Designed by in-demand Thai artist Phannapast Taychamaythakool, the lotus leaf logo in rainbow colours is complemented by a series of animations inspired by Bangkok, the City of Angels.
The Peninsula Bangkok celebrates its 20th anniversary as the premier urban resort in the Thai capital in 2018 by introducing a commemorative logo, and a series of imaginative illustrations by Thai artist, illustrator and fashion designer Phannapast Taychamaythakool to complement the 20 Amazing Experiences programme. Combining the very best of Thai history, culture, cuisines, spirituality and spa and wellness, this immersive programme is curated by The Peninsula Bangkok to enable guests to create treasured moments with family and friends during their stay in the Land of Smiles.
Inspired by timeless Thai mysticism bonded with elements of Chinese culture, the hotel’s 20th anniversary emblem features a traditional Thai pattern called Pra Cham Yam. An inner circle protected by two creatures; Naga, a river creature from Thai mythology, and a Chinese Dragon in the form of Ouroboros, is juxtaposed with two squares overlaid on top of each other. The striking outline evokes an auspicious lotus flower with eight petals, a sacred number in Chinese culture.
Anchoring the design with Bangkok imagery, the artist installed the Thai character for the number 20 at the centre of the emblem to represent a royal barge cruising the gentle waves of the Chao Phraya River. The beautifully balanced shades of Peninsula green as the dragon’s head and red, gold, blue and black were influenced by the kaleidoscopic rainbows in the sky that the artist observed while taking a boat ride along the River of Kings. They also convey the sense of vitality, joy and celebration that travellers experience while staying at The Peninsula Bangkok.
In addition to the 20th anniversary logo, The Peninsula Bangkok commissioned Phannapast Taychamaythakool to craft a complementary series of designs that whimsically depict the local lifestyle and cultural elements incorporated into the 20 Amazing Thai Experiences programme. The intricate, brightly shaded animations include an angel driving a Tuk Tuk, a beatific angel bearing flowers, which translates as the hotel’s lush tropical gardens, and a kind-hearted angel rowing a boat to symobolise the hotel’s magnificent riverside landscape and luxurious waterborne guest experiences.
The Peninsula Bangkok’s special 20th anniversary emblem and the storytelling icons will feature on commemorative merchandise, including silk scarf produced by Jim Thompson exclusively for The Peninsula Bangkok, bone China mugs, pens, lapel pins and hotel’s stationery. Guests and local residents can also look out for these beautiful Thai-inspired designs on the hotel’s social media channels throughout the year.
About Phannapast Taychamaythakool
Internationally acclaimed Thai artist, illustrator and fashion designer Phannapast Taychamaythakool is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and was formerly creative director of Thai fashion brand Kloset. In 2016 Italian fashion house Gucci chose her to join an elite group of artists from across Asia to create storytelling illustrations for the #GucciGram Tian digital project. She was later commissioned to create enchanting imagery of Gucci Fairy Tales for the brand’s Le Marché des Merveilles jewellery collection.
In 2017, Instagram invited Phannapast to create wallpaper art for its New York’s office, and she also collaborated with luxury Thai silk brand, Jim Thompson, to design a print collection that is now available at all Jim Thompson boutiques worldwide.
Phannapast’s vibrant art and design is defined by her passion for detail and colour. One of her first roles in the fashion industry involved embroidery design, and she has always been fascinated by tribal patterns. In March 2018, Tatler Thailand magazine described her work as reflecting “a mysterious romance with colourful fairy tale-like illustrations featuring refined details,” adding that “the more you look, the more you discover.”