STORIES BEHIND THE ARTWORK

Two freelancers win top prizes at the White Elephant Art Competition

- STORY: SUWITCHA CHAIYONG

Taphien stands out from other works at the White Elephant Art Exhibition on display at Bangkok Art & Culture Centre. Inside the transparent cubic box, there are many barb fish made of woven bamboo strips moving to the sound of the Thai traditional instrumental song Dancing Rabbit. The bottom of the box is made of acrylic glass to portray water, with clay models of elderly people on fishing boats holding fishing gear and sitting on barbs.

"This sculpture resembles a fish tank which depicts my imagination from childhood in Phichit province, where people used to live happily with an abundance of water and fish. I decided to choose the upbeat music piece Dancing Rabbit because I wanted to create an enjoyable piece," explained Niratchaporn.

"I wove discarded fishing gear into barb fish which are symbols of the abundance of water. It is a contradiction that the discarded fishing gear is used as a symbol of abundance."

Growing up in Phichit, Niratchaporn remembered that when it was not rice farming season, floods filled the rice fields bringing many kinds of fish, especially barbs. Niratchaporn said at the time, water seasonally flooded the road. However, after she became a high school student, things changed. Villagers complained that they could not catch fish easily like before.

"My grandmother had once told me that the fishing gear they used may one day be displayed in a museum so that the younger generation can learn about it since such equipment will no longer be used. I created Taphien on a red platform which was inspired by red velvet displays in museums. Items showcased on red velvet cloth are usually valuable and can be seen only in a museum," she said.