More royal brilliance?

The Nation (21 October 2009: “Free spirit”) says that this story is a “must read.” PPT agrees. It is another excellent example of claimed royal brilliance.

The Nation reports that “HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana [below right] reveals the inspiration behind her international success as a designer” by having an art show at the “Thailand Creative and Design Centre”

Apparently, after topping her class at Chulalongkorn University, this brilliant royal jetted off for “intensive fashion designed [sic.] with Armani in Milan Italy” and she has now jetted back for ” her solo exhibition” entitled “How I see it: Sketches, drawings and paintings.” PPT has commented on royal “art” previously.

From Wikipedia

The opening of her exhibition was in the presence of the royal father, Prince Vajiralongkorn and his consort Princess Srirasmi and their son Prince Dipangkorn. The princess’ mother, Yuvadhida Polpraserth, lives in exile in the U.S., with her 4 sons, having been thrown out of Thailand by the prince several years ago. See here as well.

Sirivannavari is a remarkable polymath. As well as being reported in the sycophantic Thai press as a brilliant student, she is said to be a talented designer, She began with Balmain, where the queen has been an avid customer since the 1950s.  She’s had her own Paris shows. She speaks about being a royal and fashion designer here. The princess even has “her own fashion brand Sirivanavar.”

The princess has also been a member of Thailand’s national badminton team and, just like her grandfather, received a gold medal at the SEA Games in 2007, despite the fact that she normally played on a secondary circuit.  On top of all this, Forbes claims she’s hot.

Her latest venture is a “retrospective” – not bad for a young woman who will be 23 in January. It will showcase her “talent on art and design revealing her childhood memory, inspirations on art, design and fashion which reflect her reputation as nowadays emerging designer.” The exhibition will occupy the space for 2 months.

The breathless writers from the Nation tell us that “the exhibition revealed the princess’s most extensive private collection of drawings and paintings, which reflect the Princess’s artistic talent and her world of imagination and how she sees the world.”

Apparently the exhibition occupies several large rooms, each themed and displaying her remarkable insights and talents.

Readers will detect PPT’s cynicism in the above. How could it be otherwise? The creation of royal brilliance has been a central element of royalist propaganda for this reign. Having been remarkably successful in building the reputations of several earlier members of the family – see here – and the king himself, its a fair bet that the same propaganda will work again. Or will it? Has the veil been sufficiently lifted by Handley, the 2006 coup, and the continuing political conflict?

Update: This link is worth reading on the princess as fashion designer.

Sirivannavari Nariratana