Heading for the heavens

13 Sept 10:35 Key points summarised by AI

The annual Rocket Festival (Bun Bung Fai) in Thailand's northeastern provinces, particularly Yasothon, is held in May to appease the Rain God for the upcoming rice-growing season.
Locals craft homemade rockets, ranging from small to massive (up to 120kg gunpowder), with monks often guiding the construction, believing higher flights bring more rain.
The multi-day event features a vibrant procession displaying the elaborate rockets on floats, traditional fertility dances, and culminates in competitive rocket launches.
Successful launches are celebrated as a sign of abundant rain and bring joy to gamblers, while creators of rockets that fail to launch are ceremonially thrown into mud puddles.

Bright at Midnight: Conceptual echoes of Bas Jan Ader Arrive in Bangkok

Today 15:13 Key points summarised by AI

"Bright at Midnight" marks the first institutional exhibition in Asia of Dutch conceptual artist Bas Jan Ader, showcasing his enigmatic work at Bangkok Kunsthalle until January 10, 2027.
The exhibition delves into Ader's legacy, exploring themes of vulnerability and the ephemeral, made more poignant by his 1975 disappearance at sea during an art project.
It encourages viewers to engage with art beyond its material form, featuring key pieces like "Thoughts unsaid, Then forgotten," "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks," and the haunting film "Launch of the Ocean Wave."
A highlight is the planned live transformation of "Light vulnerable objects threatened by eight cement bricks" in 2026, where ropes will be cut, creating a new layer of art from the destructive impact.
The exhibition challenges conventional art consumption, advocating for a deeper appreciation of conceptual and research-driven artistic practices over mere fascination with art as an asset class.