Thailand 2022
In Thailand, TERASIA took off in summer 2020 by the initiative of Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa, a theatre artist with strong ties to Japan, who gathered other artists based in Chiang Mai, the central city of northern Thailand. In October of the same year, they performed the theatre piece TERA เถระ (TERA Tera), and two years have passed since its premiere.
For TERASIA Online Week 2022, the local artist team revisits the Wat Pha Lat temple, the original venue of the TERA เถระ performance. With their deepened understanding of the various philosophies and worldviews that appear in their work, they have composed new music and compiled a digital photo exhibition reinterpreting the performance into still images. We are also releasing a special footage of the screening and talks on TERASIA that the artists held recently in Chiang Mai University.
Music: “Circle of Karma”
“Circle of Karma” is a piece of contemporary music that illustrates the ideology of death in the theatre work TERA เถระ by TERASIA Thailand.
Its main theme is the concept of kala, eternal and cyclical time in Buddhism and Hinduism. This relates to the life and death of all living creatures, with karma, the result of their actions, from past to future.
Composed and performed by: Dr. Great Lekakul and Torpong Samerjai
“Circle of Karma” is a piece of contemporary music that illustrates the ideology of death in the theatre work TERA เถระ by TERASIA Thailand.
Its main theme is the concept of kala, eternal and cyclical time in Buddhism and Hinduism. This relates to the life and death of all living creatures, with karma, the result of their actions, from past to future.
Streaming Schedule
Program Highlights
The sound of the phin pia instrument, at first, represents the time clock of kala that is counting from the beginning of a life cycle (with love, greed, anger, and lust), while the pii jum and bansuri flutes illustrate the life journey after death. The chaotic melodies created by the sueng, salor, and shakuhachi instruments demonstrate the suffering and screaming of all sinful and greedy spirits, paying for their karma. The sound identity of Tibetan and Lanna chanting emancipates all spirits to be reborn, to come into a new life again. This music, “Circle of Karma,” signifies that we are still in the wheel of time, a never-ending cycle, except for those who follow the path to enlightenment.
Digital Photo Exhibition: Reflection and Reinterpretation of TERA เถระ
This digital photo exhibition is a reflection of the play, TERA เถระ , in which artists reinterpreted the stories of the original performance into still images.
Conception and Coordination: Narumol Thammapruksa
Photographers: Venerable Sonethavy Thoumpaseuth, Supamok Silarak
Actors: Sonoko Prow, Kram Thum
Musicians: Great Lekakul, Torpong Samerjai
Talk
World Music Composition in TERA เถระ
On October 11, 2022, a screening and discussion on TERA เถระ (TERA Tera) were held at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University. Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Mass Communication gathered to watch the film of the performance, followed by talks by Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa, who directed the piece, and by Great Lekakul, one of the artists who composed and performed the music in the work. Together, they delved into the philosophy of the work, which concerns death and the journey to the cyclical infinity of life. They also discussed world music, especially the process and methods of creating musical sounds for theatre, for students to apply to their own performances. The video features scenes from their lectures and lively discussion.
［Speakers］
Great Lekakul, Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa
［Languages］
Thai with English subtitles
Streaming Schedule
From November 10, 2022 (Thu.) 12:00 p.m. [Japan Time: GMT+9], the recording will be available online indefinitely.
Artists
Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa
Narumol Thammapruksa is a performing artist and Aikido self-defense artist with a particular interest in social issues. She developed a technique called autobiographical storytelling to portray the performer’s experiences by telling stories of the individual’s views on societies in parallel with the present world. At the same time, this also portrays how one was oppressed and how others are affected by oppression. In addition to plays, she explores non-verbal movement, including mime, modern dance, and using masks. As a director, she breaks the tradition of the imagined “wall” that separates the performers from the audience. In her performances, she occasionally urges the audience not to be taken by its stories, and uses symbolic language to deconstruct and reconstruct. At present, she is on the committee of the Peace Culture Foundation, whose aim is to build a culture of peace by promoting non-violence through social art activities and Aikido practice. It is her wish that these activities will help to foster love, compassion, empathy, and diversity, in striving for a more harmonious society. She is also a lecturer at the Theatre Program, Faculty of Mass Communication, Chiang Mai University.
Sonoko Prow
Sonoko Prow is half Japanese and half Thai-Chinese, working as a director and performer. She has a multi-disciplinary, passionate, and multi-cultured background which makes her an extraordinary performer. She has created her own self-discovery and development program, which she uniquely applies to her Butoh performances.
Sonoko also founded Khandha Arts’n Theatre Company. She works as its director, performer, workshop provider, collaborating with world-renowned artists producing works for stage performances and arts festivals.
