The Venture Thailand’s past winners Somsak Boonkam, left, and Aliza Napartivaumnuay, centre, share their experience with the crowd. photo courtesy of Pimplus

Back in its third year, Chivas Regal’s global campaign The Venture is now seeking potential social enterprises to compete on a world stage for the chance to win a share of US$1 million (347 million baht).

“We believe business success and social giving should work hand in hand. I think that’s really important,” said Quentin Job, managing director of Pernod Ricard (Thailand), at a press conference held last Friday at The Hive Bangkok. “Success is not just about winning. Success is about winning the right way.”

Making profit at the same time as helping improve our society is the key of social enterprises. Past winners of The Venture in Thailand are Socialgiver and Local Alike — two online lifestyle platforms that reach out to the community and various services, connecting both locals and travellers with an array of experiences and special deals around the country.

Sharing their experience competing in The Venture were Aliza Napartivaumnuay from Socialgiver, winner of The Venture 1, and second-year winner Somsak Boonkam from Local Alike.

For Aliza, creating social impact is what she deems the heart of any social enterprise. The business of giving back, to her, gives the right kind of balance in thriving in the business world. “I like doing volunteer work. But while I feel that NGO work and charity are a way of solving society’s problems, in another way, I want what I do to be more sustainable than just receiving donation money and being done with it,” Aliza said. She suggested social entrepreneurs should be good listeners and discuss the issues with targeted locals to find a communal solution.

Somsak felt the value of the experience he got through the competition outweighed the prize money. “I got to meet so many business leaders,” said Somsak, who was fresh off of competing at The Venture 2’s world stage last month in New York. “I made friends from 29 other countries, and we all came with similar ideals.”

While it started off with just 17 participating countries, The Venture now welcomes social entrepreneurs from over 30 countries around the globe. Applicants must be individuals or companies with a registered member over the age of 25. Their enterprises must be able to generate profit, as well as help create a better society in ways such as improving the environment, social responsibility, or bettering the people’s standard of living. Businesses must be in either a start-up or growing stage. The winners from Thailand will be announced early next year, and will go on to represent the country at the international round of The Venture, held in mid-2017.

Pita Limjaroenrat, managing director of Ceo Agrifood Co, and who has been on The Venture Thailand’s judging panel, gave some tips to the crowd on what constitutes the best social enterprises. They must take into consideration the profit, the people and the planet.

“It’s a conscious capitalism,” he said. “You have to be competitive and compassionate. and the enterprise has to be scalable. If you mean well, but you can’t compete in the business world, you’ll be gone after two years.”

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

While sweeping on lipstick has varied with playful ombre and two-tones, finding one flattering shade can still be a fuss for many women.

Match Made foundation and lipstick service at Boots. Photo: Boots Thailand

Without having to compare messy swatches, a simple selection process is available at Boots stores, where the No7 Match Made Lipstick Service helps ladies co-ordinate lip, cheek and foundation shades in doing their make-up.

The service involves an assessment by a handheld device that measures the skin’s saturation, intensity, colour and tone. The in-store analysis gives a fitting foundation from the Airbrush Away or Beautifully Matte ranges, and complementing lip colour from the Moisture Drench and Stay Perfect collections.

The lipstick shades come in six colour families: light pink, dark pink, plum, coral, red and natural. Boots’ colour scientists developed the diagnosis by assessing the impact of 60 shades on women of different ages, with different hair colours and skin tones.

The product testing expanded to how wearing the correct colour can have positive emotional effects on women in making them feel great about themselves, whether in building confidence or looking glamorous.

Match Made foundation and lipstick service at Boots. Photo: Boots Thailand

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The increasing number of Zika virus cases in Thailand reflects improved screening procedures and growing awareness of the condition among health workers in the country, an expert claims.

Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general Amnuay Kajeena said yesterday that more cases does not mean the Zika infection rate in the country is getting worse.

Dr Amnuay was speaking out in response to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s report, identifying Thailand as a “red zone” country for Zika infections as a high prevalence of infections has been reported over the past three months in the country.

The centre also identified Thailand as the most dangerous country in Southeast Asia for Zika infections.

According to Public Health Ministry, 97 Zika cases have been reported in Thailand from January up to the end of June in 10 provinces, compared to an average of five to seven each year in the past.

The number of cases alone could not determine the status of the disease, Dr Amnuay said adding several factors including situation reports on the condition must be included in studies.

He urged the public to adhere to information in a report from the World Health Organisation, saying the organisation has not boosted its travel warning for Thailand.

Dr Amnuay said the Ministry of Public Health has implemented measures to prevent infections from spreading by urging health personnel to conduct screening tests on any case suspected of being Zika. A suspected case must undergo tests requiring epidemiological procedures.

If a case is reported, a team of epidemiologists will respond immediately to inspect and investigate the case, he said.

Health workers taking care of Zika patients will also undergo tests to determine if they have been infected, he added.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 88th Academy Awards nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, on Feb 8, 2016. (Reuters photo)

Jennifer Lawrence is the world’s highest-paid actress in 2016 for the second year in a row, followed by Melissa McCarthy, who notched a big gain to claim the runner-up spot, Forbes magazine reported on Tuesday.

Lawrence, the star of the “Hunger Games” franchise, has earned $46 million before taxes over 12 months in part from a big upfront fee for the forthcoming movie “Passengers,” Forbes said. The earnings mark an 11.5 percent drop from her 2015 total.

McCarthy has $33 million in earnings, up $10 million from her estimate for the year before, in part from her payday for the reboot of “Ghostbusters.”

Scarlett Johansson of “Captain America: Civil Wars” was third at $25 million, down nearly 30% from 2015.

The rest of the 2016 top 10 are:

4. Jennifer Aniston – $21 million

5. Fan Bingbing – $17 million

6. Charlize Theron – $16.5 million

7. Amy Adams – $13.5 million

8. Julia Roberts – $12 million

9. Mila Kunis – $11 million

10. Deepika Padukone – $10 million

Padukone, an Indian, is the only newcomer on the list.

The totals cover from June 1, 2015 to June 1 of this year, before fees and taxes. 

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Sirikul Pattachote and Tawan Wattuya at their ‘Peculiar Nature’ exhibition at Lodge Gallery, New York. Photos courtesy of Tawan Wattuya and Sirikul Pattachote

We are all dogs. Loyal like a dog. Obedient like a dog. Biting like a dog. Barking like a dog. Marking our territory like a dog.

The manifestation of carnal nature and organic intuition is at the heart of New York’s The Lodge exquisite exhibition “A Peculiar Nature”. In an effort to capture what it is to be human, Thai artists Tawan Wattuya and Sirikul Pattachote pit raw expression and internal sensibility against one another like moves in a chess game. Wilting roses lean towards a watchful black panther ready to pounce. A cheetah readies to leap onto tulips days past their prime. The watercolour paintings complement, using the medium that seems to be threatened by extinction, somehow taking on traditional gender roles without meaning to.

