Pleased to share Apichatpong Weerasethakul as one of the artists featuring at The International Contemporary Art Festival, Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023. This is an international stage for artists to showcase their talents and support the art and cultural dimension.

The Artistic Directors, Mr. Rirkrit Tiravanija and Ms. Gridthiya Gaweewong, and co-curators introduced the “Open World” concept during the site visit. While conducting their research on Chiang Rai Province, they had investigated Wat Pa Sak’s “open world” Buddha statue. Buddha stands on a lotus flower with his arms at his sides, hands slightly raised with his palms extended outwards, “opening the world” for all three worlds – the heavenly world, the underworld, and the human world – with his magnificent power representing wisdom and awakening.

The meaning of “Open World” could be considered quite literal but also conveys how art perception opens the world and connects reality, leading us to question whether we can ever imagine the possibility of a better future.

– Courtesy of Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023.