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Published on February 10, 2008

Having planted rice that would never bear grain beside a German castle, Sakarin Krue-on has come home with the seeds to raise a crop of criticism about Thai materialism. Continuing until February 21, it's an extraordinary artistic endeavour spanning three Bangkok locations.

The Bt10-million-plus Terraced Rice Fields Art Project bloomed in Germany last year for the mammoth Documenta 12 exhibition of contemporary art.

Sakarin, chief of Silpakorn University's Thai-art department, laid out a 7,000-square-metre rice plantation on the flanks of the historic Schloss Wilhelmshoehe fortress in Kassel. The idea was to get onlookers to pick up hoes and spades and participate in long khaek - the traditional, collective Thai harvest.

The German summer turned unexpectedly cool, so the rice didn't thrive, but Sakarin is delighted to have shown thousands of people that the "utopian" aspect of long khaek survives even in our era of instant gratification and buying whatever you need.

"My rice field ought to foster a rebellion in any consumerist country by showing that everyone really is equal on this earth," says Sakarin, adding that a church in Kassel was inspired by his project to distribute milled rice to the needy.

"The long khaek concept is excellent," he says, "and yet we tend to ignore these good aspects of our culture. We're led to believe in capitalism - that material things are the pillars of an enhanced life. Instead of being satisfied with sustainable living, we're encouraged to acquire more than we need!"

Now the teaching process is continuing in Bangkok, as "Ripe Project: Village and Harvest Time".

There are, in Sakarin's view, three "sub-elements" to rice cultivation - production, reproduction and propaganda.

The first is explored at the Ardel Gallery of Modern Art in Thawee Wattana, currently home to an array of photographs and video on the scheme and a small rice field where children can have a go at planting.

A farmer known as Uncle Jaew has covered the floor with a chart showing how 12 families would collectively grow the crop.

"Reproduction" is under way at Tang Contemporary Art, where Sakarin has hung 12 miniature versions of the traditional Thai murals that depict communal activities.

The messages, spelled out on signs, include "This is not self-reliance" and "Helping each other". On a television screen is a live broadcast from the Ardel field.

The "propaganda" in the cultivation is explored in a group show with Ing K, Nipan Oranniwesna, Prateep Suthathongthai, Suporn Shoosongdej and Wantanee Siripattananuntakul titled "Paradise Engineering" at the Chulalongkorn University art centre.

Again, there is a live television feed from the Ardel plantation, and on the opposite wall messages like Pen thahan dai arai mak gua thee khun khid, meaning "Being a soldier rewards you beyond expectations", a mockery of military recruitment slogans.

"We're told that joining the army shows our patriotism and brings us many benefits," Sakarin says, "but often people are forced to join, and lose their rice fields because they're away from home.

"We're lured by all the political and advertising campaigns into always hoping for an ideal, perfect state. I'm trying to encourage people to seek real benefits right now."

Sakarin, now 41, has long taunted capitalism and greed. His 2005 exhibition "Cloud Nine" - filled with winged, white-porcelain street dogs - assailed the Thai lust for Western-style wealth. He followed that up by marshalling an army of beckoning nang kwak statuettes - symbols of prosperity - in a further condemnation of capitalism for 2006's "Equal Opportunity".

The Ardel Gallery is at Boromrachachonnanee Road Km10.5 and open daily except Monday from 10 to 6.30. Call (02) 422 2092 or visit ArdelGallery.com. The Tang is at Silom Galleria, open Monday to Saturday from 11 to 7. Call (02) 630 1114 or visit TangContemporary.com.

"Paradise Engineering" continues until March 1 in Chulalongkorn's Central Library Building. Come by any weekday from 9 to 7 or Saturdays until 4. Call (02) 218 2965 or visit Car.chula.ac.th/art.

Khetsirin Pholdhampalit

The Nation