IX. The Mekong: Where we all meet
Part 9 of an international solo on ”Lanna“ by Lim Siang Jin. This online exhibition, comprising 20 parts, is from May 6 to June 5, 2025
THE MEKONG isn’t just a river—it’s where lives connect. It carries boatfuls of goods, yes. But also laughter and stories, and quiet anticipation among strangers. It flows across borders, linking farmers, traders, elders, and children. Every journey adds something to the shared culture here. Goods represent commerce and necessity, but it’s the people who bring meaning. Through conversations at riverside markets or stories shared during long boat rides, ideas travel alongside cargo. This river teaches something important: real connection isn’t just about trade—it happens through shared human experience.
Lifeblood of civilisation
LIFE FOLLOWS the Mekong. The river waters the rice fields and fills fishing nets. But it does more than feed people—it builds communities. Villages spring up along its banks because the river provides everything: water, food, transportation. Small settlements grow into towns. People trade goods, share stories, and mix languages and cultures. You can see this everywhere. From the ancient temples of Angkor to the busy river communities today, civilisations have consistently grown around the Mekong’s flow. The river doesn’t just sustain life—it shapes how people live. Every curve in the river tells a story of survival and adaptation. What began as a basic necessity evolved into a rich tradition.
Knives through water
IN LANNA’S heartland, boats are the lifeline. Where mountains are impediments to land transport, rivers have become vital connectors for communities that would otherwise be isolated from the outside world. Boats move easily through their currents, carrying goods from remote villages to busy markets and vice versa. The steady chug or roar of boat engines proves something: in this mountainous country, rivers work better than roads. On the Mekong, boats don’t just move goods—they cut through barriers between communities, making water a lifeline for survival.
Moving with the currents
LANNA is modernising its transport web—upgrading roads, expanding airports, and reviving railways—to complement China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). New highways and railways will cross mountains, linking Kunming in China and Southeast Asia’s ports. Upgraded airports will ensure more routes are added to their airspace. The BRI is changing how things move around here. For example, Mekong barges would connect to high-speed rail. Expressways would carry goods from factories to shipping centres. It will be faster and cheaper, which means more exports. But there’s a cost. The old ways of life along the rivers are disappearing. As concrete takes over, can Lanna find a way to grow without losing what makes it special?
For more information, click on links: Stephen Menon, O Art Space Gallery, Lim Siang Jin and his art, here and here. For a detailed acknowledgment, click here