October 21, 2022 |
Thailand’s enriching culture reverberates across the globe. From the country’s Songkran celebration to its rich, traditional art, Thailand remains an epicentre of spirituality, creativity, and innovation.
This is what makes the return of the country’s leading arts festival – for the first time in three years – all the more felicitous. Heading to Siam Country Club just two hours from Bangkok, Wonderfruit sets out to, “Blur the intersection of art, music, architecture, food and human rituals,” and to, “Deepen our relationship between the mind, spirit, and the natural world around us.”
It might be getting chilly over here in the UK, but not to worry as you can hold onto those balmy nights just a little bit longer at Wonderfruit, taking place December 15-18. Founded in 2014 by Pranitan Pete Phornprapha alongside production company Scratch First, the sustainably-oriented event has shaken up the mainstream festival approach, turning conviviality on its head by introducing food, farms, forests and fully sublime sonic elements. One of Asia’s most diverse and inclusive bazaars, the four-day party will be Pattaya’s most sublime, meditative affair.
While Wonderfruit has always been a place of high-tech vision and eclectic, avant-garde acts, the 2022 rendition has evolved from the hot topic that once was into an innovative ecosystem of transcendental experiences. For one thing, Wonderfruit has designed an ancient forest together with Sugi that spans 10,000 square metres and encourages the growth of an ecosystem by rewilding the land. There, wonderers can weave through the 30,000 trees and engage in workshops and installations.
With sensually immersive spaces, artworks and sonic compositions, guests are invited to slow down with Erased Tapes, too, in a unique collaboration showcasing Hatis Noit, Masayoshi Fujita, Penguin Cafe, Anne Müller, H3F, Autta and art rock band Snapped Ankles.
What’s more, whimsical architectural structures conceived with radical studio Ab Rogers Design on the luscious tropical landscapes and venues – as well as work by humanistic architect Boonserm Premthada’s on a plush farm village – as if by magic, feed life back into the land. It’s far from sorcery, rather, it’s the invention of pavilions and spatial interventions that are shared by both humans and nature through simple, honest materials and building techniques.
The extensive musical lineup will transport you beyond the realms of everyday tunes. Soichi Terada, Kai Campos, MSCTY Studio x Yumiko Morioka, Durian Radio, More Rice Records, Angkanang Kunchai, Ajate, Telefon Tel Aviv, Anne Müller, Ben UFO, D. Tiffany, Dresden and Tom of England are just a few of the artists on the roster.
“The beauty of life is to seek its mystery. And that humour is core to our sense of being,” reads the festival’s manifesto. Wonderfruit blurs the boundaries between worlds – trust us. See u on the plane?
Photography courtesy of Wonderfruit. The festival takes place December 15-18, 2022. Buy your tickets here.