The range of emotions on display is vast and volatile. One creator works at night, after pints of beer. The other picks up her brush in the morning, after a prayer, before running out the door to get to work at an architecture firm. Both are acutely aware of the parallels between human nature and the instincts of basic life forms.

The exhibition is not the first time either Thai artists have shown in New York. Tawan, along with other household names like Chatchai Puipia, Kamin Lertchaiprasert, and Kamolpan Chotvichai, exhibited in a group show at Sundaram Tagore in Chelsea in 2014, while New York-based Sirikul has steadily shown works in galleries all over the city since 2010.

Tawan has long been exposing his human subjects, often drawing them without the shield of their uniforms. In previous projects, he united the Thai art circle in a tapestry of naked bodies and recognisable faces or characteristics, turned political figures and TV personalities into monsters, melted the faces of beauty queens, and lined students in uniforms up like dark spots on a gingham. Sometimes, he ventured out of the realm of Homo sapiens and discerned human qualities in dogs, in tanks and jet planes.

“I was raised to be a dog,” he says. When he paints dogs, he thinks of them as people in the guise of a dog.

‘A Peculiar Nature’ at Lodge Gallery, New York. Tawan Wattuya and Sirikul Pattachote

For the series shown in “A Peculiar Nature”, Tawan explores other creatures in the animal kingdom. He veers from questioning appearances as a focal point but still tackles the notion of social identity with a consistently sharp irony.

Tawan began painting animals at the end of last year, first finding interest in animals we prey on, then in predators. He recalls travelling through eastern Europe during his residency in Budapest, and encountering a taxidermy display across from the National Museum in Prague, which was closed on the day he wanted to visit. When he returned to Thailand, he began painting from the photographs of stuffed animals he took there.

“Each country has its own national animal. Each zodiac has an animal sign,” Tawan observes. “I’m interested in why so many countries have lions or tigers as their national animals though these beasts are not even local.”

He finds contradictions in the myths and narratives people and nations build around themselves. What is it about these animals we want so much to identify with? Through his iconic brushstrokes, at once fluid and exact, the gut emerges from within the animals.

Seen axiomatically, dogs bark, tigers hunt, pigs have sex. It is as if one can only be free to behave according to its true temperament when stripped of human skin.

Sirikul draws from a different well of emotions, one marked by the shadows and trickling lines she meticulously paints. In ways that Tawan’s paintings jar viewers, Sirikul makes you slow down to smell the flowers. She crystallises feelings, making her unknown known.

At first glance, Sirikul’s flowers immediately bring to mind Georgia O’keeffe’s personified flowers, symbols of life and death. In fact, the flowers Sirikul paints have started wilting since her father passed away three years ago.

“I paint as a morning ritual,” she says, “though it’s not like painting anymore, it’s like a meditation. When I see flowers, I see a tool.”

These flowers, she takes off the mantle where a statue of Buddha and a photograph of her late father rest. In this way, her preoccupations with samsara, with Buddhist practices, with quiet emotions translate physically on to the white paper. Sirikul titles the paintings subjectively.

In Between, a blooming flower rises in between two wilting buds. In Attraction, a blossom bends over another, as if leaning in for a kiss. The flowers hold stories within them — drawing sadness up from the roots and retaining the pain like holding water, then letting go and fading away.

‘A Peculiar Nature’ at Lodge Gallery, New York. Tawan Wattuya and Sirikul Pattachote

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Kasetsart Animal Hospital. Photo: Melalin Mahavongtrakul

Normally a lively and eager-to-please Chihuahua, Mee-pool became miserably sick earlier this year. Even though it was merely a canine cold the treatment cost more than 1,000 baht and that prompted owner, Manuschaya Chairat, to seek pet insurance for her two-year-old four-legged friend.

“It was the cool season when he caught the cold, which may strike again this rainy season. If so, expensive medical treatment will not be such a burden since my dog now has pet insurance,” said Manuschaya, who last month purchased a policy from Aeon Insurance Service for Mee-pool, who is named after the English football team Liverpool.

She pays a monthly instalment for the annual 3,800 baht premium. Besides veterinary treatment, the insurance policy also covers pranks of the Mexican toy breed notorious for snapping strangers.

“I was more interested in the medical treatment cover more than other benefits from the policy. And I have recommended it to my friends, including one who has a bulldog,” she added.

Animal rights and welfare is a sensitive issue in Thailand. But although almost every day we hear tear-jerking news stories about the mistreatment of animals, especially stray dogs and cats, there are a lot of businesses that cater to the high-end pet market, too. The pet insurance business is one of them, with Muang Thai having pioneered canine and feline policies while Mittare introduced dog insurance with a breed-based premium structure.

“Launched three to four years ago, the Muang Thai Cats & Dogs Insurance serves as a lifestyle product for pet owners,” said the insurer’s senior executive vice-president Wasit Lamsam. “We have thousands of clients but that is relatively low compared to the number of pet owners, who love their cats and dogs as if they were their own kids.”

More marketing and public relations activities need to be carried out, he noted, to raise awareness and an understanding of the pet insurance policy and its cover, which includes death by accident or sickness; medical expenses caused by accident or sickness; and third party liability caused by pets.

The lack of statistics, such as medical expenses, frequency of sickness and accident by breed, hinders the design of appropriate policies to meet the circumstances of the country’s growing pet population.

Statistics are available in pet-loving nations with a well-established insurance industry. According to a BBC report released in March, a record-breaking 911,000 pet insurance claims were made last year in the UK, further citing that most of Britain’s 9 million dog owners and 7.9 million cat owners do not pay for insurance cover.

An unanticipated claim for a costly Louis Vuitton bag damaged by a tiny toy breed had Muang Thai reviewing the coverage of third party liability caused by a pet, cutting it to 1,000 baht per time per year.

“We wanted to focus more on the coverage for accident and sickness since rising medical expenses is a major concern among pet owners,” said Wasit. “The policy also covers advertising costs to find lost pets, of which no claim has yet been made.”

Death by accident, including the recent case on board Nok Air’s cargo in which a Siberian Husky was found dead on a flight from Bangkok to Trang, would have been covered if the dog had been insured.

The insurance is offered to pooches and kitties with or without microchips. The premium for microchipped pets ranges from 2,600-6,500 baht per year whereas coverage includes medical expenses for accidents (2,000-10,000 per incident) and from sickness (a maximum of 5,000 to 25,000 per year).

Underwriting conditions include an entry age at three months and an upper age limit of seven years; pets have to be vaccinated and healthy without injury and disability.

Revising these limits may attract more clients, particularly those with older dogs and cats due to their longer lifespans following better care and advanced veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

Saraporn Asawavetvutt, for instance, is interested in pet insurance but her pretty and spoiled Pomeranian, Namcha, is already seven-years-old.

