Prince Phra Apaimanee, the Musician
Thakerngpole Kampalanont
Thai
Prince Phra Apaimanee, the Musician, 1997
Bronze, 3' x 2.5' x 9'
Gift of Dr. Tweesackdi Sesaweech, NEHMA
USU alumnus Dr. Tweesackdi Sesaweech donated Prince Phra Apai Manee, the Musician to the University in 2001. Located on the east side of the Animal Science building, the bronze sculpture is a life-sized representation of Prince Phra Apai Manee, a fictional character from a 30,000-line epic poem written by Thailand’s most beloved poet Sunthorn Phu. In the story, the Prince leaves his palace home to study and gain knowledge to help him rule the country one day. Along the way, he learns to play a magical flute that influences a cast of characters including giants and mermaids. The poem remains popular in Thailand today as schools continue to teach it to children. The story has also been adapted into book form and several movies.