Life Community Museum Bueng Kan (English Version)

life community MUSEUM

Living

a simple life in Isaan

Isaan

RENOVATION BUENGKAN

welcome

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Life Community Museum Bueng Kan Province

I first started to follow my dream when I departed a small village of some 50 households, Chilek Yai, Nong Pantha Sub-district, So Phisai District, Bueng Kan Province. I grew up in that low-profile community surrounded by pristine nature. Each morning one could see Buddhist monks on the morning alms round. Neighbors were warm-hearted.

My mother was very religious. She observed five precepts daily and practiced meditation every fortnight. I so was brought up to be rather devout.

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the power of

country

creative living

My life in Bangkok has been rather enjoyable. I like my job, my personal life and social circle.

Yet, it seems to revolve around designing and styling.

I offer consultancy

services to people who need styling for their food and agricultural products.

My work focuses on simplicity and sustainability.

My firm is small but my work brings me happiness. My social pastime involves serving as guest lecturer on the subject of food styling, designing and architecture.

From time to time I also work as a volunteer for Royal Project Foundation, besides other organizations. Volunteering is fun and has been my passion since I first took on the food styling route.

baci ceremony 13

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original

kitchen

good sharing

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thailand’s beloved King

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Whenever I return to my home town for a visit, it always brings back good memory. My current life style is now completely different from that of the past.

Living in the countryside back then I could visit my neighbors and chatted away.

Visiting a nearby temple

I could carry small talks on Buddhism with a monk. I was very fond of these old memories as they could revitalize me.

They also led me to discover the fact of life that happiness actually lies in the place one is most familiar with.

If such familiar space is further developed, it could possibly bring me even more joy. From my perspective, nature and Dhamma are simply commonplace and could serve as starting points to achieve my goal. One simply needs to apply a simply, yet stylish design.

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the painting on the wall

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sarongs for men

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thamma nature simple

Isaan

Culture

My mother suddenly passed away in 2017. A loss of a loved one has made me more mature spiritually.

This passing took place during the time the whole nation was in mourning for King Rama IX. I personally have served the Royal

Project Foundation, under the patronage of the late King, for some 13 years.

One day sometime in the afternoon, my father and I were sitting under a tree chatting. I would like to convert our house into a community museum. Wooden house of Isaan style is becoming less common these days.

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my countryside So Phisai

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Style

Inspiration

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real simple

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little garden

The name “Life Community Museum, Bueng Kan Province� came from the fact that my father is still occupy in his living quarters on the ground floor of this house. The upper floor has been converted into a museum. The place is in a community of acquaintances. The house and its compound occupies an area of about one acre with the following functionality.

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green

architecture

museum of

living community The wooden house is some 60 years old and construction of this style of building is rarely seen. I want to have it preserved for the sake of future generation.

Equipped with knowledge and experience in design, I decided to make the house more contemporary so as to attract millennials and younger generation who enjoy photography. Potentially, they could entice their elderly to visit this place.

There is a large terrace to accommodate

group activities. Entering the house, one sees a hallway, franking on each side with a smaller room.

Both rooms have been renovated using simple design.

Walls are hung with black and white photos of King Rama IX, commemorating his undertaking for the benefit of Thai people.

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a sence

of style

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Both rooms also display Isaan silk sarongs, the kind the locals wore with white top when they visited a temple in old time. On the other corner of the house is a traditional Isaan kitchen, rarely seen these days.

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The kitchen is intact and fully functional, equipped with kitchen utensils. The space next to the kitchen is a living room of white, green and brown colors. Brown plank wood walls, though aged, contrast well with other white and green items in the room.

The old house has

been renovated and become quite contemporary. A soul consoling ritual is often held here; after which people from the village enjoy a meal together the traditional way.

These events last took place during Song Kran 2018 where the SURIYAS in the area got together to perform Bai Sri (soul consoling) ritual. Bai Sri is an object made of banana leaves and decorated with marigold and cape jasmine. The latter is normally used for worshipping statues of Buddha. Bai Sri is a ritual where ones ask for blessings from their seniors. It is a touching practice that brings back good memories.

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traditional Isaan style clothes

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the art of

Isaan

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connected

to nature

green

Activity

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a space for

everything

There is a green multipurpose playground next to the museum. It is an open area made available to people in the community to meet where they can participate in any activities of their preference.

For example, the locals may bring

their bamboo basketry, textiles and handicrafts to be sold to tourists visiting the museum.

This generates local cash flow in the community to potentially improve their quality of life.

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bunch of paddy rice

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outdoor lighting

At times children gather at this place as their parents are busy selling food or souvenirs. They may enjoy activities made available to them such as drawing and painting. Some children have drawn pictures depicting their communities based on their imagination.

