Photo by Dulce Pop Bonini
Art For Transformation: J-Term in Thailand
Although we only stayed for five days, we not only gained as much knowledge as possible from the artists, activists and environmental experts in Thailand, but also experienced Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Kong.
Feb 6, 2023
Beauty is contained in the arts; not just in its physical manifestation, but in the meaning that goes into its creation. Art, in one way or another, is the basis of social change, acting as a motor that ignites overdue protests and propelling others to the same. In the midst of chaos, we turn to art in order to find a trail to follow : a way to express our turmoil or simply share a universal struggle. I was assigned to the Core ‘Arts for Transformation’: the Case of the Mekong Region. The region itself refers to the path of the Mekong River, which crosses six countries in Asia and has historically been a source of income, housing and a bridge for lands that have shared a belligerent past and now advance into the future with several political uncertainties in the midst of a growing environmental crisis.
Thailand is one of these countries, which also happened to be the destination of our regional seminar trip. Although we only stayed for five days, we had a schedule packed enough to ensure that we not only gained as much knowledge as possible from the artists, activists and environmental experts, but also experienced Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Kong - the provinces we visited - in the most authentic way possible.
This trip, in many ways, surpassed any expectations I had. Beyond strictly academic facts, it taught me about different lifestyles, family histories, the power and resilience contained in the act of speaking up using the arts, and my personal highlight - how people end up meaning way more to us than what we originally ever thought at a simple glance.
Through these 10 points, with some pictures selected out of 2,345 (excitement got to me) multimedia archives taken in five days, I hope to take you with us as we travel around Thailand and all its wonders. Let us begin.
- Chiang Mai, upon arrival. The trip to get to our first destination took 7 hours by plane and some 40 minutes by TukTuk to our hotel. On the way, I took this picture, fascinated by the river in the middle of the street.
- After attending a lecture immediately after reaching the hotel, we had the opportunity to explore the city by walking around the streets. With the Lunar New Year coming up, lanterns were on every building.
- Chiang Mai. Temples are found easily, and they never stop taking your breath away.
- Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Most of our trip involved guided visits to galleries, exhibitions, and museums to learn first-hand from artists (or experts). They explained their process, inspirations, and goals while creating the pieces showcased.
- Chiang Mai. Abu Dhabi is an amazing place, but there is no denying that sometimes the lack of greenery is quite apparent. Thailand is especially striking because of the overload of these amazing natural scenes, like this rice paddy field.
- Chiang Mai. Part of our agenda was visiting the Night Market, a bustling, fast and obviously crowded alley of shops where you could find anything, from keychains, lanterns, and earrings to medical “potions”, street food and instruments.
- Chiang Rai. The architecture of the temples is incredibly detailed and meaningful, perfectly exemplified in the White Temple.
- Chiang Kong, final day. This sunset was from the Mekong itself; on our way back from a boat ride across the Mekong, it was a beautiful goodbye sight from a beautiful place.
- Chiang Kong. Here, we visited the border between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. A Buddha statue overlooks the intersection and welcomes travelers from the three sides.
- The food. A very important topic I have been asked about continuously both during and after the trip. My advice: don’t be afraid to try everything that is being offered to you, be grateful to those making and sharing meals with you, and if you are like me and have no spice tolerance, keep water close because you will need it.
In case you take this core in the future, I can promise you a lot of perspectives will change or develop during these five days. I can advise you to clear up your storage because documenting every single detail will be tempting. Absorb and cherish the opportunities you will get to learn about those in the arts scene, those resisting injustices and those genuinely concerned and taking action for the survival of their whole community. Experience the food, the weather, the nature and the fast-paced but somehow calming aura of the area. Allow yourself to ask questions, bond with people, and try whatever you become interested in, because you won’t regret it. One last point: do not forget to say thanks to Professor Prim, to your trip advisors and curators, and above all, learn unabashedly.
Dulce Pop-Bonini is a contributing writer. Email them at feedback@thegazelle.org
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