On October 13, 2016, Thailand’s revered monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away at Siriraj Hospital at the age of 88. The depth of sorrow felt not just in Thailand but around the world is immense.

Thanks to His Majesty’s relentless efforts to improve the livelihoods and security of his people, his 70-year reign was marked by an unprecedented period of prosperity. He was a unifying figure for the Kingdom and will be remembered for his tireless work upcountry, either researching new ways to increase agricultural productivity or cultivate alternative crops to better the lives of farmers.

As a lifestyle publication, at BK Magazine we feel a connection to His Majesty as a renaissance man, one with extraordinary gifts for music, painting, poetry, sports and photography.

Sometimes his artistic passions would intertwine, such as in the self-portrait His Majesty shot with a fisheye lens of himself playing the trumpet. How could we not instantly connect with the creativity of this pre-selfie selfie? There’s also an extraordinary shot of His Majesty playing the trumpet on a canoe, accompanied by an accordion and a clarinet.

As we mourn his passing, we are further encouraged to support Thailand’s creative and artistic community to the best of our ability: the musicians, the dancers, the painters, the photographers, the film directors, the inventors, the designers and the chefs.

Thailand will never forget His Majesty King Bhumibol’s creative genius and his tireless dedication to making the Kingdom a happier, more prosperous place. His legacy will be cherished forever.