As a continuation of the programme of Visiting Artists, on 4 December, the students and staff at Asian university were delighted to welcome two special, and very different, artists. 
In the morning Dr. Sumet Jumsai, one of Thailand’s most famous architects, talked about his work, his philosophies, and many other subjects. He is best known here for the Nation Building and the Robot Building, both in Bangkok. But he has also been responsible for many other post-modern designs for buildings in Thailand and elsewhere.
Dr. Sumet offered the analogy of an architect as a conductor of an orchestra. The conductor needs to know what each member can do, and then he needs to bring everyone together, at the right time, and doing the right thing. It’s like project management.
Dean Michael thanks Dr. Sumet
Having ranged through Plato, Abraham, the five Buddhist precepts, the Ten Commandments and many other topics, he explained that he believes that teachers should make their students love their subjects, which will encourage students to want to learn more throughout their lives.
He also spoke about ways to deal with rising sea levels (and sinking land) in Bangkok. People have the choice to fight nature, like the Dutch have done very successfully, by building a barrier across the Gulf of Thailand. However there are major maintenance issues associated with this idea. The other choice is to go with nature, and establish floating villages and house and villages. Dr. Sumet showed pictures of old Bangkok, when many people lived in boats on the waterways; maybe they knew something?
Khun Panit (University vice president) with Dr Sumet
Khun Panit (University vice president) with Dr Sumet
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