arvuth2 Lyrics

Like other traditional artisans, Group Captain Arvuth joined the Fine Arts Department as as a junior officer. His work was to restore ancient temples, palaces and royal barges before he was promoted to be the head of the architectural division.

The high-profile jobs only came to him when he won the trust and confidence of his superiors following decades of strenuous work.

Fine Arts officials who have worked under Group Captain Arvuth's supervision praised him as a talented artist who stiffly upheld tradition.

''He is not the type of architect or artist who just walks in and works. He must know the details and past records of every project he handles before he starts working. He always makes sure other artisans and architects do the same.

''That is crucial in working with traditional Thai art and architecture as everything is based on the original work,'' said Kriengkrai Sampatchalit, the FAD's director-general, who once worked as his subordinate.

Group Captain Arvuth's passion for tradition and ritual started early - as a boy he watched funeral ceremonies.

''My friends swam or climbed trees, but I always watched people in the community preparing funerals,'' he said.

After school, he played with items of worship he collected from funerals despite a traditional belief that they may bring bad luck.

''A funeral is a social event in my community. It is a time when every family comes to help each other. So they would help each other doing craft work during the day. At night, our community was so dark and the funeral light was so gleaming,'' recalled Group Captain Arvuth about his home in Bang Khunthien, a suburb of Bangkok.

He started trying his hand at craftwork at a young age with the encouragement of his father, who was a civil servant at the Treasury Department.

At school the young Arvuth failed almost every subject, except art and crafts. But he was so talented in art that his teacher advised his father to send him to art school - advice his father heeded.

As a teenager, he accompanied his father to the funeral procession of a senior member of the Royal Family at Sanam Luang. Ever since he said he was touched by the sacred ambience and the splendid decorative funeral objects.

artisan - a worker who has special skill and training, especially one who makes things ศิลปิน
barge - a long flat boat used on rivers and barges เรือท้องแบน
royal barge - (in Thailand) a long, elaborately decorated boat used for royal ceremonies on the Chao Phyra River เรือพระราชพิธี
superior - someone who holds a higher job or position than you do ผู้บังคับบัญชา
decade - a period of ten years ทศวรรษ
strenuous - using a lot of effort, energy or strength ด้วยความมานะ บากบั่น
talented - very good at something ความสามารถพิเศษ
stiffly - strictly อย่างเข้มงวด
uphold - to show that you support something such as an idea by what you say or do สนับสนุน
crucial - extremely important because it effects the result of something สำคัญยิ่ง
subordinate - having less power or authority than someone else คนในบังคับบัญชา
passion - a strong enthusiasm or interest ความชื่นชม หลงใหล
ritual - a formal ceremony พิธีการ
funeral - a ceremony that takes place after someone dies, usually including a religious ceremony งานศพ
worship - the activity of showing respect and love for a good บูชา
gleaming - shining brightly ระยิบระยับ
recalled - remembered นึกทบทวน จำได้
suburb - an area or town near a large city but away form its centre ชานเมือง
encouragement - words or actions that give someone confidence or hope คำให้กำลังใจ
civil servant - someone who works for a government department ข้าราชการ
heeded - considered someone's advice or warning and did what they suggested ปฏิบัติตามคำแนะนำ
procession - a line of people or vehicles moving in a slow and formal way as part of an event ขบวนรถ
touched - feeling happy of emotional, for example because someone has been very kind or because a situation is sad รู้สึกประทับใจ สะเทือนใจ ติดตรึงใจ
sacred - considered to be holy ศักดิ์สิทธิ์
ambience - the character of a place and the feeling you have about it บรรยากาศโดยรอบ
splendid - very impressive or very good ที่น่าประทับใจ

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