Thailand Tatler: Christian Develter, 2012

"Christian Develter's portraits gaze back at the viewer, as if on the verge of saying something before deciding to hold back the words. The intention, explains the artist, is to make you curious about why the subjects have these looks on their faces. Conceived in a semi-realistic style, his portraits flaunt bold, sometimes contrasting colours against a plain background.
The subject is almost always Asian and female, a fascination that pre-dates Develter's arrival in Thailand in 1995. In fact some of his oil renditions are a throwback to Europe's recurring fad for Chinoiserie; for example, a painting of a Chinese/Vietnamese woman dressed in a military-style jacket. To Westerners today, China still exudes sensuality, mystique and exoticism," he says. Not that the artist is simply a Sinophile. He enjoys Thailand's cultural diversity: "I can find Indian or Chinese inspirations on my doorstep," he points out. Of late, his focus has gravitated towards paintings of groups, notably a team of South Korean SEALs taking part in winter military exercises. Deviating from his normal style, he portrays the SEALs as smiling amidst the snow. "As an artist, you must keep reinventing your style," he says. Finding the climate in Belgium cold, gray and uninspiring, the artist decided to join his partner, Peter Smits, who was working in Bangkok. He had formal training in both fine arts and fashion design, plus a stint as an interior designer in Belgium. His intuitive knack for matching colours is evident in his oil interpretations of public figures the likes of HM King Sihanouk, the former monarch of Cambodia, and the American movie stars Louise Brooks and Marlon Brando. On the international front, he recently painted a portrait of a rapper for the launch of Hennessy Classicvm cognac exclusively in China. "This painting has toured in 50 Chinese cities and the organizer also bought the right to use its digital prints," he reveals. Indeed, Develter is proud to be recognized as a Bangkok-based artist. "I pursue painting seriously here; this is where it all happens," the 43-year-old smiles. His favourite art venue is Bangkok Arts and exhibition Cultural Centre, which he thinks needs more funding. "Bangkok has to do a lot to catch up with Singapore and Hong Kong," he says. "Over there, they have learned to value art, even using it to generate revenue. The same should be implemented in Thailand." By next year, Develter will be flying his works to four cities in Brazil, presenting a combination of his Asian and Latin American-inspired art. Until then, the artist is retreating to his work space on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The spacious Warp Studio 54 is converted from a wooden warehouse built during World War II. Occasionally Develter and Smits lend the venue to host functions, such as a fashion shoot for third-year students of Raffles International College. In no way will his studio turn into a commercial gallery. "It's not conducive to my creativity,"
he declares. "I still need a discrete space where I can drop in at night and paint.""