The average lifespan of a healthy and well-cared Pomeranian is from 12-16 while a Chihuahua is longer, 15-20 years. With ageing comes medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, of which the occurring vet expenses are covered in policies for pets at any age offered in the UK and the US.

“My Beagle, Chaiyo, had an eye wart removal, which cost me thousands of baht. The electrosurgery for dogs was more expensive than when I had my own mole removal,” said pet owner Chuteeporn Ratanarat.

Because of big vet bills, the communications manager is interested in buying insurance for five-year-old Chaiyo and his equally handsome brother, Obo. Both of them are on-paws explorers, which is another concern for the owner.

“Beagles rate high in lost pet statistics because of their wanderlust nature in following fascinating sights or smells. I want to get Chaiyo and Obo pet insurance but I don’t really know about the available policy, conditions and coverage,” she said

Still in its infancy, the local pet insurance business will have to continuously communicate to target groups in order to raise awareness.

Broker for Muang Thai, Aeon Insurance Service promotes its Dog & Cat Lover policy through monthly statements sent out to Aeon card members.

The company’s managing director, Sakarabhop Dhivarakara anticipates a positive response of what was initially market testing, deeming that the relatively new product corresponds to the growing pet care businesses, such as in offering food, accessories and services. “Dog spas and cat cafes didn’t exist a decade ago but today they have become a part of pets’ lifestyles. If owners can afford hundreds of baht for dog grooming, they may well pay for pet insurance,” said Sakarabhop.

Japan’s pet insurance industry is more advanced than Thailand, he added, with more players competing in attracting pet owners, of which a considerable number live alone with dogs and cats as their companions.

Sakarabhop predicts a similar “single society” trend for Thailand, where additionally childless couples, as well as same-sex partners may nurture canine and feline kids instead.

“Pet insurance will become more relevant to people’s lives, like having life and car insurance. Middle-class pet owners will be particularly interested in taking out this type of insurance to mitigate against veterinary bills,” he said. “However, because of the lack of marketing, it is not yet a booming business. More insurance companies will jump on the bandwagon to offer me-too products.”

The country’s first company to offer dog insurance, Mittare, has already taken that to the next level by structuring the premium based on breed — from mongrels (1,000 baht) and Thai Ridgebacks (2,650 baht) to Shis Tzus (2,650 baht) and Bull Terriers (3,950 baht).

For microchipped and vaccinated canines aged three to seven-years-old, the policy covers death by accident or sickness, medical expenses caused by accident and third party liability caused by pets.

Underwriter Pongphera Jirapongdechanon receives many phone inquiries from interested dog owners but they may be reluctant about pet insurance, in the same way that they have to think twice about buying other types of insurance.

“People may not yet understand the benefits of pet insurance,” he said. “The thinking that their dogs mostly stay at home and are well taken care of makes owners overlook unexpected financial costs that may occur.”

Namcha. Photo: Kanokporn Chanasongkram

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

People’s Gallery

Second Floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Until Sunday Tue-Sun, 10am-9pm Call 089-142-3134

Jetsada Leelanuwatkul presents “BTSscape”, a series of fleeting and impressionistic photos of Bangkok through BTS windows.

Tentacles

N22, Narathiwat Ratchanakharin 22 Until Sept 4 Wed-Sun, 11am-8pm Call 089-117-3434

“Three-Cornered World” is Pam Virada’s ongoing site-specific installation of objects and images. It’s an attempt at collecting memories like an archive and projecting the artist’s mental state for viewers.

Tars Gallery

10/3 Soi Srijun, Sukhumvit 67 Until Sept 23 Wed-Fri, 2pm-6pm Call 099-736-8672

“(In)territories/rituals”, featuring Alexandre Lavet, New-territories/M4, Ruangsak Anuwatwimon and Thomas Merret, explores different states of the in-between, whether it’s in the geological, historical or spatial sense.

RMA Institute

238 Soi Sai Nam Thip 2 Sukhumvit 22 Until Oct 2 Tue-Sun, 9.30am-7pm Call 02-663-0809

“Nacht Wellen”, an ongoing project by Ralf Tooten, explores the enigmatic curiousness of the ocean seas through lowlight photography.

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This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

‘The Magnificent Five’ exhibition at Paragon Cineplex. Photos courtesy of Thai Film Archive

The five cameras are displayed in a glass box in the glitziest multiplex in town. Spot the irony?

The quintet of vintage cameras in “The Magnificent Five” exhibition are film devices — meaning they record motion pictures through chemical reaction and imprint them on a strip of celluloid. These antiquated machines are on show at Paragon Cineplex, which, like virtually all cinemas in the world today, screens film using the digital system, by which a technician playbacks packaged data stored in a hard drive.

In short, film was once physical — you could actually touch it. Now it’s abstract, ephemeral, all 1 and 0.

Curated by Thai Film Archive (Public Organisation), “The Magnificent Five” brings back five classic film cameras — sturdy and sophisticated in body and mechanism, while their appearances in a modern multiplex inspire a philosophical reflection on the voyage of motion picture technology in the past 120 years. These are the handsome grandfathers who make a surprise visit to the house of their distant, digital grandchildren.

But the allegory preferred by Dome Sukvong, film historian and Thai Film Archive director, is not one about technology but about religion. The Thai title Dome has given to the exhibition is “Benjapakee” (literally “The Fellowship Of The Five”), a term borrowed from the amulet trade referring to the five most coveted, most sacred Buddha amulets. Those who possess all five of them are said to be the most powerful. For Dome, these five cameras exhibit the same holy vibe as the spiritual talismans.

Even if you’re not an expert and couldn’t care less if Suicide Squad or City Light you’re watching on the screen is projected by 35mm film or a digital drive, the five cameras at the lobby of Paragon Cineplex are just beautiful to look at — a marvel of early-20th century handmade apparatuses and functional design, all in the service of a new invention that would soon become one of the biggest industries in the world.

In “The Magnificent Five”, Dome explains that the oldest model on show is called Pathe Studio. Developed by the Frenchman Charles Morand Pathe in 1903, the camera is covered in Moroccan pig skin and houses a complicated film mechanism. Before World War I, it was the most popular film camera in the world. It was also the camera used by Prince Sappasart Supakit, the pioneer of filmmaking in Siam.

During the silent film era, the Bell & Howell 2709 camera, first built in 1909, was the reliable workhorse. It was originally a manual camera, requiring the cameraman to roll the film while shooting, before an electronic motor was attached in a later upgrade. Charlie Chaplin owned one of this beauty; in Siam, it was the camera used by Henry McRae to film Nang Sao Suwanna (Suwanna of Siam) in 1923.

