Described: 12 Jun 2024 at 07: 28
After receiving criticism for the repair of 500-year-old giant carvings, the Fine Arts Department stood up for what it was afterward.
The images show the centuries-old sculpture of a big both before and after it was renovated by the Fine Arts Department, which later received criticism for doing a bad job. Photos By Fine Arts Department
The department’s director-general, Phanombut Chantarachot, announced on Tuesday that the repair of the two-metre-tall cement sculptures at Wat Umong in the tambon Suthep of Chiang Mai’s Muang area was carried out in accordance with industry standards and tried to preserve as much as possible their unique characteristics.
Since Wat Umong is also available and is frequented by many visitors and Monks, Mr. Phanombut claimed that the 7th Regional Office Fine Arts in Chiang Mai decided to rebuild the artworks by recreating the missing pieces, such as the hands, rather than simply cleaning and strengthening them.
His answer comes in response to images that the media has circulated that show the restored sculptures totally different from their originals. The faculty of fine art at Chiang Mai University received complaints about the carvings ‘ careless restoration.
The government of Chiang Mai, Nirat Phongsitthithawon, informed the Fine Arts Department about the carvings ‘ stateless condition after seeing them while visiting the church in April of that year.