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Rice fields turned into art in northern Thailand

Farm owner Tanyapong Jaikham created art out of rice fields in northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province
Farm owner Tanyapong Jaikham created art out of rice fields in northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province - Copyright AFP Karanwinat WONGCHAIMUL
Farm owner Tanyapong Jaikham created art out of rice fields in northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province - Copyright AFP Karanwinat WONGCHAIMUL

A two-acre paddy field in northern Thailand has been transformed into an artwork depicting a dragon and a cat, symbols of hope and resilience as the community recovers from floods.

The farm owner, Tanyapong Jaikham, told AFP that the cat represents the residents of his hometown Chiang Rai who faced devastating floods during last year’s monsoon season.

The dragon, last year’s zodiac symbol, is shown protectively holding the cat.

Tanyapong, himself an autombile engineer, collaborated with 20 other people including friends and family to create the design — using AI technology and satellite imagery — with rice plants as the main medium.

Requiring meticulous planning and execution over the span of a month, the artwork cost him around 500,000 baht ($14,500) to create.

“The art required great attention to detail, so we had to be very careful,” Tanyapong told AFP. 

“But with the help of today’s technology, it became easier.” 

The artwork was opened to the public in late December, “but we are not ready for many visitors”, he said.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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