Next is the Debrie Parvo camera, made by Joseph Jules Debrie in 1908. A machine of cubist elegance, it can load 390 feet of 35mm film and was a favourite camera of the Soviet masters such a Sergei Eisenstein and Dziga Vertov. It was also used extensively by Siamese cameramen to record newsreel footage.

Iconic in its look, the Mitchell Standard is perhaps what people today still remember how a film camera looks. Built in 1921 by Henry Boger and George Alfred Mitchell, it can load up to 1,000 feet of 35mm film, and it became popular among Hollywood filmmakers when “talking pictures” replaced silent film in the 1930s.

And finally we have Ariflex, developed in 1937 by August Arnold and Robert Richter. Boasting a simple loading system with three rotating lenses, this lightweight camera was a standard device after World War II. Thai filmmakers in the 35mm era, beginning in the 1970s, relied on this camera in their shooting, even when the model was discontinued in 1978.

It may be difficult for the smartphone generation, where moving images can be recorded through a few pushes of a button, to imagine a time when motion pictures required bulky machines to ensure that atomised light and shadow could be captured. “The Magnificent Five” is about old-fashioned tools, but they are also a precious reminder of how the magic of cinema has evolved over time.

The Debrie Parvo camera first came out in 1908.

The Bell & Howell 2709 camera, developed in 1909 and popular in the silent film era.

The Mitchell Standard camera first came out in 1921 and was popular in Hollywood when ‘talking pictures’ replaced silent film.

The Ariflex camera, a favourite among Thai filmmakers in the 35mm era.

The Pathe Studio camera. The model came out in 1903.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Booster, centre, with his clones, Boosted and Busted. Photo: Davis Hawn

Despite the improving healthcare and pet insurance that has been popular recently, all pet owners know — though are unwilling to accept — that death is eventually inescapable. While most just let go of their furry friends and pray against all odds that they may be reunited in the next lifetime, some people take matters into their own hands and spare no expense in trying to keep their pets by their side through the process of cloning.

American retiree Davis Hawn is one such owner who refuses to abide by life’s inevitables. He is now the proud owner of two labrador retriever pups — named Boosted and Busted — that were cloned from his beloved service dog Booster, now deceased.

Hawn is very passionate about his canine pals, especially Booster, whose companionship turned his life around when he fell into dangerous depression years ago.

“[Booster] was my rock,” wrote Hawn in his email. “When he died, in a way, I died.”

Now, Hawn occupies his life with the fascination of the young clones he received from Sooam Biotech, an animal cloning facility in Seoul, South Korea. The cost of cloning a dog is about US$100,000 (3.5 million baht). Needless to say this budget surpasses the cost of buying new dogs or even the cost of breeding.

While breeding pets is a cheaper and more “natural” alternative for a pet replacement, it didn’t feel the same for Hawn. He actually bred Booster and discovered the pup he got from breeding inherited bad genes, which he found to be a waste of time and money.

However, he claimed his cloned pups are exhibiting “previous life traits” of the late Booster. Aside from similarities in looks, Boosted and Busted lack aggression and excel at tasks like opening the refrigerator, fetching Hawn water, turning on light switches and even walking in between people’s legs asking for a butt scratch — the many small things Booster used to do.

“It is often said you can’t clone personality, but in this case, it’s very close. It’s like getting the same ingredients to make a cake,” explained Hawn. He also denied he’s playing God, as he was accused by many. He rather views the process as “photocopying” God’s creation.

Giving scientific explanation with regard to cloning is veterinarian Dr Anawat Sangmalee — lecturer at the Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University — who said a photocopy is one way to describe a clone. Cloned animals are genetically the same as their originals, but they’re also completely new beings on their own. While they may look the mirror image, their personality isn’t clone-able.

“Personality is moulded from how animals are raised. And even in the same environment, animals do respond and develop differently. Some owners may eventually find and realise that their new pets aren’t the same as the ones they once loved,” said Anawat.

“Still, in some cases, if the clones live in the same environment and receive the same treatment as the original, and if they also happen to possess similar learning processes and responses, then they could grow up with a personality similar to the original.”

In countries like the US and Brazil, some livestock are cloned for their meat and milk. News also broke last year that China was looking to clone their cattle to meet rising consumer demand. Anawat believes the facility in Seoul is one of a few that has gone fully commercial, and is possibly the only one that can clone dogs with a guaranteed success rate.

In Thailand, Anawat further reported that Assoc Prof Dr Rangsun Parnpai’s team at Suranaree University of Technology in Nakhon Ratchasima has been cloning animals, like cats and cows, for years but for academic purposes only. While cloning is not mentioned in the Thai Animal Welfare Bill, it is regarded as a scientific experiment and hence the procedure is reserved for educational and research purposes only. So far, there has been no commercial attempt of it in the country, yet.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

H Gallery in North Sathorn is hosting controversial discussion “Talking Fear” on August 27 from 1.30-4.30pm. The talk is part of education programme of “Fear” exhibition by Thai artist Manit Sriwanichpoom. His shows are now currently on view at H, Tang Contemporary and his own Kathmandu Photography galleries in Bangkok until September 10 and Singapore’s Yavuz Gallery until September 18.

The “fear” of the show’s title refers to the trepidation that living in military-ruled Thailand involves, in such a sensitive time of transition. Manit addresses that fear in artful photographs and a pair of videos depicting the political turmoil and its impact on the monarchy.

Besides Manit, the panelists include his fellow artist-lecturer Sutee Kunavichayanont and art lecturer Toeingam Guptabutra – both from Silpakorn University.

The discussion is in Thai with Eglish translation for non-Thai participants. Visit www.facebook.com/kathmandugallerybangkok

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

Another ancient artifact, believed to have been smuggled out of temple ruins in Buri Ram, is being exhibited at the Chong-Moon Lee Centre for Asian Art and Culture in San Francisco, according to a local conservation group.

A sandstone horse sculpture (bottom left) is alleged by Samnuek 100 Ong conservation group to have been smuggled out of Buri Ram. (Photo captured from the Chong-Moon Lee Centre for Asian Art and Culture website)

The artifact is a sandstone sculpture featuring a horse which represents the mount of Phra Pai, or God of Wind in Hindu belief. It appears on the museum’s webpage.

Tanongsak Hanpong, leader of Samnuek 100 Ong conservation group, said on Wednesday the point of origin of the sculpture, as stated by the museum in its webpage, is from Phanom Rung Sanctuary in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, also in Buri Ram.

The San Franscisco-based museum has come under fire from the conservation group which has accused it of possessing a lintel believed to have been stolen from Nong Hong temple ruins, in Non Din Daeng district, also in Buri Ram.

The lintel, featuring Lord Yama, or the God of Death, disappeared from Nong Hong temple ruins years ago, said Mr Tanonsak who, in making the claim, cited a museum photo of the lintel which matched with the one taken by the late Manit Vallibhotama for his report of temple ruins in the Northeast in 1960-1961.

