XIII. Sustenance, spectacle and survival
Part 13 of an international solo on ”Lanna“ by Lim Siang Jin. This online exhibition, comprising 20 parts, is from May 6 to June 5, 2025
IN THAILAND’S highlands, animals are not merely kept—they support life and tradition. Wild boars and chickens are vital food sources, helping people live off the land as they have for generations. They’re also a big part of the local economy. Piglets may be traded for supplies, while a prized rooster or an elephant becomes an integral part of the local culture and economy. Animals are not just kept for food and business; they are also companions and workers. Dogs protect homes and help with hunting, while the water buffalo still plough the fields as they have for ages. The songs of birds add a nice touch to village life, though their bamboo cages show a mix of beauty and confinement. As motorbikes and pick-ups replace bullock carts, the roles of animals shift, but their presence remains—a link between heritage and modernity.
Boars: From sacred to spectacle?
IN AKHA villages, wild boars were once revered as symbols of strength, hunted with handmade spears and traps. Every hunting trip filled the men with pride and trepidation. Their meat was much more than sustenance, though—it featured prominently in their feasts and spiritual rituals. Every part of the beast was valued: apart from their meat, a rich protein source, hides were used for tools, and bones for sacred offerings. Tourism has reshaped this ancient bond. Some villages dependent on the tourist trade display the boars in pens as photo opportunities. These moves reflect a deeper struggle—a basic need to find a balance between preserving heritage and adapting to modern demands for a living. Yet the wild boar is not entirely reduced to spectacle. It still roams the Lanna jungles, striking fear in those who cross its path.
Champ: A city’s past and present
WHILE Chiang Mai roars with the noises of modernity, at its heart is a creature that bridges the past and the present. Once, village dogs hunted in forests, fierce and lean. Now, Champ, a muscular pitbull mix with a gentle soul, lives in an urban home. His instincts may be softened but not lost. Modern pet culture thrives in the city, with designer collars and regular vet visits. But Champ’s role is deeper. He guards the herb garden, keeps monkeys at bay, and stands watch, just as his ancestors did. Champ embodies this balance as protector and family, proving that love for animals evolves but never fades.
Feathers, paws: Tribal lifelines
IN THE highlands of Northern Thailand, dogs and chickens are more than animals—they are a means of survival. Chickens are allowed to roam and forage as they please, providing eggs and meat to feed the village folk. Unlike the situation in modern battery farms, here, the maternal instinct of hens is allowed to prevail; their chicks, under their protection, follow them everywhere. Dogs, by day, guide villagers through the forest, if need be, and, by night, they stand watch. Unlike tourist spectacles, their roles remain relatively untouched by commercialisation. They thrive on little, mostly scraps from the household, yet they give a lot—an enduring testament to a way of life that persists, even as the world around them changes.
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