Cover Open the doors to the grand home that is being transformed into a private gallery featuring over 3,000 pieces of artwork by Uten Pattananiphon.
Open the doors to the grand home that is being transformed into a private gallery featuring over 3,000 pieces of artwork by Uten Pattananiphon.
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Step inside the grand home of Uthen Pattananiphon, which is about to become a private gallery showcasing over 3,000 pieces of art. Beyond his passion and love for art, his mission is to support the growth and strength of new Thai artists. Behind the towering walls of his large mansion on a 4-rai (approximately 1.6-acre) plot of land on Therdthai Road lies a treasure trove of thousands of artworks belonging to Uten Pattananiphon, the CEO of a skincare, color cosmetic, and herbal extract manufacturing business, creating a space that feels more like a small museum.
This isn't the first time Tatler has had the opportunity to experience this breathtaking private collection, as we believe that exploring and absorbing the stories and aesthetics of such a vast collection requires more than just one day.
Uthen acted as an "honorary guide," taking us on a tour of the diverse range of artworks, both Thai and foreign, that adorned the walls and filled countless others stacked throughout the two large buildings. Everywhere you looked, there were paintings. Given the sheer number of pieces, it would seem as if they had been collected for decades, but in reality, Uten had only recently entered the world of collecting.
“It all started during the COVID lockdown. I began looking for things to decorate my house that was under construction, from vintage items and furniture to European artifacts, even the La Loubère chronicles and the French newspaper Le Petit Journal. Then one day, a younger friend contacted me and asked, ‘Why don’t you collect works by Thai artists? There’s a group of artists who painted murals at Wat Buddhapadipa in London.’ As soon as I got the list of artists, impulsively, fearing I wouldn’t have any more work, I rushed to buy them.” (laughs)
Eventually, the number of works Uten collected increased rapidly, from a few dozen pieces to several hundred. Most of the early works were traditional Thai paintings. After some time, he realized that many of the pieces he had acquired were merely "signature works" or typical pieces by the artist, and perhaps not yet masterpieces.
"Back then, we were collecting art quite haphazardly. The work we had was beautiful, but we felt there was still so much more in the art world that we wanted to see and explore."
Read more: Immerse yourself in the beauty of contemporary art at dib Bangkok.
Open up new perspectives at a world-class art fair.
One of the key turning points that influenced Uthen's path as a collector was in 2022, after the lockdown measures were eased. He had the opportunity to travel to Art Basel in Hong Kong, which was his first international art festival.
"Because we didn't have any art fairs in our country, I decided to go to Art Basel, one of the best art fairs in the world. And I went alone because I didn't know any other collectors at the time," Uten recounted that adventure with a smile.
“For me, it was a very impactful experience, like walking through a museum. Some galleries from Europe featured works by the Russian artist Marc Chagall and the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Importantly, we got to see the actual works up close, without any barriers. We witnessed the diversity of art, from abstract to figurative, and it was a turning point that led us into the world of contemporary art, something new that resonated with us and felt more connected to.”
After returning to Thailand, Uten began seeking out contemporary art, visiting various galleries and getting to know more people in the art world. Importantly, he realized that the work of Thai artists was just as good as any other.
“The more we see and the more diverse the works are, the more we realize that the skills of our local artists are on par with those of their foreign counterparts, both in terms of technique and the presentation of ideas. However, a key quality of a good artist is the effort to discover and develop a clear, distinct identity, not simply copying the work of foreign artists. We want works that immediately reflect the artist's true self and identity, which requires time and thought to culminate in each piece.”
Promoting the growth of emerging artists.
Uthen's direction is quite clear: to focus on collecting works in diverse styles from emerging and mid-career artists, and possibly some works by living veteran artists, in order to be another important driving force for the future of the Thai art scene.
"My collection doesn't often include works by established artists because I feel that many of them are no longer alive, and we may not have the opportunity to talk to them or get to know them. Therefore, acquiring those works is like simply distributing wealth from one person to another, circulating only within the group of collectors. However, it may not benefit the overall art world as much as using that money to support emerging artists, giving them encouragement and allowing them to grow. Each collector may have a different approach to collecting."