More importantly, the museum put “Nong Hong temple, Buri Ram” as the lintel’s place of origin.

The businessman-turned-conservationist on Wednesday called for the Fine Arts Department to set up a working group to pursue the return of the Lord Yama lintel from the San Franscisco museum.

The group it is conducting a signature collection campaign to gather public support for its demand to the Fine Arts Department to take swift action in the case. The campaign is initiated by Non Din Daeng Municipal Office.

“The working group must include representatives from the people’s sector,” he said, adding that the people’s sector is wary of the sluggish action by the Fine Arts Department. 

With regard to the horse sculpture, Mr Tanongsak said experts in the group are measuring the base at the Phanom Rung sanctuary where it is believed the sculpture was installed before it was stolen. 

“This is to see if the base matches the artifact in the San Francisco museum collection. If so, we will press for the Fine Arts Department to take action and secure its return,” he said.

The Chong-Moon Lee Centre for Asian Art and Culture has not replied to requests for comment made by the Bangkok Post.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

DESIGNER DIANE VON Furstenberg, has revealed her new “Love Power” autumn collection, inspired by the movement of dancing.

Porndej Chantavanich and Vikanda Pattanabum-rung, executives of DVF (Thailand), recently hosted the launch of the new collection at the brand’s boutique at the Emquartier shopping complex.

The new looks are seen through a palette of peacock blues and light greys. There is a chiffon apron dress and crisp shorts with a bow blouse to add a bit of vintage fashion to the collection. Rediscovering print in new ways, an intarsia print vest is embellished with jacquard appliques edged in beads. A print grows into three dimensions on a jacket woven with fine threads |and a carefully finished bustier top, with a leather skirt that reveals insets of soft chiffon.

The collection exhibits a love of fox fur as it crosses the body. Perhaps a Thai lady travelling in a cold country would enjoy the fur in a wrap that extends over her boot, lending a bohemian air. Fringes in suede and Mongolian lamb on soft bags leave a lasting impression.

Layers in rich hues of rubiate, amethyst and carnelian are one of DVF’s signatures. There are lots of unexpected layers of print, punctuated by fresh and familiar textures. The proportions reveal femininity, long sleeves balance a mini jump suit while a high-necked gown falls open to reveal leg.

The coats collection is comfortable and very light, seen in double bonded leather with softness, structure and dimension. There is a vest of leather pebble shapes hand cut and stitched to make an organic patchwork of colour layers over a light chiffon blouse in a petite, contrasting print.

A silk jump suit is an explosion of vibrant colours.

The new wardrobe is glamorous with a familiarity and ease. Beneath a soft jersey top, a skirt cascading with a petite floral design brings life to a chiffon garment embroidered in metallic jacquard. Hand beading and edging in custom dyed chain brings a new dimension to a wrap of gold sequins.

Probably one of the most nostalgic pieces is a drawstring bag in playful coloured satin.

Meanwhile, apart from the new collection, Furstenberg has named London designer Jonathan Saunders as Chief Creative Officer to be responsible for the overall creative direction of the brand.

Furstenberg notes that Saunders’ extraordinary talent for colours and prints, his effortless designs, and his desire to make women feel beautiful make him the perfect creative force to lead DVF into the future. “I could not have found a cooler, more intelligent designer and I cannot wait to watch him shine as our chief creative officer,” she says.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

ONE OF THE biggest trends to invade the watch industry in recent years, Nato straps are now being seen on just about every watch from cheap timepieces to Rolex masterpieces. The strap made its debut the British Ministry of Defence in 1973 as a hard-wearing alternative to leather and metal, and today is available in a variety of bold colours and different, though tough, materials.

Bangkok watch lovers wanting to cash in the trend should be sure to make a date with the annual Central International Watch Fair running through September 25 at Central Chidlom’s Event Hall, where the striped straps are very much in evidence.

Take the Issey Miyake Watch Project, for example, which recently released its new “C” series by leading Japanese designer Ichiro Iwasaki. The C boasts an elegant grey Nato strap, which goes perfectly with its simple but smart dial.

For Iwasaki, the challenge of taking on the chronograph design was how to achieve a quality watch in a conventional style but with a beautiful face. He found the answer lay in delicate numerals and markers and in removing unnecessary elements to isolate the pure chronograph.

The striking Gucci’s GG2570 model also incorporates a Nato-style nylon strap bearing the green-red-green or blue-red-blue stripe. Named as a homage to Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s lucky number, “25” and Gucci’s hallmark decade, the 1970s, it has a squared-off, slightly rounded design.

This typically 1970s geometric form is the canvas for alternate variants around the GG2570 theme; some have a depth of texture achieved through brushed and polished bezels, which gives the watch a sportive allure; other styles have a polished stainless steel bezel, for a more classic look. The sun-brushed dials feature the “G” monogram shadow in a three dimensional interpretation which gives iconic identity where indexes are presented in a variety of styles. All pieces are Swiss made with a stainless steel or gold-plated case.

Also complementing the military style and mood is Daniel Wellington’s Classic Oxford 36 model, whose simple and minimalistic dial is offset by the playful colours of the Nato strap. Perfect for both formal and casual occasions, the watch with its ultra-thin case is available in rose-gold and silver.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

KNOWN as one of China’s Four Great Folktales, “The Butterfly Lovers” is coming to the Thai stage next month in contemporary musical form.

The tragic love story of a scholar and a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to be able to pursue her studies, the “Maan Praphenee Prakasit Aya Sawan”, as the show is known in Thai, is the latest collaboration between Suruj Tipakornseni and Kriengsak “Victor” Silakong, whose “Cixi Taihou The Musical” won critical acclaim in 2014 and was restaged, albeit with less fanfare, last year.

Set in the Easter Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD) “The Butterfly Lovers” centres on Zhu Yingtai, the only daughter of a wealthy family who is determined to pursue her dreams of a further education even though traditionally women are not allowed to do so. She disguises herself as a man and heads to Hangzhou to study where she meets scholar Liang Shanbo. Zhu falls deeply in love with Liang but when her three years of study come to an end, she is ordered to return home. Zhu tries to find a way to tell Liang that she is a woman and to express her love for him but is unable to do so. On her arrival home, she is ordered to marry the man her parents have chosen for her. By that time Liang has discovered the truth and is heartbroken when he hears the news of her marriage. His health gradually deteriorates until he becomes critically and dies. Zhu leaves the wedding ceremony to pay respect at Liang’s tomb and when the grave opens, throws herself in.

For the production, The Musicals Society of Bangkok, which is run by Suruj, is once again joining up with Nation Broadcasting Corporation. The two collaborated on “Reya The Musical” four years ago and Suruj is donning the hats of producer, songwriter and scriptwriter while Victor takes on directing responsibilities.

