The colors and the spirit of Siam, as perceived by Galileo Chini through his journey and his only long stay in Asia, became part of his artistic language. After two years in Siam, from September 1911 to August 1913, his early passion for oriental forms became mature and vigorous in his later artistic creations. Chini painted those vivid colors of Asia on various types of surfaces, like on canvas, wood, ceramic or even on architectural structures. His great inspiration of the Orient was much more noticeable in his later works, and became almost like the artist’s signature.
Siam remained in the memory of Chini through years of life. Classical Theatre Masks, puppets, intricate silk, ceramics and worshipping idols that Galileo Chini brought from Siam back to his motherland became symbols of remembrance of the land of Siam. The artist still reminisced his artwork. This is Siam in Chini memory that is captured on many other canvases, portraying images of the East. In his recollections of the voyage across the Indian ocean heading to the land of Siam, Galileo Chini, who was filled with the power to create art even during the last days of his life when his vision blurred, almost blinded. His colorful brushstrokes or even his colors under the shadow of the Death were still going along with the artist’s life, who actively moved in the world of art until the last day of his breath.
The colors inspirations of Siam and Asia seem to remain still in the Chini Family, through the love and values they have been giving toward Galileo Chini’s art and memories, this can be seen in particularly through today’s creation of ceramic arts in Borgo San Lorenzo (Florence).
Lohapon, Neungreudee. “The Process to Frescos”, in Lohapon, Neungreudee. Galileo Chini: Painter of Two Kingdoms. Bangkok: Amarin Printing & Publishing, 2012.
