Anek Navikamul's House of Museum gets a 'Leg Up'with a spotlight downtown

Having poked us into thinking outside of the box last month with its first show, “Count Me In”, A Leg Up Society is putting us back in the box with a trip into the past.
The society founded by top artist Chatchai Puipia has hauled a bunch of artefacts into 100 Tonson Gallery downtown, all the way from the private House of Museum out on the city’s fringe.
It’s a bonus showcase for historian Anek Navikamul, who set up the museum to show The Kids These Days what life was like way, way back in the 1950s.
“He’s built the museum with passion, and not for his own sake but for that of society at large,” says Chatchai. “We appreciate people like him who don’t do things in an exaggerated way but keep it real and practical.”
The focus is on the illustrative talents of people like Art Oddumpai, Chalerm Wutikosit, Feun and Jumnongka Rodari and Chalerm Wutkosin, who used to fill novels, textbooks and magazines with great pictures.
Anek praises Art Oddumpai in particular for his anatomical accuracy and the Thaistyle beauty he depicted.
“Collecting old books like these hasn’t caught on yet in Thailand,” Chatchai says, “but Anek’s made it a serious study, and these illustrations are what inspired many people like me to jump into the visual arts.”
Original artwork by illustrators Hem Vejakorn, Prayoon Chanyawong and Chumnan Intusophon are also on display, as are popular toys of the era, including paper dolls and plastic animals.
Postcards and books that Anek and others have written about learning from the past are on sale.
The show is a testament to the Leg Up Society, established to raise funds for writers and artists who try to bring about positive changes.


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Great old drawings

“Chapter 2: The House of Museum Showcase” continues until November 30 at 100 Soi Tonson off Ploenchit Road. The gallery is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 to 7. Call (02) 684 1527 or visit www.100TonsonGallery.com.
The Leg Up Society plans an official launch by March, once Chatchai publishes his retrospective book. The plan is to raise Bt500,000 annual to finance five grants.
Sign up with the society for Bt500 a year and get a bimonthly arts magazine. Email info@100tonsongallery.com for details.