Both are also starring in the musical: Victor as Zhu’s Father and Suruj as Zian Han. the angel who is assigned to take care of Zhu.

Victor says he has fond memories of the story from watching the Shaw Brother’s 1963 movie “The Love Eterne” (“Maan Praphenee”), which starred Ivy Ling Po as Liang Zhanbo and the late actress Betty Loh Ti as Zhu Yingtai. The film is in the Huangmei opera genre and became an international success.

“I was mesmerised by the ending. It’s a touching story filled with tears and laughter,” he says.

Regularly staged in China – and coming to town early next month in a Grand Chinese Opera production as part of the Bangkok’s 18th International Festival of Music and Dance, “The Butterfly Lovers” is often retold in films, TV series and operas. It also remembered through the government-built Liang Shanbo temple, a theme park-like attraction where visitors can explore sets built to resemble some of the best-known scenes.

Victor is bringing his own interpretation to the work, showing how the two were predestined to fall in love. His version traces the couple back to a time when they were angels and Phra Maha Thevi Si Wangmo or the Royal Mother of the Western Paradise – the ruler of all female immortals – sent them down from heaven to be born as humans so that they would learn about suffering in love. The added title “Prakasit Aya Sawan”, which means “Order from Heaven”, alludes to this change.

Her Royal Highness Princess Somsawali, with whom Suruj and Victor worked on “Cixi”, returns to the stage as the Royal Mother.

The Princess told the recent press conference that while her role as Cixi Taihou’s mother was more dramatic, this latest characterisation fills her with joy.

She also praises Suruj for his dexterity in casting his actors in roles that best suit their characters.

“He knows that I love cooking, so he elaborates the cooking scene for my character when the royal mother comes down to the human world to visit the couple,” she says.

But she also admits that Suruj’s songs are as hard as perform as ever.

“As I am busy, I have to rehearse whenever and wherever I can, so I practise at home and while driving,” she says.

Musical director Den Euprasert adds that Suruj’s songs are not just beautiful in terms of the melody and lyrics, but in the way they help tell the story.

“Writing Thai lyrics for the musical melody is hard because of the limitations in the language, but I think they’re great,” he says.

Actress Kanyapas Srinarong, also known as Pan of classical outfit of the Vie Trio, plays Zhu. She worked with Suruj and Victor in the restaging of “Cixi” but finds her new character more complicated.

Singer and actor Nat Thewphaingarm, aka Natthew AF, portrays Liang Zhanpo.

LOVERS IN PARADISE

“Maan Praphenee Prakasit Aya Sawan” (“The Butterfly Lovers”) runs from September 29 to October 16, nightly except Monday, at M Theatre.

Showtime is 7.30pm with matinees at 2pm on weekends.

Tickets cost Bt1,500 to Bt5,000 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

This source first appeared on The Nation Life.

The Silent Prince being staged in Europe.

It was bold of Somtow Sucharitkul to take Opera Siam to Bayreuth in Germany, the spiritual home of Wagnerians, to perform the first opera of a cycle of operas that challenges Richard Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle, performed every year in Bayreuth, as the world’s longest opera cycle. Sucharitkul’s The Silent Prince is the first of the 10 operas of his Dasjati cycle telling the “Ten Lives Of The Buddha”, familiar stories in Buddhist culture. Somtow has already composed five of the operas, and hopes to have all 10 finished by 2020, ready for a complete cycle in a sort of Bangkok Bayreuth Festival.

The Silent Prince had its world premiere in Houston in 2010, and Bangkok premiere in 2012, and the two performances in Bayreuth (followed by further performances in Prague and Brno) marked its European premiere. Trisdee na Patalung conducted, and Somtow himself directed the production.

The story, as in each of the Dasjati sequence, is of one of the former incarnations of the Lord Buddha. At the opening of the opera, set in Heaven, the King and Queen of Heaven hear the cries of Chandra Devi in childbirth, and call upon Buddha to reincarnate himself as her son. The scene shifts to Benares, in India, where Chandra Devi, and her husband, the King of Kashi, and their citizens rejoice at the birth of a son, Temiya, who it is hoped will eventually succeed the King.

As Temiya approaches manhood, his father asks him to prepare for being king by taking responsibility for the execution of a criminal. But Temiya cannot take a life. Nor, however, can he disobey his father. In a dream sequence, we see the competing forces struggling in his mind. His solution is to fall silent, neither killing the man nor explicitly refusing to perform the execution. Temiya remains silent and meditative for many years, despite many attempts by the King to persuade him to speak and act. Eventually the King loses patience, and orders the execution of his own son.

In the final scene of the opera, the King’s servant is digging a grave for Temiya whom he will have to execute once the grave is finished. He laments his task. Then, suddenly, (in an astonishing coup de théâtre) he hears a voice. It is Temiya, who speaks (or sings) at last. He breaks his silence, because he cannot allow the servant to commit a karmic sin by taking his life. He became silent to avoid the commission of a sin, and now breaks his silence to avoid another sin. In a most moving aria Temiya, whose voice is an ethereal high counter-tenor, exquisitely sung by Jak Cholvijarn, reveals that he is a Boddhisatva, an incarnation of the Buddha.

Somtow’s operas frequently require singers to play two or even three roles, thereby also achieving certain parallelisms and connections between the roles. Thus Australian Damien Whiteley took on the roles of the King of Heaven, the King of Hell and of a procurer of women with which to tempt the silent and unmoving Temiya to action and speech, so reminding us that Buddhist gods can be both good and evil, and frequently reincarnate at human level. Whiteley, a powerful bass with excellent diction, commanded the stage in his scenes.

Thai soprano Nadlada Thamtanakom sang the roles of the Queen of Heaven, the Goddess of illusion, and a courtesan, demonstrating elaborate and effortless coloratura singing. Zion Barbara Daoratanahong was impressively controlled and sang beautifully as an apsara (an angel) and as Amba, the Queen’s maid and Prince’s nurse. Jak played the testing high counter tenor title role of Prince Temiya, breaking his silence only at the end of the opera with a thrillingly otherworldly extended aria.

The production made the most of the simple but effective set design by Stephanie Mielchen, helped by imaginative lighting by Ryan Attig, and the sumptuous costumes by Natthawan Santiphap and Kanokrat Ariya which provided a colourful Bollywood flavour. A distinctive Thai touch was provided by the excellent and omnipresent masked dancers, choreographed by Siripong Soontronsanor. The chorus, a combination of the Bangkok-based Calliope Chamber Choir and local German singers, were very good. The small chamber orchestra, drawn from the internationally award-winning youth orchestra, the Siam Sinfonietta, were brilliantly directed by Trisdee na Patalung.

