Encounter the Visionaries: 

6 Homecoming Creators Unveiling Their Impact at Chiang Mai Design Week (Part 2)

Achariyar Rojanapirom

Kalm Village’s Showcases 

Achariyar Rojanapirom is the co-founder of Kalm Village, a creative craft village and design hub in the heart of Chiang Mai Old Town. This space seamlessly combines a craft museum, art gallery, café, and lifestyle venue, all housed within magnificent contemporary Lanna architecture. In CMDW 2023, Kalm Village presents two wonderful exhibitions: ‘Color Lives: A Furniture Exhibition by Suwan Kongkhunthian’ and ‘Adat & Alam: Weaving the Ancestral Pathway,’ showcasing a series of crafts from Malaysian artisans. Additionally, Kalm Village organizes various workshops and talks covering topics in design, handicraft, and coffee brewing throughout the festival period.

“This marks the second year that Kalm Village has co-organized the exhibition with TCDC Chiang Mai. We are honored to collaborate with Geremis Art, bringing a wonderful series of Malaysian crafts to be showcased in Chiang Mai. I hope all the programs we organize will inspire audiences to appreciate the value of folk crafts in different cultures amid the modern changing times,” said Achariyar.

For more info about Kalm Village, visit https://www.kalmvillage.com/     

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Suphicha Teddaroon

Chiang Mai Busking program

Suphicha Teddaroon is the vocalist of Suthep Band, a Chiang Mai-based pop band with influences from retro, northern Thai, and country music. Beyond his role as a musician, Suphicha is also the founder of Chiang Mai Original, a live music venue and social group dedicated to expanding the presence of live music in public spaces in Chiang Mai and generating more opportunities for local musicians. In CMDW 2023, Chiang Mai Original is organizing the ‘Chiang Mai Busking’ program, inviting 30 bands from Chiang Mai and other regions to perform in the four main areas of the festival. This initiative reflects Suphicha’s commitment to promoting the work of local musicians and bringing vibrant live music to the public spaces of Chiang Mai.

“Last year, I participated in the Busking World Cup in Gwangju, a busking music festival in Gwangju, South Korea. This festival invites musicians worldwide to audition, and those who pass receive expenses to perform in various locations across Gwangju city. This program not only brings diverse live music to enhance the city’s atmosphere but also serves as a means to promote Gwangju tourism through the social media channels of participants from around the world.

“As I have an intention to promote Chiang Mai musicians, I brought this idea to discuss with TCDC Chiang Mai, leading to the creation of the Chiang Mai Busking program in CMDW 2023. I believe that if the busking programs are strategically placed and timed, they can enhance the atmosphere of the city, similar to the music scene in London, where musicians are also supported by the government. Chiang Mai boasts many prominent landmarks and cool public spaces. If we have busking bands featuring local musicians, this could further elevate our status as a creative city, generate more income for locals, and creatively utilize public spaces,” said Suphicha. 

For more info about Chiang Mai Original, visit https://www.facebook.com/chiangmaioriginal/?locale=th_TH 

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Apichai Tienvilairat 

Len Yai: Performance Arts 

Apichai Tienvilairat is the founder of Little Shelter, a chic boutique hotel that blends Lanna culture into stylish contemporary architecture and design, earning numerous international accolades. This hotel serves as an art and design platform, providing space for art galleries, local designer shops, theaters, performance art showcases, and creative workshops. In CMDW 2023, Apichai collaborates with Chaiwat Lochotinant to organize ‘Len Yai: Performance Arts’, a series of street performance shows spanning eight areas in Chang Moi and Tha Pae, featuring over 40 performing artists.

“I originally hail from Lampang. After working as an engineer and consultant in construction and real estate management in Bangkok for many years, circumstances led me to return to my hometown to care for my family. That’s when I decided to open Little Shelter in Chiang Mai. This hotel aligns perfectly with my interests because it’s more than just accommodation; it actively contributes to the art and culture ecosystem of Chiang Mai through various activities hosted on-site.

“I’m fascinated by Chiang Mai as a multi-cultural city that serves as the hub of Lanna art and culture. In the contemporary context, this city attracts people from all over the world to live, travel, and work, earning its reputation as a famous international community. Due to this unique character, Chiang Mai is bustling with various forms of aesthetics and artists.

“Len Yai: Performance Arts is a project I’m co-hosting with the performance art curator Chaiwat Lochotinant. We identified numerous areas in Chang Moi and Thapae with the potential to transform these corners into temporary performance stages. Subsequently, we invited artists from various practices to perform on these stages during CMDW 2023.

“As mentioned, Chiang Mai is teeming with different creators. With consistent support for them, the power of creativity can transform into the charms of the city and become a driving force in its economic growth,” said Apichai.

For more info about Little Shelter, visit https://littleshelterhotel.com/