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A National Museum for Thailand : Steps Toward a New Framework for Development

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A National Museum for Thailand : Steps Toward a New Framework for Development A NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THAILAND : STEPS TOWARD A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT By Katat nixon Chen A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILISOPHY Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism (International Program) Graduate School SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY 2008 A NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THAILAND : STEPS TOWARD A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT By Katat nixon Chen A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILISOPHY Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism (International Program) Graduate School SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY 2008 The Graduate School, Silpakorn University has approved and accredited the Thesis title of “A National Museum for Thailand : Steps Toward a New Framework for Development ” submitted by Mr.Katat nixon Chen as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philisophy in Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism ……........................................................................ (Associate Professor Sirichai Chinatangkul,Ph.D.) Dean of Graduate School ........../..................../.......... The Thesis Advisor Professor William Chapman, Ph.D. The Thesis Examination Committee .................................................... Chairman (Professor Emeritus Trungjai Buranasomphob, Ph.D.) ............/......................../.............. .................................................... Member (Pumin Varavarn, Ph.D.) ............/......................../.............. .................................................... Member (Professor William Chapman, Ph.D.) ............/......................../.............. 49056960 : MAJOR : ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT AND TOURISM KEY WORD : DISCOURSE/CONSUMABLE NATURE/INTERPRETATION KATAT NIXON CHEN : A NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THAILAND : STEPS TOWARD A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT. THESIS ADVISOR : PROF.WILLIAM CHAPMAN, Ph.D.. 196 pp. This research is to frame the National Museum, Bangkok with new meanings. Ever since the introduction of the museum concept to Siam, the National Museum, Bangkok has been assigned with a political mission that once made the museum relevant to its time and space of existence. Facing the changes in the Thai society, the museum faces the risk of becoming irrelevant to its current time and space. The museum has to release the political mission and to transform itself into a socially based museum: To associate itself with the development and the change of the Thai society. To make the museum relevant to the Thai society, the museum has to reframe with new meanings: To re-design its discourse, to make the best use of its consumable nature and to introduce a series of effective and efficient interpretations. A research was carried out in order to collect information for setting up frameworks for the new development of a national museum for Thailand. This dissertation is to tell the importance of a national museum for Thailand to be able to reflect the current time and space of the Thai society and the contributions that the museum is able to give to the society. A national museum for Thailand is a museum of hope and perception. It is to help foster a better Thai identity, a better Thai society and after all a better world. Program of Architectural Heritage Management and Tourism Graduate School, Silpakorn University Academic Year 2008 Student's signature ........................................ Thesis Advisor's signature ........................................ c Acknowledgements I specially dedicate this dissertation to my mother who passed away in 2006. To my mother, my debt is beyond words. I am deeply indebted to, and I will forever grateful for her love, care, guidance, support and encouragement. Over the course of researching and writing this dissertation, thanks go to those who gave me help and advices. My special thanks go to Professor William Chapman, my supervisor, for his guidance, patience, comments and insight, without which this research paper could never have been able to complete. I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Emeritus Trungjai Buranasomphob who initiated this international programme, and was very concerned with the progress of my dissertation. I would like to gratefully acknowledge M.R. Pumin Varavarn, my examiner, for his advices and encouragement. I wish to thank all lecturers and speakers of the programme for the sharing of their knowledge, time and efforts, and to the staff of the management office of the programme; particularly Khun Thienrat Sakasuparerk for their administrative support. I would like to thank the following personnel who were typically, supportive in providing information for the completion of this dissertation. They are as follows: Ahmad Mashadi, Head of the National University of Singapore, Museum, Alessandro Pezzati, Archivist of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (U.S.A.), Ann Matson, Senior Coordinator for Administration Communication Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (U.S.A.), Esa Leung, Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History, Gauri Krishnan, Senior Curator of the Asian Civilisation Museum (Singapore), H.C. Tang, Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Helen Jones, Planning Manager of the Victoria and Albert Museum (U.K.), Jeff Daly, Senior Design Advisor for Capital and Special Projects of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (U.S.A.), John Clark, Curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum (U.K.), Joyce White, Director of the Ban Chiang Project of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (U.S.A.), Justin Morris, Head of Strategic Planning and Collections Services of the British Museum (U.K.), Somchai Na Nakhonphanom, former Director of the National Museum, Bangkok, Sirin Yuanyaidee, Assistant Curator of the National Museum, Bangkok, Mr. Osman, Registrar/Director of Management, Development and Information Technology of the Department of Museums, Malaysia and d Mr. Yusof, Director of the National Museum, Malaysia. I would like to express my special thanks to Mr. Shaw Hong Ser who generously shared his knowledge on Buddhism and Hinduism, Professor David Lung of the Hong Kong University, who helped arrange interviews with the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Museum of History and particularly, Mr. Chris Ng who helped edit this dissertation. My gratitude also go to Khun Thanantpatch Soonkhetboon, Khun Pinsopang Thamsaroj, Khun Pallop Ukrist and Ms. L.L. Chen, my eldest sister, who helped keep me confident and focused, and supported me spiritually. The last people whom I thank deeply is Khun Sornchai Naksem who supports me in every way. It is not a solitary task to write this dissertation, without the support, help and advices given by these people, this dissertation would certainly not exist. e Table of Contents Page Abstract................................................................................................................... c Acknowledgements................................................................................................. d List of Figures ........................................................................................................ k Chapter 1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 1 The meaning of a framework............................................................. 3 The National Museum, Bangkok ....................................................... 3 Historic development of museums: The reasons for existence.......... 4 Research questions............................................................................. 7 Objectives of the research.................................................................. 8 Methodology...................................................................................... 8 Primary data: On-the-site visits ................................................ 9 Primary data: Interviews........................................................... 10 Secondary data: Publications and websites............................... 11 Structure of the dissertation ............................................................... 12 Statement of significance................................................................... 12 Significance of the dissertation.......................................................... 12 Part 1 Evolution of the National Museum Bangkok and the National Museum, Bangkok today ......................................................................... 14 2 Evolution of the National Museum, Bangkok ......................................... 16 King Mongkut (reigned 1851A.D.-1868A.D.) ................................. 16 To bring progress to Siam......................................................... 16 The power of art, culture and ancient civilisation..................... 18 The power of exhibition............................................................ 19 The power of museums............................................................. 20 The introduction of the museum concept to Siam .................... 20 King Chulalongkorn (reigned 1868A.D.-1910A.D.) ........................ 20 Giving Siam a space.................................................................. 21 Giving Siam a timeframe ......................................................... 23 The power of exhibition............................................................ 23 The Royal Museum, the first public museum in Siam.............
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