In the fiscal year 2024, Chulalongkorn University Museum organized a series of rotating exhibitions of a variety of content targeting various target groups. The museum also offered youth-oriented activities in collaboration with internal and external university offices and organizations. All exhibitions and activities were provided without charges. The following exhibitions and activities were presented by the museum:
Exhibitions
1) Exhibition: “Good Things to See, Museums to Know at Chula” (October 2 – December 27, 2024)
This exhibition resulted from a collaboration among 19 museums within Chulalongkorn University. Each museum brought its body of knowledge to be displayed and shared together in the joint exhibition space to connect the knowledge from each museum, resulting in integrating, exchange and learning of the knowledge. The exhibition also featured a portable museum project, “Chula Museum in the Box,” created by students in the Exhibition Design Program, Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University. The project presented highlights and interesting facts from each museum, contained in boxes of various forms designed for easy transport—bringing knowledge and enjoyment to audiences in different locations.
2) Exhibition Beauty and the Beast: Butterflies and Cockroaches—“Ambassadors of Adaptation” and “Strong Survivors”
Office of Art and Culture, in collaboration with the Chulalongkorn University Museum of Natural History and the Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, presented and exhibition telling the stories of butterflies and cockroaches under the theme of contrasting appearances—where butterflies are often regarded as beautiful while cockroaches are deemed repulsive. The exhibition aimed to educate visitors on various scientific topics such as physical characteristics, species, life cycles, reproduction, and their roles in maintaining ecological balance. It also encouraged rethinking the aesthetic perspectives to inspire new ways to create art—the beauty of the butterfly is fragile, while the cockroach’s repulsiveness hides its superior ability to adapt.
3) Exhibition: “The Thai Ceramic Society International Exchange 2025”
Office of Art and Culture, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Science, the Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture, and the Ceramic Society of Thailand, organized this international ceramics exhibition “The Thai Ceramic Society International Exchange 2025” during January 15 – February 16, 2025.
The exhibition showcased the beauty of pottery through the sciences of technique, material, production process, and creativity, telling stories through 101 unique ceramic works from artists representing 17 countries, selected by an expert committee. In addition, world-renowned guest artists participated in the exhibition to share knowledge and inspire students, artists, and the public.
4) Art Exhibition: “Genesis through Siamese and Persian Eyes”
Office of Art and Culture and the Center for South Asian Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University, co-organized this exhibition during March 27 – June 4, 2025 at the University Museum, presenting stories from the Lanna legend Pathommunmuli, an ancient palm-leaf manuscript from Northern Thailand in five tales describing the creation of the world by Grandfather Sangkhaiya-Sangkasi and Grandmother Itthangkaiya-Sangkasi, regarded as the ancestors of the Lanna people.
The exhibition featured works by two artists from two distnct cultures. The Thai artist, Kangwalphrai Chomphuphuen, portrayed the stories through contemporary Thai paintings using acrylic on canvas, and the Iranian artist, Aourash Geroian used watercolor on paper in the traditional Persian style. The two artists also created a special collaborative piece that merged their distinctive artistic identities.
5) Art Exhibition: “Wisdom through Canvas: The Art of Marl and Tamarind Seed Glue” to continue, build on, and preserve Thai wisdom
This exhibition held during March 27 – June 6, 2025 was part of a research project aiming at preserving and continuing Thai wisdom. It presented paintings by 36 artists, students, and faculty members from the Division of Art Education, Department of Art, Music, and Dance Education, Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University. All the works explored and experimented with canvas frames primed using marl (din-sor-pong) and tamarind seed glue—an innovative fusion of Thai wisdom and contemporary art. The project received information from KCT Conservation Co., Ltd., specialists in art conservation.
A workshop titled “Preparing the Canvas Frame: Marl and Tamarind Seed Glue” was also organized on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, led by Kwanjit Lertsiri and the KCT Conservation team. The session was well attended by students, faculty, artists, and interested participants.
6) Ceramic Exhibition: Mu Muan Suan Phueng
This exhibition was a collaboration between the Office of Art and Culture, Chulalongkorn University, the Royal Society of Thailand (Academy of Arts), and The SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. It showcased ceramic works by 32 members of the Suan Phueng Arts and Crafts, Ratchaburi Province, employing various decorative techniques such as Sgraffito (carving through colored slip), Mochaware, and marbling under the supervision and model development of Professor Sukhumal Sarakestrin, Fellow of the Royal Society of Thailand (Academy of Arts), who developed the concept from existing traditional designs of the Suan Phuen Arts and Crafts members into creations of greater charm, vibrant colors, and added value. The exhibition was presenting during June 27 – July 25, 2025.
7) Exhibition: “Rak See”: A research exhibition of lacquer color paintings using newly developed substitute materials, aiming at conservation and dissemination.
This exhibition was a collaboration among the Office of Art and Culture, the Division of Art Education, Department of Art, Music, and Dance Education, Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), to disseminate more than 90 pieces of lacquer painting research works were displayed, all created using substitute materials that are accessible both in terms of quality and price point. The exhibition was held from August 18 – October 3, 2025.
Special Activities
1) Night Museum @ Chula: “Science Meets Art – Art Meets Science”—Integration of Advancement in Science, Technology, and Arts
The event was organized through collaboration among Chulalongkorn University’s offices and museums during December 13-15, 2024, featuring music, light, and sound by the CU Chamber, to promote learning, inspiration, and strengthened bonds among families and friends.
2) “CHULA LAND: The Children’s Playground” – A Fun Festival, National Children’s Day 2025
Co-organized by the Office of Art and Culture, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and the Faculty of Education, this event offered a “Multisensory Art Experience” to enrich children’s imagination through interactive arts in all dimensions. The program included a concert by the CU Chamber Ensemble and a live art performance by artist Kraiphon Kittisirathorn, who painted flowers inspired by music. The event took place at Siam Square area as part of Chulalongkorn University’s large-scale event of diverse activities from various faculties and departments across the university.
Chulalongkorn University Museum
Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Free Admission
Tel. +66 2 218-3645, +66 2 218-3646
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chulamuseum/
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Xvf1B469MJToPjcV9