Somtow’s complex score requires all 23 players to be individual soloists (the four violins, for example, each having their own part), and the combination of Indian traditional instruments (harmonium, celeste, tambura) with conventional Western ones, and the mixture of occasionally atonal music with Indian ragas and a romantic lyricism of sometimes aching beauty required, and received, virtuosity of the highest order. Overall, this bold venture succeeded in representing the best of contemporary Thai culture to the rest of the world in some of its most celebrated cultural centres.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ with sapphire-glass back revealing the movement’s intricate design. IWC

The disappearance of Antoine de Saint-Exupery on July 31, 1944, remained a mystery until 1998, when a fisherman found the French writer and aviator’s bracelet in a net pulled from the sea close to Marseilles.

Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ with sapphire-glass back revealing the movement’s intricate design. IWC

In 2006, salvaged wreckage identified as parts of his aircraft were exhibited at a museum in Le Bourget near Paris, following a joint project between the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation and IWC Schaffhausen.

Over the last 10 years, the Swiss brand has paid tribute to the pioneering aviator with a series of “Antoine de Saint-Exupery” timepieces as variations of its iconic Pilot range.

The 2016 “Antoine de Saint Exupéry” limited editions include the Pilot Double Chronograph and Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar featuring the hallmark tobacco-brown dial and leather strap with cream-coloured ornamental seams recalling his flying suit.

Engraved on the caseback of the Double Chronograph is a Lockheed P-38 Lightning — the aircraft that Saint-Exupery took off on his last reconnaissance flight over southern France.

The dial is inspired by the control panel and flight instruments in the P-38’s cockpit, while the hands are shaped like propeller blades. Designed for flying, the 44mm stainless-steel model has a soft iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields and a sapphire glass secured against drops in pressure.

The larger, 46mm Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar has a cone-shaped crown reminiscent of the pioneering age of aviation, when pilots like Saint-Exupéry often had to climb into an ice-cold cockpit and operate the controls with gloves.

Combining ingenious technical features, the model shows not only the lunar cycles but also the seconds, minutes, hours, date, day, month and year in four digits.

Mechanically programmed, all the displays are automatically advanced and will take into account different month lengths and all the leap days in the Gregorian calendar until 2100, without the need for a single correction. Likewise, the perpetual moon-phase display will need to be adjusted by only one day after 577.5 years.

The transparent sapphire-glass back reveals the movement and solid 18ct red-gold rotor engraved “Edition Saint Exupery” and “One out of 750” while at the centre is a medallion with the novelist’s first-name initial, “A”.

Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition ‘Antoine de Saint Exupéry’ with the back of the watch engraved with a Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Photos courtesy of IWC

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

It’s probably a mixture of the looks, colour and edgy designs that makes Swatch timepieces so eye-catching. With this latest Autumn-Winter 2016 collection, the Swiss watchmaker once again manages to deliver its brand identity while celebrating the luxury of being inclusively exclusive with the slogan “Please do touch”.

New Gent; 2016 Winter; 1609 Voice of Freedom Swatch FW 2016 Photos courtesy of Swatch Ltd

Each collection is inspired by fabric so it can be easily mixed and matched with various outfits.

In the “Archi-mix”, the designer brings cool but classic dynamic patterns and the clean lines of contemporary architecture. Even though Swatch may represent a picture of a gleeful and colourful person, minimalists may find these designs suiting their preference.

“Gruezi All!” or Hello in Swiss-German implies Swiss-sense and undoubtedly Swiss-style. Highlights include the wrist-worn cuckoo clock house where the chalet part is detachable so the watch can be used in two styles. Another very Swiss model is T’Schuss, where the strap is decorated as pine trees to resemble those on ski hills.

Associated with winter time in Switzerland, “Magie D’hiver” designs evoke white snow.

“Voice of Freedom” gives a different and stand out look for wearers, who seek to express themselves in a certain way. Variations feature painted graffiti, a rapper cat and a feline fashionista with a touch of electro.

A fan of tales may prefer “Es War Zweimal”, where storybooks such as Little Red Riding Hood and Pippi Longstocking are brought to the wrist. The Pippi model is specially fancy as the strap mimics Pippi’s long stockings so it needs to be twisted around the wrist twice.

“Look Fab” comes in metallic colours like yellow and pink while a variation boasts a gemstone-set dial and a metal bracelet reminiscent of geometric and intricate paving.

New Gent; 2016 Winter; 1609 Voice of Freedom Swatch FW 2016 Photos courtesy of Swatch Ltd

New Gent; 2016 Winter; 1609 Voice of Freedom Swatch FW 2016 Photos courtesy of Swatch Ltd

New Gent; 2016 Winter; 1609 Voice of Freedom Swatch FW 2016 Photos courtesy of Swatch Ltd

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The Regent Bike Park will be the venue for the mountain bike training camp. photo: Pongpet Mekloy

Cycling is not just about pedalling power. To enjoy the sport to the fullest and make sure you come home in one piece after the ride, you need to have some bike handling skills. A fast cyclist who doesn’t know how to brake properly in a critical situation, for example, is a potential hazard to himself and anyone nearby.

While many riders, roadies and mountain bikers alike, receive advice from their peers, others learn from experience, which is often the hard way. Here’s a chance to be coached by a pro.

On the weekend of Sept 24-25, seasoned bicycle racer of various disciplines (MTB, road and BMX) Winai Thanthranon, popularly known as Lek Winai, will conduct the “Regent MTB Training Camp” at the bike park he and his team had designed and built for the Regent Cha-Am Beach Resort.

The 4.5km route in the 200-rai bike park features technical sections that require different techniques to clean. It is therefore, a good and safe venue for such a training camp. In the area, there are also decades-old traditional style wooden houses, one of which is well preserved to honour the noble man who was the owner of the vast land on which the resort is built.

The two-day course will cover crucial things newbies need to know, from bike setting and gear shifting to cornering, climbing, descending and much more. With expert guidance, each participant is likely to become a better rider after finishing the training programme.

Application fees for the course come at different rates. For participants who will travel to the Regent Cha-Am by themselves, it’s 2,500 baht (no room) or 3,900 baht (shared rooms). For those who will use the transportation provided by the organiser for themselves and their bikes, it’s 4,900 baht per person (shared rooms). The vans will leave from the Regent House Building on Ratchadamri Road in the morning of Sept 24, and back to Bangkok in the afternoon of the following day. Rental bikes are available for those who do not bring their own bikes.

Family members and friends wishing to accompany the riders are also welcome. They are required to pay 2,500 baht each. Like the riders who stay at the resort, they are entitled to a dinner on Saturday, plus breakfast and lunch on Sunday.

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

The Workshoppers by Dujdao Vadhanapakorn and Sarinrat Thomas. Photo: Lek Kiatsirikajorn

As self-help and self improvement gains traction in Thailand, we’re seeing the rise of self development workshops and seminars led by revered teachers and instructors. Most so far follow the standard programme of pointing out the clients faults and behavioural flaws and teaching them a laundry list of actions in order to be successful.

