TISCO Finance Public Company Limited, TISCO Tower, 48/2 North Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel. (662) 633-6000http://www.tiscoart.com
"TISCO's collection of contenporary Thai art began when the company organized a series of art exhibitions at its former head office on Silom Road between 1974-1986. The exhibitions proved highly successful and helped foster the appreciation of contemporary Thai art as well as enabling TISCO to select meaningful works of art to complement its offices. Modern art experts selected the artists and TISCO chose their works for its collection from the exhibitions which the company has organized since 1974. During 1986-present, there are also some works of art acquired outside the exhibitions as well."
Foreword
TISCO Art Collection
“Art reflects the prosperity of the nation”
TISCO is proud to have contributed to the development of Thai Contemporary Art through four decades of collecting fine works of art.
TISCO was established as the first finance company in Thailand in 1969, located at the Boonmitr building on Silom Road. It was the vision of TISCO Management at that time to begin collecting artworks which have come to be known as the “TISCO Art Collection”.
Khun Sivaporn Dardarananda, the then President of TISCO, initiated the collection to enliven and brighten the working atmosphere within the company and the first art exhibition was organized for our guests and clients. TISCO has since held several exhibitions and invited Thai artists to exhibit their works as well as providing support to them. Through its patronage of artists the Company has consistently supported the Thai Contemporary Art scene. The works of art purchased almost each year since the Company was founded have been used to compliment TISCO Tower, the expanded company headquarters located on North Sathorn Road.
The TISCO Art Collection differs from others in that our selection of artwork is not determined primarily by the popularity of the artist, but by the quality of their work and is guided by our good intention of supporting Thai artists in their endeavors. The collection includes early and more mature later works of prominent artists. It includes a variety of art forms and represents a number of artists, giving the TISCO Art Collection considerable value at the present time.
To commemorate its 40th anniversary, TISCO has published “TISCO Art Collection : 4 Decades of Thai Contemporary Art” which reflects the development of Thai society and the prosperity of the nation over the past 40 years and organized an exhibition. We wish to express our appreciation to Khun Pitakpol Wisuth-umporn, the General Manager of Rama IX Art Museum Foundation, who gave his valuable advices to the production of this book and yet wrote an insightful foreword as well.
In the years ahead the collection of artworks shall remain one of TISCO’s missions, to be accomplished in parallel with a sustainable and stable business operation.
TISCO Financial Group Plc.
Bank | Securities | Asset Management
40 Years of TISCO’s Art Collection : Four Decades of Contemporary Thai Art
When I was in charge of the Art in the Reign of King Rama IX project (circa 1995), one of my duties was to scour piles of books on contemporary Thai art to glean useful information and concurrently organize art exhibitions. My aim was to present exhibitions that were sufficiently grandiose to drive home the clear message that modern Thai art is blooming. During this time I had the opportunity to pay my first visit to TISCO’s treasure trove of art and what I saw was stunning. It is no exaggeration to say that TISCO’s art collection is “among the best in Thailand”.
Inaugurated in 1969 as the first investment bank in Thailand, TISCO was also the first private sector organization to begin collecting works of art. Over the years it has gathered a wide-ranging series of masterpieces created by young artists that perfectly illustrate the evolution of contemporary Thai art. The collection includes notable pieces by highly regarded artists, many of them have been honoured as National Artists.
TISCO’s art collection explicitly mirrors the halcyon epoch of abstract art as well as graphic arts pioneered by veteran artists, and showpieces interwoven with social and political reflections. It also demonstrates the art-for-art concept, the new age of expression and experimentation involving diverse media and materials via a broad range of contemporary artworks. Many of the artists used art to put forward their viewpoints on the issues of the day, in an effort to portray a vivid and true picture of society. TISCO’s far-sighted vision and continuity in collecting artworks over 40 years has enabled it to build a complete vista of contemporary Thai art.
To mark its 40th anniversary, TISCO wishes to make its art collection more accessible to the public through various channels including exhibitions, printed media and a virtual art museum. Providing a bigger stage will allow more people to experience and appreciate the excellence of modern Thai art.
The exhibition will feature 24 masterpieces created by 24 artists. Each piece is intended to represent a certain period and each reflects various themes including social perceptions, politics, personal relationships and trends in art. Viewing these pieces is like being taken back to a bygone era. It comes as no surprise that many works chose to present a Thai identity within a context of universal truths. The themes are narrated in such a way that these works act as a mirror of enduring Thai wisdom.
All are welcome to the world of Thai art …
Pitakpol Wisuth-umporn
About TISCO
TISCO was established in 1969 as the first investment bank in Thailand. The name “TISCO” derived from the full company name at first founded, “Thai Investment and Securities Company Limited”.
TISCO has developed several financial services to serve the increasing needs of the Thai growing economy and has become one of the leading financial institutions of the country. In 2005, TISCO was the first finance company to upgrade its status to a commercial bank under the Bank of Thailand’s Financial Master Plan. The TISCO Bank Public Company Limited head office located at TISCO Tower, North Sathorn Road. It currently has 34 branches in the metropolitan and strategic provinces nationwide. The bank will increase its service channels as well as develop new financial products to serve and respond to more clients’ needs in the future.
TISCO has been a listed company in the Stock Exchange of Thailand since 1983. The TISCO Financial Group comprises of banking business, securities business, and asset management business.
In parallel with business operation, TISCO has continuously taken social responsibilities projects in 3 main areas. In art and culture by supporting Thai contemporary art, in education by giving scholarships to needy students around the country through the operation of TISCO Foundation for Charity, and in environment conservation by its annual reforestation projects.