WITH THE EASE OF THE LOCKDOWN AS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARE GRADUALLY RETURNING BACK TO NORMAL, THE SHOPHOUSE 1527 MAKES ITS RETURN WITH THE EXHIBITION: THE TERRARIUM REDRESSING THE IM/BALANCE BY KERNEL DESIGN X CLOUD-FLOOR X GREEN VOLUNTEER COMPANY LIMITED
TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN
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A terrarium or a miniature garden in a sealable glass container is basically a simulation of a living rainforest ecosystem. When all the elements as well as the plants in the ecosystem are purposefully placed inside a glass vessel, a cover is placed and enclosed to create humidity and a perpetual water cycle, keeping the trees alive and growing. The little eco system can be created in transparent containers of various shapes and sizes. It feels somewhat like an oasis of happiness, particularly for the people with limited living spaces and whose daily lives are physically distant from nature.
The Shophouse 1527 had been operating for quite some time before the strike of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the ease of the lockdown as social activities are gradually returning back to normal, The Shophouse 1527 makes its return with the exhibition: The Terrarium Redressing the Im/balance by Kernel Design x Cloud-floor x Green Volunteer Company Limited, the very same collection that was showcased at 33 Space Pradipat as a part of Bangkok Design Week 2020 which took place earlier this year.
Passing by the solid, intimidating steel door, we witnessed that the first floor houses the café space with bespoke rawness and powerful architectural compositions filled with elements of the café hopping culture that has every potential to attract new café enthusiasts. The art works occupying the entire ground floor belong to Sompong Panich, the veteran architect who has been developing a growing passion in art. Panich’s use of materials and inspirations come from his everyday life as he creates the series partly from the rawness of the space of the café itself.
On the second floor where the main exhibition is hosted, viewers will come across a luscious space with the presence of a small rainforest, as they find themselves being enveloped by the power of nature, contradictory to the current reality of the outside world. After spending a certain amount of time inside the space, contemplating the surrounding surreality of it all, we feel a stronger desire to preserve the nature of such beautiful abundance. Cut to the street outside of the gallery, trees in the city of Bangkok are continuously being cut down. It’s another reality… it’s surreal but a reality, nonetheless.
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