Uten reminisces about his memories of the COVID-19 lockdown, spending his time in front of a computer screen. One of his hobbies was bidding on artwork at the "Silpakorn art n craft market" (now ART & CRAFT Lovers Market).
“We saw many artists putting their works up for auction. The pieces were beautiful, the concepts were interesting, and the prices weren't too high. Even though these artists might not have been well-known at the time, today many of them exhibit their work in various galleries. It turns out we've been supporting their work since they graduated or even during their thesis work. Even many mid-career artists, if we hadn't supported them back then, they might have pursued other careers. Some became eyebrow tattoo artists to make a living. Many worked with feelings of discouragement, but we continued to support them because we saw that their work was of high quality. Just the other day, an artist we helped told us that their exhibition schedule for the entire year is full. We're happy to see them grow. It's one of our very fond memories.” (smiles)
Supporting the entire arts ecosystem.
Over the past five years, Uthen revealed that the first 3-4 years were the period when he bought art most frequently, averaging at least 1-2 pieces per day.
"In the beginning, people used to tease me that I had deliveries at my house every day (laughs). In recent years, even though the number of items I buy has decreased, the value has increased compared to the beginning. That's because I've seen more and started to understand what good quality work is. Before, I rushed to buy things because I was afraid of missing out, afraid of losing them, even though some items didn't need to be bought in a hurry."
Uthai explained that, as a collector, he usually buys art through galleries so that the art ecosystem can move forward together across all sectors.
“The system should include collectors, curators, gallerists, and artists so that everyone can support and grow together. The gallery's role is to nurture artists and help them reach a global level, while artists themselves must create the best possible work consistently, and dare to experiment and step out of their comfort zone to develop new and more interesting series of works. The curator's role is to select suitable works and styles, while the collector's role is to support the works, both for aesthetic appreciation and, perhaps, as a form of semi-investment, which is a potential future benefit.”
Choose your favorites, create the perfect collection.
Uthai always emphasizes that the most important thing for starting an art collection is to primarily choose works that you like.
"Don't buy something just because someone says it's good, if you don't like it. Because if that artist doesn't become famous, you won't have to suffer looking at that painting every day. I choose works that I like and that communicate something to me, drawing me into the image for a long time. The more I look at it, the more I like it, and I can look at it repeatedly, regardless of whether the artist becomes famous in the future or not. It's okay. If they become famous, that's great, but if they don't, I'll still be happy with the work I admire."
Uthai's passion has blossomed into a diverse collection of over 3,000 artworks, filling the two grand buildings. These include works by renowned National Artists such as Fuea Haripitak, Chalood Nimsaem, Prateung Emjaroen, Tawee Rattanigorn, Charoon Boonsuan, Panya Vijinthanasarn, Prinya Tantisu, and Preecha Thaothong, as well as Mom Luang Poom Malakul, Rungsak Boonyavanichkul, Alongkorn Lorwattana, Sangat Pui-ok, and Prateep Kachabua, and even contemporary artists such as the Silpathorn Award-winning artist Natee Utarit. A highlight is his collection, including The Last Admonition at Vaishali (2018), which has been frequently exhibited in Singapore. Including the works of Chatchai Puipea, Tawan Watthaya, Jiraphat Thasanasomboon, Chatchawan Wannapho, Kowit Wattanaraj, Ongart Lo-Amornpaksin, Theethat Thanachoktaweeporn, etc.
Another group that cannot be overlooked is the support for the work of up-and-coming artists such as Kiatanan Eiamchan or Line Censor, who has a Buddhist philosophical sculpture of the "Kala Sutra" prominently displayed in front of his house; Kantapon Metikul or Gongkan, a pop art artist familiar to many with his boy and black hole symbol; Prinya Sirisinsuk or Benzilla, a street artist and creator of the three-eyed alien character LOOOK; Prompiriya Kongsathit or Aof Smith, a pop surreal artist and creator of the adorable dog-rabbit hybrid character Ferry; and Seksan Thummai or Szack, an artist who blends diverse techniques with a unique style.
