Natural beauty

"LOCAL MYTHS: Beauty According to Local Origins": When Local Stories Become Contemporary Creative Forces

Who defines true beauty? This is the key question posed by the exhibition "LOCAL MYTHS: Beauty According to Local Origins." Beauty does not arise solely from a centralized, global perspective, but is deeply rooted in the stories, legends, memories, and ways of life of local people.

This exhibition is part of the Local Networking Project (2025), an initiative of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. This project aims to explore the concept of "The Intrinsic Aesthetic," or "beauty according to local origins." Artists from various regions explore unrecorded histories, oral traditions, contemporary lifestyles, and beliefs accumulated over generations, translating them into contemporary art that is both deeply rooted and contemporary.

The works on display reflect profound social, cultural, historical, and environmental dimensions, such as Naphon Phatham's "Khit Khong," which describes the Mekong River facing crises caused by dam construction and climate change, through the introduction of Isan poetry and synthetic music. To convey the oppression of people living along the riverbanks, Nuriya Wachi uses fabric, clay, and traces of sewing in "Stroke," a work that captures the memory of her father, who once connected with the Sai Buri River, but is now being swallowed up by development.

In another dimension, Hosin Kangthong Maha Sarakham presents "If You Don't Do It, You Won't Eat," exploring the earthworm economy in Roi Et communities. Sculpture, mixed media, and electrical mechanisms are used as tools to reflect people's struggles for survival after the pandemic. Meanwhile, Keita Isran and Hayani Mali portray the role of Muslim women in the three southern border provinces through mixed-media fashion in "Motherhood," which embodies the fragility, burden, and beauty of motherhood.

A playful, rebellious spirit is evident in Speedy Grandma's work, "Speema Grandy," which tells the story of "Grandmother" across four eras with a playful yet earnest tone. Prachya Phimanman and Rosi Hari explore the history of Patani in "Aurea Chersones," exploring legends, inscriptions, and trade in Southeast Asia. This presents the intersection of religion and culture that shapes the meaning of the word Malay in a new dimension.

Several artists have also interpreted this "natural beauty" in different ways. For example, Surasit Mankong's "Thanee Pratu" (Ground Door) harks back to the Kham Chanod forest in Udon Thani, a land of Naga legend and sacredness. This is conveyed through a video installation reflecting faith and the supernatural powers hidden within the forest's traces. Meanwhile, Malay Living's mixed media work "ANONYMOUS LETTER..." questions the stereotype of the Red City, created through media and misunderstanding, inviting viewers into the living room of a Malay house to co-create a new reality through dialogue.

Another aspect of global political history is interpreted through Punyisa Silparasmi's work "Mekhala - Ramasoon," which compares military camps in Bangkok and Udon Thani during the Cold War to the local legend of lightning and thunder. Reflecting the relationship between legend and war, Panachai Chaijirawat uses the Rattanakosin Era 112 crisis as a starting point for his work "Eclipse," evoking thoughts on domination, power, and obscurity through a symbolic language that's both mysterious and inaccessible.

What viewers will experience from this exhibition is not just viewing artworks, but also exploring the "roots" of various regions of Thailand through the eyes of artists who are both researchers and contemporary interpreters. We will see the connections between legends, history, environment, and culture hidden in everyday life, and will ask ourselves: What is beauty? And how can we coexist with nature, history, and this diversity in the future?

🗓 Exhibition period: Now until October 10, 2025
📍 Venue: 7th floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
🕚 Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Closed every Monday)
💵 Free admission
🚍 Transportation: BTS National Stadium
🚘 Private parking available

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