Spiritual journeys on Bangkok's BTS

Spiritual journeys on Bangkok's BTS

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Spiritual journeys on Bangkok's BTS
Photo by Chissanupong Narmmoolnark

Those familiar with the contemporary art circles of Thailand will know that Kamin Lertchaiprasert's name carries immense respect. The Silpakorn University graduate and former student of The Art Student League of New York has spent most of his career developing a deep interest in religion and philosophy. Previously known for co-founding The Land Foundation that turned rice fields into spaces for site-specific art and architectural projects, as well as a number of international solo exhibitions, Kamin will now, potentially, be known for something even more soul awakening. He is currently crowdfunding a pioneering art project that will give Bangkok its first ever city-wide mobile installation. The campaign, "Universal Connections" is set to wrap an entire BTS train, inside and out, with pieces of art composed of "spiritual fractals". We sat down with the talented artist to find out more about this exciting project. If you're interested in seeing this ground-breaking project made possible — come on, won't you be glad to say good riddance to all that flashy corporate advertising we're bombarded with on a daily basis? — be sure to make your contribution to "Universal Connections" via the crowdfunding platform asiola.co.th.

When and how did your passion for art begin?

I realised I was passionate about art at the age of 15; I felt it was the only thing that I could do. When I was a kid, I didn't do well in school; the only subject I was really good at was drawing.

What are the differences in art between Bangkok and Chiang Mai?

The artwork in Chiang Mai is more experimental and artists have more freedom. The reason for this is partly due to environment -- they are surrounded by nature, though the scene does lack art supporters. In other words, there really isn't any market for art there, but there are also advantages and disadvantages in that at the same time.

Tell us more about your current project, Universal Connections.

I was inspired by Benoit Mandelbrot, a scientist who discovered fractal geometry in 1980. According to his research, everything in nature is systematically constructed of a recurring shape; the body, blood vessels, DNA, rivers, mountains, trees, clouds, waves -- all these things are made up of fractals. This is the concept of self-repetition: everything is constructed in similar ways -- self-similarity -- and the repetition is infinite.

Our minds, souls, and feelings share similarities with the concept of fractal geometry, but in these cases, I would refer to it as "spiritual fractals", which is the inspiration for the project, "Universal Connections". During meditation, I noticed a link between the mind and body - how the intangible inside (abstract) connects with the tangible outside (physical). And how feelings and thoughts become behaviours and how that eventually becomes the human behavior that we see in society today. I want to demonstrate this understanding through animation and mixed multimedia, by wrapping the inside and outside of the BTS with my spiritual fractal design.

The circular shape in my design represents fractals. When we zoom in on the shape, we are likely to focus on the outside area and not the inside. It's the same when we look at people: we notice their outside, but don't see their minds. But it's what's inside that raises the questions; where do emotions, feelings, love, mercy all come from? And what is the connection that bridges the gap between our body and our mind?

Everything in the world has two opposite sides -- light and dark -- just like in the darkness of space, there are bright stars, and within that concept there's both positive and negative energy and I represent these opposites as yin and yang. These conditions -- night and day, happiness and suffering, good and bad -- how do we apply them in life? When you have been sitting for a long time, your legs feel stiff, it hurts, you don't like it, so you want to avoid it. By contrast, when you're happy, it feels good and you want to prolong it. And when you're driven by your feelings again and again, it becomes a behavioural habit, which controls how you live. So, then how can you truly be in control of your life?

To change your behavioural habits, you have to practise meditation; neutralise your mind, and in that state of calmness, you will be able to feel the coming and going of feelings in the body and mind as they are. When you practise being in this state, you are more easily able to detach yourself from noise (that is the human condition), to see things as they really are. Then we can finally realise that there is no true self and that everything around us is always going through change. For me, the forming of character and attitude occurs from the repetition of behavior, in the same way that the fractal becomes something tangible through the repetition of itself.

The moment of detachment from the self is the connection between the mind and body, from which emerge purer feelings such as love and mercy towards others without any expectation of something in return. This detachment dissolves the separation between yourself and others and in this oneness, you can be feel more empathetic towards others and in turn, make a more positive contribution to society. Every problem in society can be solved if we behave towards others the way we would behave towards ourselves.

When did you first come across fractal geometry. What do you think is so special about this type of art?

I first learned about fractal geometry in a documentary on PBS Nova called "Fractals – Hunting the Hidden Dimension". You can watch it on Youtube.

Why do you think Bangkokians need something like this right now?

It's not just the people of Bangkok who need it, but everyone should come to understand the universal reality of nature: that we are all the same, and we are one.

How do you envision this project will help Bangkok, if it hits its funding target?

I hope that the message I'm trying to convey will help them to understand and empathise with one another better.

"Universal Connections" will hit the BTS in July, but only if the funding goal of two million baht is reached​. Supporters interested in contributing towards this campaign can do so via​ asiola.co.th.

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