Draft:Montien Boonma

Montien Boonma มณเฑียร บุญมา (25 February 1953 - 17 August 2000) is a Thai contemporary artist whose work includes conceptual installations and sculptures. Boonma explores 'hope, healing, nature' through Buddhist symbolism, such as bells and ascension. His work uses unconventional materials such as a wide range of aromatic herbs and spices (that are commonly used in Thai Traditional Medicine) such as Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Ginger, and Eucalyptus, along with materials traditionally not seen in installations such as wood. Boonma has been the subject of solo exhibitions at Stenersemuseet, National Gallery Bangkok, Beurdeley & Cie Paris, and Art Front Tokyo.

In 1999, Boonma collapsed on a street in Germany. He was found to have a brain tumour, and the cancer had spread through his body. He died in Bangkok in August 2000 at the age of 47.

= Life and Career =

Boonma was born in Bangkok on 25 February as the second child of six. From 1971-1973, he studied at Poh Chang Arts and Crafts School. He then studied painting at Silpakorn University, Bangkok. During that period of time (1976-1978) he received the King Bhumibol Aduladej Scholarship. After he graduated in the late 1970s, Boonma created paintings that critically questioned the state of affairs in contemporary Thailand.

Montien Boonma studied art in Bangkok, Rome and Paris and began exhibiting internationally in the late 1980s.

In 1985, Boonma received the Thai Government Scholarship to study sculpture in Italy.

From 1986-1988, he studied sculpture in Ecole Nationale SupÈrieure des Beaux Arts, Paris.

From 1988-1995, Boonma taught in mixed media sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai. In 1989, he went for a Master's Degree Programme, M.F.A., for painting, in Silpakorn University, Bangkok. In that same year, his son was born to Chancham and Montien Boonma.

Unfortunately, in 1991, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, who then passed away prematurely in 1994.

From 1996-1997, he was the Instructor in intermedia, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok. During 1997, Boonma collapsed and lost conscious in Kyoto, sent to the hospital by Fram Kitagawa.

While in Germany with his son in 1999, Boonma collapsed on a street. He was found to have a brain tumour, and the cancer had spread through his body. He died in Bangkok on August 17, 2000, leaving his son behind.

= Works =

Montien Boonma, Temple of the mind: Sala for the mind, 1995, purchased 1995 (no image uploaded as of now)