Additionally, there are Pat Yingcharoen, an artist who blends history and contemporary contexts to reflect human thoughts and feelings; Priyawit Nilchulaka, or Palm, an artist from the band Instinct, with pop paintings full of color and satirical humor; Nattiwut Chumanowatt, or Rubbing, who tells stories from the world around him through paintings that always bring a smile to your face; Napanan Tannaree, who uses bamboo pens and brushes to create beautiful works of nature; Wisanupong Noonun, with excellent sculptures that are of interest to collectors; Rachata Siriyakul, with Renaissance-style painting techniques; Wayuphat Rattanapetch, with sculptures inspired by traditional Western art; and Chanida Arunrangsi, a former flight attendant turned abstract artist who honed her skills by self-taught various techniques.
These are just a few works from Uten's portfolio, not including those by international artists such as Georg Baselitz, the pioneering German artist of upside-down painting technique; André Butzer, a key figure in modern German art known for his vibrant cartoon characters imbued with profound philosophical meaning; Jason Boyd Kinsella, a contemporary Canadian artist who creates surreal portraits using geometric shapes; Matías Sánchez, a Spanish artist; Yuichi Hirako, a Japanese artist; Alexander James, a British artist; Yan Jingzhou, a Chinese artist; Alessandro Sicioldr, an Italian artist; and Arnaud Nazare-Aga's sculpture of The Little Prince & The Lying Fox, of which only eight exist in the world.
A new dream... "Private Gallery"
With the ever-growing number of artworks exceeding the available wall space, many paintings end up stacked on top of each other. New pieces gradually lean over older ones, making it difficult to reach out and admire favorite pieces.
“We feel it’s a shame. We would like to have more space to hang our artwork, in case guests or those interested come to visit. In the past, both foreign gallery owners from whom we have purchased works, and even ambassadors from Europe, have visited our collection. They have suggested that some of our Thai artists are very talented, and that if they had the opportunity to become artist-in-residences abroad, it would greatly help them develop their skills.”
Uten continued, "I'm currently building a new building to house a collection of contemporary art from the post-Covid period. 'Maybe we should call it a private gallery.' We want it to be a diverse collection, a blend of works by Thai and international artists. So when people come to see it, they'll realize, 'Hey, many Thai pieces can compete with international works!'" (smiles)
Bringing Thai artists to the attention of the world.
Uten revealed that many museums and galleries are continuously interested in borrowing and showcasing his works, including the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Bangkok), which has a project to exhibit works by four Thai artists and four emerging international artists in March, such as Suwat Boontham, Padungsak Khiewphong, Anon Lertphoonphol, and Kittisak Thepko.
Even foreign curators are interested in selecting 100–200 pieces of work by Thai artists for a road trip exhibition across Europe, including France, Spain, Belgium, etc. This program could last at least a year, taking Thai artists' works to explore the world.
“I am very happy to have these works showcased internationally, and the curators are confident that the works of contemporary Thai artists are interesting and different from what they have seen in Europe. Typically, when Westerners look at Asian art, they only think of China, Korea, and Japan. For Southeast Asian artists, they might only know 5-10. Therefore, exhibiting Thai artists' work in Europe should create a significant impact, due to their outstanding skill and prices that are considerably lower than market value. Most importantly, if any of these artists become famous or successful, I would be very happy for them,” he said with a hopeful smile.
Uthai concluded his interview with Tatler against the backdrop of the newly constructed "Private Gallery" building, implying that a strong foundation for the Thai art scene from now on will depend on the passion and drive of everyone within the ecosystem.
“For me, the special thing about art is that it’s a collectible, a unique piece, one of a kind. And just as our human nature dictates—our mouths enjoy delicious food, our ears appreciate beautiful music, our noses crave fragrant scents, and even our eyes seek fine art for the aesthetic enjoyment of life—‘art’ is a beautiful aesthetic experience that elevates our minds and our humanity to a higher level.” (smiles)
Chachanondh Limthong (Wow) is the Power and Purpose Editor at Tatler Thailand, with a deep passion for life stories and meaningful conversations. Beyond curating insightful content about leadership, business, innovation, and changemakers, he also oversees Tatler’s key communities — Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow, Tatler Most Influential (TMI), and Front and Female (F&F).