Such drawings have been displayed on site.

The playground can also accommodate events such as exhibitions and public counselling.

People often come to offer public services, share knowledge and experience and give public lectures. All these events have been organized as an attempt to add values to local products and to strengthen sustainable development of the community.

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back to basics

the community

market

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This market is situated in a rubber plantation right across the street to the museum. The locals may bring vegetables, domestic fowls as well as local food and sell them to tourists.

The market runs on Saturdays.

The locals get to socialize and earn extra income.

People are encouraged to wear Isaan traditional clothing using white top and traditional sarong or pants.

Food sold is of Isaan cuisine, mostly vegetable based.

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children

in the countryside

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pick

your moment

eat, share, live

the good

life

The market in the afternoon enjoys cold breezes under rubber trees and sounds of small bells. The serene environment of such sounds reminds ones of a temple where people practice meditation.

At the market, there are paintings on galvanized walls depicting way of life of Isaan people.

The paintings were created in 2017 by a group of alumni from Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University. There are also drawings and paintings depicting children in various activities such as sticky rice roasting, jumping into a canal, attending fighting cocks, catching fish in a lake, herding buffaloes and slingshotting. Tourists often use these photos as backdrop for photography.

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buengkan wall art

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nature

made

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life

community

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At this market, cultural events are also held.

Song Kran festival in 2018 was held at this place by the locals. Many high-profile people attended and a fashion show was organized. A lot of people took part in ramwong, a traditional audience-participation dance. People got together to ask for blessing and forgiveness from the elderly.

Morning alms round was conducted using sticky rice, followed by cooked dish offerings to a nearby temple. Many of these activities reflect the way of life of the locals.

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art&design

space

Next to the Market is a strip of land leading to a rice field.

This area is used for activities focusing on creativity. Strength and sustainability of the community is expressed through contemporary arts and objects. An old bicycle painted in violet and green is on display.

Violet is the official color of Bueng Kan Province while green is the color of the local museum.

Flags made of loin cloth are displayed on bamboo poles, something normally seen during Buddhist offering events.

Flowers are also grown in the area.

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green

space arts

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As of May 2018, students and faculty from the Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lad Krabang have provided technical assistance to create a space, employing a concept of creative economy to accommodate “Sculpture for Society” called

“From Milan to Bueng Kan”

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passion

for design

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life

in the field

thamma nature simple

Wat Pho Srimongkol

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This is a small temple next to a rice field.

My mother usually went to this place to practice meditation.

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thamma

The temple is only less than 20 meters from the museum, currently run by 5 monks. There is a multi-purpose hall for various religious activities. A monk cell was left unattended and could potentially be renovated.

With a permission from the abbot,

the cell has been renovated to serve as a gallery of Isaan Buddhist handicraft.

The art objects in the gallery depict unique Isaan perspectives on nature of human beings, namely, birth, ageing, sickness and death. Both the gallery and the museum are open to public.

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temple

history

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birth ageing sickness death

simply the best

A plan is in place to implement a project on integrated approach of practical knowledge to community. The project has been supported by students and the faculty of Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lad Krabang. Knowledge and learning experience have been applied to develop the community by focusing on creative economy and sustainable development.

The project includes “Community Painting and City Transforming” activity involving drawings and paintings on the wall of some 50 households in the community.

The idea is to create a tourism based on local culture and way of life. All the arts have been created by students and the faculty of Fine Arts for the Society, Faculty of Architecture. This community is expected to serve as a model of “Fine Arts for Sustainable Tourism” in an Isaan village.

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a

change of mood

design forward

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Currently, the renovated monk cell is open to tourists. “A Day in So Phisai� project is being initiated to attract tourists to visit areas where they can enjoy dhamma and nature.

The idea is to stimulate people to seek spiritual contentment derived from nature and dhamma. In each sub-district, one can find natural landscapes and temples. One such temple is Wat Danwiwake under Luang Por Tui, the follower of Luang Por Man Bhuritatto, some 29 kilometers from the museum.

community friendly

live with

what you love

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Museum Founder Mr. Suthipong Suriya (Karb) Originally from a countryside currently lives in the capital, he owns Karb Studio, a company providing consultancy in branding for food and agricultural products. He is a 5-time winner of Gourmand Awards (Spain). His slogan is “Simply the Best”. His interests include dhamma, arts and community’s way of life.

FB : KARB STUDIO

life community MUSEUM

Life Community Museum

Nong Pantha Sub-distruct So Phisai District Bueng Kan Province

FB : Life Community Museum Bueng kan