On June 26, the Italian Cultural Institute in Bangkok attended an insightful session at the Trang Hotel Bangkok featuring two key lectures on the protection of Thailand’s cultural assets.
“The Fresco Painting: History, Conservation and Relevant Contexts for the Murals of Wat Ratchathiwat,” was delivered by art conservator Urszula Strugala. This was joined by a second lecture, “The Conservation of the Wall Paintings of Wat Ratchathiwat Ratchaworawihan, Bangkok,” presented by Alongkorn Thiamchan, Senior Artistic Conservation Technician at the Fine Arts Department.
Together, the insights shared by both speakers highlighted ongoing efforts to protect Thailand’s unique cultural assets.
The lectures were hosted as part of a collaborative initiative between the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, dedicated to the restoration and conservation of the historic wall paintings located inside the Ordination Hall (Ubosot) of Wat Ratchathiwat Ratchaworawihan.
The murals, created by the Italian painter Carlo Rigoli, represent an extraordinary encounter between Western artistic techniques and traditional Thai visual culture. Today, their preservation continues through the close cooperation between Italian-trained conservation specialists and Thai experts, reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage.
This initiative also reinforces Bangkok’s role as a true “Capital of Italian Creativity”, highlighting how Italian artistic expertise continues to foster cultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and international cooperation in the field of heritage conservation.
