Chulalongkorn University Museum: Bodies of Knowledge to the People, 2023-2024

In the fiscal year 2023, Chulalongkorn University Museum organized a series of rotating exhibitions of a variety of content targeting various target groups. The museum also offered youth-oriented activities in collaboration with internal and external university offices and organizations. All exhibitions and activities were provided without charges. The following exhibitions and activities were presented by the museum:

Exhibition

(1) “Tom Tong Mien”: An Exhibition of the Yao Ceremonial Paintings. The painting exhibition was offered during October 9, 2023, to January 10, 2024, showcasing folklore, embroidery, rituals and the instruments used by the Yao people. The center pieces, the sacred paintings of Yao deities used in the rituals, were presented in the light of aesthetics of Chinese-influenced visual arts. The exhibition aimed to foster an understanding of Yao life, rituals, history, culture, and their faith.

(2) Nature’s Treasure Exhibition. As a collaboration between Office of Art and Culture, Department of Geology, and Museum of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, this exhibition ran from December 15, 2023, to February 15, 2024. The part of geological content in the department’s classrooms was presented artistically to disseminate the knowledge to the public.

Basic geological information was presented in an accessible way to the public. Rocks and minerals were displayed with over twenty fluorescent minerals glowing under the black light as the highlight of the exhibition.

(3) An Exhibition on a Creative Research, “Pha-yu” (Storm): Thai Contemporary Paintings Inspired by Mural paintings along The Mae Khong River on the Thai-Laos Border May Affect the Interpretation of the Dharmic Principles of Buddhism. Art works by Anurot Chanphosri were exhibited during March 13 – May 30, 2024. The works were created by using drawing from Hoop Tam, Northeastern Thai mural, found on the chapel walls of Wat Sanuan Wari Phatthanaram, Khon Kaen, and developed them using local art knowledge from Lao People’s Democratic Republic and other document research. New drawings are created uniquely by the artist using various techniques. One of the techniques is using paraffin as foundation to create patterns on the ruptured surfaces, engraving, drawing on fabric with sharp steel creating shapes, tie-die with navy, black, and brown colors for strong, robust feels.

(4) Building Blocks of the University Exhibition. Office of Art and Culture, in collaboration with Faculty or Architecture, organized an exhibition during March 26 to August 30, 2024, as part of the university’s 107^th anniversary celebration. The exhibition was supported by faculty members of faculties of Fine and Applied Arts, Arts, and Engineering, and Office of Physical Resources Management, Chulalongkorn University. The exhibition presented the history of building the “headquarter”, or presently Maha Chulalongkorn Building, which is the first historic building of the university. The exhibits included architectural information, stucco patterns, as well as bodies of knowledge in restoration and conservation of the campus’ most important historic structure. The exhibits were in the forms of photography, video, augmented reality, and 360-degree models.

(5) An Exhibition: Happiness Within. Being on displayed between June 26 – August 6, 2024, the exhibition presents the concept of creating happiness from within; and learning to connect with the happiness through positive handling of adverse feelings, expression of emotions, and connecting with the nature and surroundings. The art works created by Napussaya Navalong (aka. Mindmelody) and Kripol Kittisirot (aka. Double E) with various media telling stories and creating an awareness for the spectators with an emphasis on the importance of connecting happiness with life balance.

“Happiness Within” is not just an art exhibition, but it is an inspiration of hope, courage, and understanding of the pursuit of happiness and satisfaction in own lives, so everyone can live happily and build a sustainable quality society.

(6) New Generation of Sangkhalok Figurine Exhibition. The exhibition was shown during August 27-September 27, 2024, presenting Sangkhalok Figurines (ancient Thai ceramic ware from the 12^th-13^th centuries) were created with designs reflecting the modern day, basing on data collected from Generation Z participants, who are considered to be have access to information around the world and trendsetters.

The exhibits present information of the making of the original Sangkhalok figurines from the ancient Thai time, and the new designs in which the artist, Chanakarn Semachai, worked with Gen Z participants aging between 8-15 years old (higher elementary and middle school students), showing the blending of techniques and contemporary aesthetics. The last part of the exhibition encouraged audience participation, inviting spectators to design their own Sangkhalok figurines following a question, “How does your Sangkhalok figurine look like?”

Special Activities

(1) Night at the Museum Festival 2023. This activity was led by Chulalongkorn University Museum and its network of eight other museums under the university, namely, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Geology, The Professor Kasin Suvatabandhu Herbarium, The Museum of Imaging and Printing Technology, Department of Microbiology, Department of Physics, Department of Marine Science, and Aquatic Resources Research Institute. The public was invited to attend the museums in the event called Night Museum @ Chula, in the evening from 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM everyday during December 15-17, 2023. Various activities were offered, including examining Thai elephant fossils, observing Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope, and dissecting internal organs of a shark.

(2) Children’s Day Event, “Children Day @ Chula 2024: Create – Learn – Play”. Office of Art and Culture in collaboration with Museum of Natural History, Early Childhood Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Art, Music and Dance Education, and Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, hosted a Children’s Day event of January 13, 2024, offering numerous activities in open spaces for children and families to have fun while learning from experiencing art, music, and science through activities such as dissecting a crocodile, painting, rock painting, sand art using iridescent sand from mussel shells, having fun in the Loose Parts Play Space, listening to beautiful music from young artists alongside the CU Chamber, and listening to a performance by the Thailand Children’s Choir.