Block Print Entitled "Fantasy Series" and Poetry by Praphan Srisouta of Thailand', Oct., 1978.

Praphan Srisouta is widely regarded as one of Thailand's foremost woodcut artists. His work in this medium, particularly during the 1960s, played a defining role in establishing his artistic voice and earned him critical acclaim both domestically and internationally.

Srisouta's woodcuts are best known for their vivid depictions of rural Thai life-intimate, joyful, and deeply human. In his celebrated "My Village" series, he captures scenes of children playing, farmers working, and fishermen casting nets, with bold lines and energetic compositions that echo the rhythms of village life. Rather than romanticizing rural Thailand, his prints portray it with sincerity and a strong emotional core.

What sets his woodcuts apart is their fusion of traditional Thai themes with modernist expression. His time studying in Berlin and at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in the U.S. exposed him to global art movements, which he blended seamlessly with local narratives and aesthetics. The result is a unique visual language-rooted in culture, yet strikingly contemporary.

Each piece is hand-carved and printed, reflecting not just technical skill but also a meditative process in which the artist becomes deeply engaged with the grain, texture, and resistance of the wood. The stark contrasts of black and white create a dynamic tension, allowing simple forms to convey powerful emotion and movement.

Praphan Srisouta was awarded Grand Prizes for woodcut prints in 1961 and 1962, marking the height of this early period. These works remain among the most collectible and historically significant in his oeuvre, offering a direct link to the socio-cultural landscape of postwar Thailand and a pivotal moment in Southeast Asian printmaking.