Kram Thum (Gig)
Kram Thum is a traveler, graphic designer, and interior designer. He graduated in Buddhist Studies from Delhi University, India. When he returned to Thailand, he merged his traveling experiences with designs in various graphic and interior design projects he co-created, such as Karmakamet hotel and X2 at Koh Samui.
In 2010 he got a chance to work with world-renowned Japanese multi-disciplinary artist Tadasu Takamine in Japan and Thailand in a performing arts project named “Melody Cup.”
He is currently an astrology teacher at Suwannakhomkham Foundation, Bangkok.
Great Lekakul
After graduating in music from Mahidol University, Great lectured in Japan at Kanda International Language Studies University, teaching music and religions in South East Asia and Thai music performances. Afterward he studied for his doctorate at SOAS, the University of London in Ethnomusicology. After his graduation, he became a lecturer at SOAS.
With his specialties in Thai and experimental music, he became a member of Korphai, the renowned contemporary Thai music band since 2000. He also co-produced the musical soundtrack of Homrong films on Thai music in 2004. He also got selected as the Thai musicians representative to perform in the Asia Traditional Music Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea. In 2019 he produced and performed his music in Mahajanaka performing arts, highlighting the Buddha’s past life, with Pichet Kluncheun, which was performed in various cities in the UK.
Currently, he is the permanent lecturer in Performing Arts at Chiang Mai University.
Torpong Samerjai
Torpong Samerjai is an artist who specializes in Lanna music. He graduated from Chiang Mai University in Thai arts and cultures.
He performed and directed various music events in Chiang Mai. In addition to his musical talents, he also works as a Lanna and ethnic music scholar. He is also the editor of a book about Lanna percussion musicians.
At present, Torpong is affiliated with the cultural promotion centre of Chiang Mai University.
Supamok Silarak
A barista of a coffee corner in a kids’ bookstore, namely ‘Bookish Buffalo.’ A filmmaker of an independent studio called ‘Mayim Studio.’ A writer with various pen names. A person interested in religions, philosophy, soul searching, what’s going on in society and at the margin, who tries to communicate his thoughts via documentaries, feature films, short stories, novels, essays, poems, and songs. Currently, apart from making coffee, his time is spent on a long documentary about political demands in Thailand, film script writings, and other writings.
Venerable Sonethavy Thoumpaseuth
Venerable Sonethavy Thoumpaseuth is a young Buddhist monk who was ordained 15 years ago. He started his monkhood in Vientiane, the capital of Lao PDR. Currently, he is enrolled in a Master of Arts Degree in Buddhist Studies at Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus. While studying, he was very active as the president of the Monk Chat Program, which provides knowledge on Buddhist studies and meditation to an international audience. He is now staying at Wat Pha Lat, a historical temple hidden in a jungle. With his skills in photography, he captures the beautiful scenery and calm atmosphere of the temple and shares it with the world.
Conception and Coordination: Narumol Thammapruksa
Photographers: Venerable Sonethavy Thoumpaseuth, Supamok Silarak
Actors: Sonoko Prow, Kram Thum
Musicians: Great Lekakul, Torpong Samerjai
Talk
World Music Composition in TERA เถระ
On October 11, 2022, a screening and discussion on TERA เถระ (TERA Tera) were held at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University. Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Mass Communication gathered to watch the film of the performance, followed by talks by Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa, who directed the piece, and by Great Lekakul, one of the artists who composed and performed the music in the work. Together, they delved into the philosophy of the work, which concerns death and the journey to the cyclical infinity of life. They also discussed world music, especially the process and methods of creating musical sounds for theatre, for students to apply to their own performances. The video features scenes from their lectures and lively discussion.
［Speakers］
Great Lekakul, Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa
［Languages］
Thai with English subtitles
Streaming Schedule
Artists
Sonoko also founded Khandha Arts’n Theatre Company. She works as its director, performer, workshop provider, collaborating with world-renowned artists producing works for stage performances and arts festivals.
In 2010 he got a chance to work with world-renowned Japanese multi-disciplinary artist Tadasu Takamine in Japan and Thailand in a performing arts project named “Melody Cup.”
He is currently an astrology teacher at Suwannakhomkham Foundation, Bangkok.
With his specialties in Thai and experimental music, he became a member of Korphai, the renowned contemporary Thai music band since 2000. He also co-produced the musical soundtrack of Homrong films on Thai music in 2004. He also got selected as the Thai musicians representative to perform in the Asia Traditional Music Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea. In 2019 he produced and performed his music in Mahajanaka performing arts, highlighting the Buddha’s past life, with Pichet Kluncheun, which was performed in various cities in the UK.
Currently, he is the permanent lecturer in Performing Arts at Chiang Mai University.
He performed and directed various music events in Chiang Mai. In addition to his musical talents, he also works as a Lanna and ethnic music scholar. He is also the editor of a book about Lanna percussion musicians.
At present, Torpong is affiliated with the cultural promotion centre of Chiang Mai University.