To have fun 190 years of US-Thai diplomatic relations, the artwork exhibition “Rivers Of Life” has been organised by the US embassy, ICONSIAM and the Chiang Khong group of Chiang Rai. On view at ICONSIAM, the exhibition options two movies — I See That You Do not See created by Montika Kam-On, a younger Thai transferring picture artist, and A Story Of Two Rivers created by Alexis Karl, a US filmmaker and fragrance artist. Each intention to lift consciousness about environmental points associated to the 2 rivers — the Mekong and the Mississippi.

“The US embassy in Bangkok did analysis and found that Thai individuals could also be much less focused on environmental points than different points, so that they contacted Niwat Roykaew — a instructor and an activist in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai — who has campaigned to guard the Mekong River ecosystem for twenty years,” defined Montika. “I met with Niwat who acquired the Goldman Environmental Prize final 12 months. Alexis and I participated in actions associated to music, dance and movie collectively in Chiang Khong. The embassy hopes to lift consciousness amongst native individuals in the neighborhood in addition to Bangkokians to assist have an effect on modifications in river ecology.”

Each the Mekong and Mississippi have been harmed by dams which have prompted altered circulate patterns and ecological change to the 2 rivers. Whereas dams that prompted damaging results to the Mekong have been constructed by China, dams in lots of areas on the Mississippi have been constructed by numerous organisations and authorities companies together with the US Military Corps of Engineers.

Montika filmed I See That You Do not See in Chiang Khong. The theme of the movie was impressed by spirits.

“In Chiang Khong, I discovered the Mekong River and its environment to be spectacular. The fantastic thing about the world made it troublesome for individuals to pay attention to the environmental points there. Since I’m focused on hidden points, the video focuses on spirits as a result of they’re unseen forces. Spirits can refer to 2 various things — supernatural spirits and the spirits of individuals in the neighborhood who defend the river,” stated Montika.

As for Karl’s A Story Of Two Rivers, it was made on the Mekong and the Mississippi and the filmmaker says her intention is to attach the 2 rivers by means of cinematic methods.

“The movie displays the understanding that we’re depending on and linked to the land and water. Thus, it’s a contemplation of panorama and its individuals. It marks the fragility and nice energy of each rivers — embracing their myths and legends, their histories and future. I want for the movie to be a cinematic meditation,” stated Karl.

Montika and Karl spoke to Life about environmental points associated to the Mekong and the Mississippi and their inventive concepts behind every movie.

I See That You Do not See

Montika Kam-On

When Montika met the instructor/activist Niwat in Chiang Khong, she realized extra about environmental points regarding the Mekong and took curiosity in actions to guard the river.

I See That You Do not See. (Photograph courtesy of Montika Kam-On)

“It was solely lately I might heard about protests in opposition to dams on the Mekong, however Niwat and native individuals had initiated the motion to guard the river greater than 20 years in the past. Since they’re distant from the capital and media, most individuals have not identified concerning the Mekong scenario and many do not even know the place Chiang Khong is,” stated Montika.

The dams constructed by China have modified the rise-and-fall patterns of tides. In consequence, birds that used to put eggs alongside the river banks can not achieve this as common as a result of water from the dam might be launched at any time. Kai, or riverweed, that used to develop round islets doesn’t flourish because it used to. This variation causes hardship for native individuals who acquire and bake riverweed to promote as a result of it’s a supply of revenue for them.

“China additionally wished to blast islets in order that its massive cargo ships may go by means of to Thailand extra simply. Niwat and the individuals in Chiang Khong began a motion in opposition to the blasting and in consequence, China put its plan on maintain,” she stated.

Montika Kam-On. (Photograph: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Advertisement

The video artwork I See That You Do not See tells a narrative of the Mekong by means of the eyes of the Lahu (additionally referred to as Muser) hilltribe who retain the customized of paying respect to supernatural spirits. Montika sees within the follow not solely a respect of nature but in addition the Lahu’s perception that they don’t contemplate individuals because the centre of the universe, and in reality are decrease than nature. Throughout their New 12 months celebration, the Lahu has a practice of slicing one tree. Earlier than doing that, they honour forest deities and spirits by lighting a fireplace and taking part in an area instrument referred to as a khaen.

The artist stated assembly Niwat whereas she labored on the challenge was a useful expertise.

“Niwat has fought for what he loves all through twenty years. I would like extra individuals to learn about him. I’ve extra footage of Niwat and plan to movie extra activists in Isan who’re combating for the Mekong. Certainly I am within the means of requesting funds for the subsequent challenge,” stated Montika.

A Story Of Two Rivers

Alexis Karl

Whereas it was the US embassy that instructed a challenge involving the Mississippi River to Karl, she already had curiosity within the topic having as soon as lived in New Orleans. She additionally was accustomed to damaging results that mismanagement of the river has had on the town of New Orleans. Whereas filming on the Mississippi, Karl talked to a ship captain who defined that the encircling swampland used to tackle circulate from the Mississippi, but with new levees constructed after hurricane Katrina the circulate has been redirected, and swampland is now stuffed as a substitute with water from Lake Pontchartrain. As somebody who boats alongside the swamps within the Louisiana Bayou each day, the captain has seen such results not solely on land and water degree however likewise within the air, particularly in fowl migration patterns which have modified in response to water circulate alterations.

Alexis Karl. (Photograph courtesy of Iconsiam)

Advertisement

A Story Of Two Rivers opens with a view from a ship, so individuals really feel like they’re within the boat with the filmmaker and see what she sees. The hyperlink between the Mississippi and the Mekong is depicted by means of three visible storytelling methods — waterscape, portraits and dance — with the dancers being Karl’s narrators and characters whereas the portraits present statements concerning the energy of human character.

“Dancers narrate the legends of the rivers of their symbolic actions. They play the gods and goddesses of the river in addition to the forest, who typically are depicted as benevolent and typically frightfully highly effective. Different occasions they react to the panorama: a motion permits us to see the river’s circulate by means of the gesture of a hand. Relating to the slow-motion portraits, I wished viewers to see the face of a ship captain, a farmer, a weaver, a nun — and honour them. Earlier than I filmed them, we received to know each other and felt linked,” stated Karl.

A fragrance artist, Karl additionally created scents for the exhibition.

A Story Of Two Rivers. (Photograph courtesy of Alexis Karl)

“I collected botanical important oils in Thailand made all through the northern area. I composed a scent of cork wooden, bamboo, Thai jasmine and Louisiana evening blooming jasmine, ylang ylang and moke flower: an over-arching scent and one meant to mix with the hanging cloth infused with incense adorning temples within the North.” The filmmaker hopes the exhibition can increase consciousness about environmental points associated to each rivers.

“I actually hope the exhibition raises consciousness, and that guests are inspired to take time inside the present… to turn out to be absolutely immersed within the sensorial surroundings.”

She additional defined the movies unfold the tales of the Mekong and in her case the Mississippi simply the identical. These tales might be of a dancer’s upturned face drenched in daylight, a crystal ball of a temple reflecting the Mekong in its glass, the orange cloth of monk robes wound round a tree, the easy circulate of water by means of twisted cypress timber on the bayou.

“With watching and listening comes understanding and consciousness,” concluded Karl.

“Rivers Of Life” runs at Iconluxe Pop Up Area, 1st flooring of ICONSIAM till March 26. Admission is free. For extra data go to fb.com/ICONSIAM.