- Title: Napping cats take over northern Thailand rice paddies
- Date: 17th December 2023
- Summary: BAN KHON SUNG, THAILAND (DECEMBER 16, 2023) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF CAT FIGURES ON RICE FIELDS DRONE SHOT OF CAT FIGURE ON RICE FIELD / SECTION MANAGER AND AMATEUR FARMER, TANYAPONG JAIKHAM, STANDING BAN KHON SUNG, THAILAND (DECEMBER 16, 2023) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 40-YEAR-OLD SECTION MANAGER AND AMATEUR FARMER, TANYAPONG JAIKHAM, SAYING: “We've combined Rainbow rice with art and (now) we have a creative concept called 'fish in the water, cats in the fields'. I'm confident that at least 30% of people in Thailand are cat lovers. So, we're linking art, culture, tourism and things that a variety of people enjoy.” VARIOUS OF PLANTED RAINBOW RICE DEPICTING CAT FIGURES TANYAPONG STANDING AND SHOWING HIS DRAFTS CAT FIGURES ON PAPER (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 40-YEAR-OLD SECTION MANAGER AND AMATEUR FARMER, TANYAPONG JAIKHAM, SAYING: “The process begins with the artist designing a sketch. Secondly, we overlay this sketch onto the actual area and mark the locations using GPS coordinates that we've set. Thirdly, we plant Rainbow rice seedlings at each location to achieve the colors we've designated. During this phase, it's crucial to position the seedlings accurately and the rice plants will gradually change shades over time. Last comes the harvest stage, where the color of the rice straw will resemble the color of Cooper (the model cat.)” TANYAPONG SEATED IN FRONT OF PLANTED RAINBOW RICE TANYAPONG WORKING MODEL CAT (COOPER) ON PAPER / TANYAPONG WORKING SCREEN SHOWING DRONE FOOTAGE WHEN TANYAPONG AND HIS TEAM DID THE PLANTING
- Embargoed: 31st December 2023 05:44
- Keywords: Chiang Rai Thailand agriculture art art festival cats rice rice field
- Location: BAN KHON SUNG, THAILAND
- City: BAN KHON SUNG, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Art,Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001635416122023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Sleeping cats have emerged in the rice paddies in northern Thailand in recent weeks, spread out over an area a little less than a hectare in size.
The three felines belong to Tanyapong Kaikham, a full-time factory worker and now a part-time farmer who is tackling a pet project which turns rice paddies into art. Since October, he's been spending his weekends in his hometown of Ban Khon Sung, in Chiang Rai, Thailand's northernmost region planning and implementing his agricultural experiment using Rainbow rice, or rice cultivars that have leaves ranging from dark purple to yellow in colour.
He worked with an artist who is also the owner of Cooper, to create a sketch of the sleeping cat. Then, he and around 200 helpers using a drone and GPS, "drew" the cat sleeping and holding a fish on the paddy field.
The next step was to plant Rainbow rice seedlings. These were grown from seeds from Kasetsart University as part of a pilot project to scope out the possibilities for the rice. The planting was done by hand in the traditional way to make sure each section had the correct rice colour and harvest is expected 145 days after the planting.
“What we're trying to challenge is the integration of innovation with what we already have. Previously, rice was mainly considered as something for consumption. But now, the significance of other crops, like flowers or colored vegetables, can also be applied (to rice). This approach allows us to develop tourism and agriculture simultaneously, ” said Tanyapong.
Tanyapong says he was inspired by Japan's Tambo art, or rice paddy art, which is known for its detailed designs created in rice fields using rice with different leaf colors. Thailand's economy and society relies heavily on agriculture and Tanyapong hopes that by marrying it with art and science, it might help promote tourism and also farming in his hometown located an hour's drive from the Thai-Lao border.
With the planting done and rice growing steadily, his creation is currently being showcased at a local art festival to promote tourism.
Tanyapong is now building a viewing tower for visitors ahead of December 30 when the artwork will be opened to the public.
“We're expecting around tens of thousands (of visitors) to come and see the art in the rice fields,” he said .
Tanyapong reckons around 30 percent of Thais are cat-lovers and they are of course one of his main targets. But he also hopes the rice art will attract art enthusiasts and academics so people of different backgrounds can exchange ideas and offer input for improvements.
(Production: Napat Wesshasartar, Masako Iijima) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None