THAILAND BIENNALE CHIANG RAI 2023
Tag: Culture
PHOTO ESSAY : JAPAN WAY
TEXT & PHOTO: THANACHAI TANKVARALUK
(For Thai, press here)
‘Japan Way’ is a captivating journey that delves into the exploration of flaws and imperfections within Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun is currently in full bloom, akin to an intriguing flower that entices outsiders with its enchanting scent and radiant beauty. It offers a unique and extraordinary experience that surpasses one’s imagination.
Photographs of events that have been extensively documented reflect the diverse moments in history, passed down through generations and influenced by the evolving societal context. These images capture the ongoing changes with past traditions, cultures, and history that have shaped the present and will continue to shape the future, like a distant shadow.
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Thanachai Tankvaraluk, who was born in Udon Thani, Thailand, earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication arts with a Journalism Major from Rangsit University. He is currently a business owner, but has always had a keen interest in everything around him, as well as an unwavering love and passion for travel and photography.
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PHOTO ESSAY : SALT FIELDS
TEXT & PHOTO: WAN CHANTAVILASVONG
(For Thai, press here)
The tranquil silence of the mouth of a river and a pale monsoon sky highlights the shacks, the barns, and the fences of salt fields against the monotonous background. The silence and absence of people may be signifying that the area is heading towards decline, where salt farming may be becoming a part of past that has faded away from people’s everyday lives.
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Wan Chantavilasvong is a city planner and a researcher, who cherishes photography as her serious play. Her photography often portrays the similarities and differences between the environments and people’s lives in different parts of the world.
SUPAVEE SIRINKRAPORN
ART4D SPEAKS TO SUPAVEE SIRINKRAPORN ABOUT HER LATEST COLLABORATION WITH KAJORNSAK NAKPAN IN DESIGNING A CLOTHING ITEM MADE FROM PREHISTORIC SOIL FROM AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND REVEALS THE CREATIVE PROCESS THAT EMPLOYS THE PAST AS A FORMULA FOR THE DESIGN
掃除 CLEANING
FLIP THROUGH A PHOTO BOOK FROM MUJI THAT TAKES READERS TO EXPLORE THE EVERY MOMENT OF THE ACT OF CLEANING WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO KEEPING THE WORLD CLEAN, CLEANING TOOLS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND THE PROFOUND MEANING OF ‘CLEANING’
TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAKANAO TODO DESIGN EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
WHO
TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
WHAT
Architecture / Ceramic / Design Consultation
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu Noted: Bak Bodhi Pavilion is a project in collaboration with the International Program in Design and Architecture, Chulalongkorn University (INDA) – The design team consists of Ann-pavinee Langenskioeld (Ann), Methawadee Pathomrattanapiban (Sincere), Napapa Soonjan (Luktarn), Natalie Pirarak (Tang), Natcha Thanachanan (Plern), Pheerapitch Phetchareon (Ode), Pitchaya Tangtanawirut (Pizza), Praewrung Chantumrongkul (Ping), Prima Rojanapiyawong (Pie), Slin Smakkamai (Kana), Tanon Theerasupwitaya (In), Thanapat Limpanaset (Than) and Yuhunny Baka (Hunny)
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu
WHEN
Since 2017, I have won various scale international architectural competitions, leading to setting up my own design services. Ceramic production began in 2015. It started for sake utensils, and later specialized in tea utensils especially, after learning the Omote-Senke tea ceremony.
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
WHERE
I am based in Bangkok, but have projects in Chiangmai, Japan, for my architectural work. My ceramic works are displayed in both the Central Embassy, Open House, and the Central the original store, Kolophon also. Since I do not have my own kiln, I fire at various locations and methods from electric, and gas, to raku firing.
WHY
Thailand is a platform that allowing to collaboration with many talented people without much of barriers. Through the collaboration, it allows expanding the potential of design fields. Meanwhile, teaching and having projects from Chulalongkorn University, International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) allows opportunities to experiment as well.
Lighthouse in Yokohama l Photo: Takeshi Noguchi
Lighthouse in Yokohama l Photo: Takeshi Noguchi
How would you define creativity?
Collision of various expertise, ability to find the latent connections, ability to interpret one’s personal experience, and knowledge of beauty in a classic masterpiece.
Describe your practice in three words.
Collaboration I Eternal Modernity I Joy
Where do you go, or what do you do when you get stuck on a project?
Have a Matcha, Sleep, take a random walk or meditation
What project are you most proud of?
Tea X Tech project. It is a project of collaboration between FabCafe, Midori-kai, and TAKANAO TODO Design, working from the Architectural design of a demountable tea house, digital fabrication for a tea house and tea utensils, reflecting Thai design inspirations, and tea events came together with a small grant from Japan Foundation.
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
If you could invite any creative out for coffee, who would you choose and why?
I would like to meet Khun Somluk Pantiboon, the ceramicist.
He is an inspiration for a new generation of Thai ceramicists passionate about tea ceramic culture, and haven’t had a chance to meet him in person yet.
SCENIC ARCHITECTURE OFFICE
KULTHIDA SONGKITTIPAKDEE AND JENCHIEH HUNG INVESTIGATES THE OCCURRENCE OF ‘FORM’ IN SCENIC ARCHITECTURE THROUGH SOME PART OF 12 PROJECT’S ANALYSIS IN THE BOOK ‘THE REBIRTH OF FORM-TYPE’, REVEALING THE EVOLUTION AND PIVOT OF CHINESE ARCHITECTURE SINCE THE 2000s
DÉJÀ VU: WHEN THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST
THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST. BUDDHA HYPOTHETICALLY APPEARS IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD. NATEE UTARIT REVISIONS HUMAN CIVILIZATION AND WISDOM IN DÉJÀ VU: WHEN THE SUN RISES IN THE WEST EXHIBITION, ASKING A CRITICAL QUESTION THROUGH HIS TENS OF WORKS — “WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF ASIA WAS THE CENTER OF THE WORLD’S CIVILIZATION INSTEAD OF THE WESTERN WORLD?”
THAI PAVILION : FROM THE 1930S
CHOMCHON FUSINPAIBOON EXPLORES HOW THAILAND’S NATIONAL IDENTITY IN ARTS AND THE COUNTRY’S MODERNIZATION IN INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY INFLUENCE THE DESIGN OF THAI PAVILIONS AT INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS IN THE 1930S WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHAT HAS BEEN CHANGED IN 2021
CITIZEN TEA CANTEEN OF NOWHERE
CITIZEN TEA CANTEEN OF NOWHERE, A HANDICRAFT SHOWROOM AND A KOPI-STYLE TEA ROOM BY SARAN YEN PANYA THAT STARTED WITH AN AIM TO CONNECT BUSINESS OF DESIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BRING BACK TRADITIONAL THAI-CHINESE CULTURE