Discover a unique blend of artistry and environmental mindfulness at The Peninsula Bangkok's newest exhibition, "Sanctuary Within," featuring the exceptional work of textile artist Jarupatcha Achavasmit. As an integral part of the hotel's celebrated Art in Resonance programme, this exhibition intertwines creative expression with sustainable practices.
Achavasmit's three-month residency at The Peninsula Bangkok culminates in this captivating display, where discarded items from the hotel are transformed into stunning art pieces. After studying the hotel's waste, Achavasmit categorised the discarded items into aluminium, fabric, paper, and food waste. Her expertise in weaving and sustainable design breathes new life into these materials, turning trash into treasures.
To bring Achavasmit's vision to life and create the fullest impact, The Peninsula Bangkok has partnered with UOB Thailand, a staunch supporter of the arts and sustainability. UOB Thailand's partnership underscores a shared commitment to enriching the community and promoting sustainable practices Through UOB's sponsorship, the "Sanctuary Within" exhibition is set to captivate visitors with its innovative use of recycled materials and its celebration of new beginnings.
The "Sanctuary Within" exhibition consists of three installations, all prominently displayed in the main lobby area:
At first glance, "Floating Forest" appears as a glittering, silvery floating sculpture. Closer inspection reveals its true composition: over 12,000 recycled bathroom amenity containers from The Peninsula Bangkok, along with recycled aluminium and PET bottles. Each container was meticulously cleaned and cut by artisans and volunteer staff from the hotel. The resulting sculptures, shaped like ginkgo leaves, symbolise growth and new beginnings.
Above the entrance hangs a woven fabric installation made from the finest Egyptian cotton, originally used as bed linen at The Peninsula Bangkok. These linens, once marked by minor defects, have been repurposed through a delicate process of dyeing and painting. In collaboration with Thai artist Ake Atthasumpunna, natural colours derived from hotel-grown butterfly pea flowers and various vegetables and fruits from the hotel's kitchen were used to breathe new life into the linens.
Despite efforts to go paperless, paper remains essential in office life. The Peninsula Bangkok has repurposed over a hundred kilograms of used office paper by shredding it and sending it to artisans in Chiang Rai province. The paper is transformed into new paper that incorporates 50% bamboo fiber. Collaborating with Ake Atthasumpunna, this freshly recycled paper was coloured and painted using natural dyes. The paper was then deconstructed and uniquely woven by Achavasmit into an abstract art piece that merges sustainability with creativity.
"Sanctuary Within" is open to the public and will be on view until 31 August 2024. Visitors are invited to experience this unique intersection of art and sustainability at The Peninsula Bangkok.
(From left to right: Meehnatakorn Imote - Assistant Vice President Brand, Media and Communications UOB Thailand , Arada Supadisai - Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Profiling and Brand, Brand, Media and Communications, UOB Thailand. Caroline Shen - Director of Sales and Marketing, The Peninsula Bangkok, Jarupatcha Achavasmit - The Artist, Dhornratana Olanhankij - Executive Director, Head of Brand, Media and Communications, UOB Thailand, Masahisa Oba - The Managing Director of The Peninsula Bangkok, Trintawat Karnjanakul - Director of Brand Marketing and Communications of The Peninsula Bangkok)