But Sarinrat Thomas and Dujdao Vadhanapakorn are looking to change things up.

The Workshoppers, their brainchild, consists of workshops that — like many other places claim — aim to have people discover themselves, improve their capabilities and be able to live an efficient and balanced life. It’s a large claim, but one done mainly through their programmes that apply drama, dance and movement therapy in a non-clinical way, something these two women are trained and licensed to do.

Sarinrat and Dujdao are psychotherapists who use art in applying their craft. Sarinrat, a registered and practising drama psychotherapist uses drama and/or theatre processes, like storytelling, role play, and miming to help clients understand themselves on a deeper emotional, social and cognitive level. Dujdao is a dance and movement psychotherapist and she uses dance and body movement to do the same.

The Workshoppers however, isn’t pure therapy — the workshops (ranging from five-to-seven hours) aim to improve interested clients in whatever they hope to improve — be it personal development, parenting, or even how to be a leader in business.

“We apply our training and experience in order to support, encourage and stimulate teamwork and group work, [and to find themselves],” said Sarinrat. So instead of telling people what to do, Sarinrat and Dujdao help their clients understand and improve through a process of self realisation.

It’s a hard concept to map out, as the whole process is extremely experimental in nature, but Sarinrat explained through her own experiences how the art form works.

“When I was training in drama therapy … I had something on my mind — an uncomfortable feeling I couldn’t express, so I decided to do a pose. My supervisor, who was very talented, started asking me questions on the spot, about how I felt, etc. Believe it or not I started crying. I felt like it was torture — I felt nervous and anxious. This is how you learn things about yourself from dance and movement psychotherapy.”

By exploring movements and miming, people are able to discover more about themselves and their situation, thus improving themselves in the process, she said.

Other theatre techniques she uses are storytelling, story making and role play.

“Storytelling allows the person to focus on and review their lives,” she explained. “Reviewing themselves is a form of self-reflection, as they’ll be nudged to think ‘hey, why did I choose this specific part of my life to tell?’. Then they’ll start finding out how that significant moment impacted their life. We can use miming to explore it even further. There’s also role play, where two people act out a scene [as each other] and we ask other people what they think of the situation. [It’s my job] to make them feel as if they are the other person without them knowing about acting.”

“I had a case where a boss gave a very harsh feedback to an employee. I had them both role play the situation, and the boss was so surprised that she cried. She didn’t mean to be mean. She just didn’t realise that she was like that … So it’s getting people to have a self-realisation about something through drama and dance.”

Even the location and interiors of The Workshoppers are well thought out.

Instead of the standard studio room or hotel hall where workshops are usually held, Sarinrat hires a team of artists each session in order to decorate the space according to the theme that day.

“We want people to come in and feel that the space has been specifically designed for them,” she said. “We want them to feel that we’re supporting them and have thought things through, whether it be location, lighting, the placement of chairs — just like props of a theatre performance.”

To those who believe they are lacking in motivation, creativity, have a difficulty in coping with stress, or want to rebuild their life and work, The Workshoppers may be able to help.

“In doing these workshops, many clients have told me that they have wanted [to talk to a therapist] but they didn’t dare to go. So this is something and somewhere where they can talk freely without it being a therapy session, and it also opens up opportunities for them. We seek to reduce their problems and stress as much as possible during the workshop time.”

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.

Standing from left, Simon Martin, director of HCTC, Olivier Poivre D’Arvor, ambassador of the French Culture, Nicolas Delsalle-Mun, secretary-general of the Antoine de Saint Exupery Youth Foundation and Matthieu Dupont, managing director of IWC South East Asia at the new media laboratory.

A tradition since 2013, IWC Schaffhausen auctions off a luxury Pilot watch to raise funds for the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, which operates primarily to help underprivileged young people all over the world by encouraging and financing local initiatives aimed at providing education and training.

The third auction of a red gold Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition “Le Petit Prince” fetched 47,500 Swiss francs (170,000 baht), with the proceeds having gone to supporting the Hospitality & Catering Training Centre (HCTC) in Mae Sot, Tak province.

The gateway between Thailand and Myanmar, the north-western district is home to the minority Karen population, whose young people between the age of 17-23 are target students for the hospitality school set up in 2009 by French and local NGOs.

“The students are very gentle, very dedicated, and very grateful for the opportunity given to them,” said HCTC’s director, Simon Martin. “What we need to keep working on is building their confidence and making them feel comfortable in their abilities.”

The two-year programme covers theory classes including housekeeping, front office work, kitchen and services, with The Passport Hotel & Restaurant the training grounds for students to apply what they have learned.

“We have a hotel, we have a restaurant, and students can only learn when we have clients,” Martin said. “Coming from villages, they are impressed with the new surroundings, from the school’s facilities to foreigners coming to the hotel. The first thing that students need to learn is English and life skills such as communication. But of course, with technical skills, they have an edge.”

Funds from the Sotheby’s auction have been used to build a new media laboratory equipped with computers, photo and video cameras, as well as books and manuals. The lab promotes a love for reading whereas multimedia devices modernise the vocational training and language teaching.

The HCTC now also has The Little Prince Educational Garden for growing fruits and vegetables to supply the restaurant’s kitchen, and a sculpture of the legendary little boy with the golden hair created by French aviator/writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

The auctioned timepiece features a unique day display in the centre of the midnight blue dial, illuminated by a different gold star on each day of the week. The stars symbolise the seven planets visited by the Little Prince on his journey through the universe. The seven stars are also engraved on the back of the watch, along with names of the inhabitants the Little Prince encounters along the way.

In addition, the money raised from the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition, “Le Petit Prince”, will support schooling fees for 60 students and HCTC’s renovation.

“Thanks to this generous contribution from IWC Schaffhausen and the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, we are able to improve our educational programme and to better prepare our students for their entry into the world of work,” said Martin.

Besides working at the Mae Sot three-star hotel, the students also go for internships elsewhere, which takes them to other provinces like Bangkok.

“This is why the curriculum includes a strong life skill programme, which is crucial to help them face the outside world,” he said. “We accompany them, say to Bangkok, and stay with them two to three days and teach them how to get along and adapt to city life.”

Students completing the training may continue to have a career in hospitality or pursue other professions.

The HCTC project corresponds to the core values of the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Youth Foundation, as the school not only provides a high-quality practical education but it fosters the development of the students into responsible adults and citizens.

“We open their minds, we get them ready, and we give them their first experience — all in all it’s about developing people,” concluded Martin.

HCTC students in a cooking class. IWC Schaffhausen

Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition ‘Le Petit Prince’ unique piece. IWC

Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition ‘Le Petit Prince’ unique piece. IWC

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.