On 7 August 2024, Mr. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and H.E. Ms. Phantipha Iamsudha Ekarohit, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presented the contemporary painting under the theme “ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Resilient, Innovative, Dynamic, and People-Centred ASEAN”, painted by Mr. Thaweesak Srithongdee (Lolay), a renown artist in Thailand, to Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jarkata. The unveiling reception of the painting is part of series of activities to celebrate the 57th ASEAN Day by the ASEAN Secretariat and was attended by representatives from Permanent Missions of ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners. This art piece is the 138th collection displayed in the ASEAN Gallery at the ASEAN Secretariat.
This activity is a part of the project initiated by the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, entitled “Street Arts through the Lens of Thai and ASEAN Artist”. Under this project, the Department invites Mr. Thaweesak Srithongdee and his team to co-create contemporary paintings with local artists from Indonesia, Laos PDR, Singapore, and the Philippines in August - September 2024. The purpose of the project is to raise public awareness on the cooperation under the framework of ASEAN Community Agreement, promoting multilateral relations between Thailand and ASEAN Secretariat, and to promote bilateral relations between Thailand and ASEAN Member States on special occasions, namely (1) the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Philippines in 2024, (2) the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Indonesia in 2025, (3) the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Laos in 2025, and (4) the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Singapore in 2025.