4 April 2024
Bangkok (4 April 2024) - Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya PCL) together with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the largest financial institution in Japan and a leading global banking group, led by Mr. Takashi Wakushima (4th from left), Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Planning Division of Krungsri, accompanied by Dr. Kobchai Jitsakula (3rd from left), President of the Alliance Française Chiang Rai, and the Chairman of Greenwing Company Limited along with the management teams of Krungsri and MUFG, presented 8 Chiang Rai Art Elephants to be placed in 6 various tourist destinations in Japan. These locations include Takeya Building in Tokyo, Kakuozan Nittaiji Temple in Nagoya, Otaru Art Base in Hokkaido, Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido, GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort in Niigata, and HOKKAIDO BALLPARK F VILLAGE in Hokkaido. This initiative aims to showcase the beauty of Thai art elephants through MUFG's network and further strengthen the symbol of friendship between Thailand and Japan.
“The Chiang Rai Elephant Art” Project began in the year 2015 by Dr. Kobchai Jitsakula, President of the Alliance Française Chiang Rai, and the Chairman of Greenwing Company Limited. Driven by the vision to extend art to remote communities and foster equality, he coined the project "Art for Community". Moreover, considering the significant role of elephants as Thailand's national animal, especially in the forestry industry since ancient times, they served as the inspiration for conveying the exquisite uniqueness of Thai elephants through the Chiang Rai Elephant Art sculptures. Ninety local artists from Chiang Rai collaborated to create these artworks on fiberglass elephant sculptures, each standing 90 centimeters tall. This was done to reflect that Chiang Rai is truly a city of art.