Inspired by acclaimed international Thai artist, Inson Wongsam, the international symposium Public Art In (ter) vention was held from 17th – 20th February, 2005 in Lamphun and Chiang Mai, Thailand and was the culmination of a year long community art project entitled “Fly with Me to Another World”.
The Chiang Mai and Fukuoka based artist Navin Rawanchaikul launched this project of linking the local with the international, to parallel the journeys of Inson and himself.
The aims of the Public Art In(ter)vention were to evaluate the impact of the project, address the positions of indigenous traditions within contemporary contexts, discuss contemporary art’s dialogue with community, explore potential collaborations among artists, art professionals and community organisers which creatively address social and environmental concerns, inspire social commitment in the new generation and pave the way for interdisciplinary community art projects.
Featuring 220 local, regional and international participants, the event was enriched by field trips, a film screening and other events in Lamphun and Chiang Mai which also involved local audiences and passers by. Discussions during the symposium were often heated, always engaging and never irrelevant.
ASEF awarded a Cultural Grant in support of the active participation of Carl Michael von Hausswolff (Sweden), Manu Luksch (UK/Austria), Alia Swastika (Indonesia), Saskia Bos (Netherlands) and Rirkrit Tiravanija (Germany/Thailand) as well as the printing of most of the conference’s publications.