Nakprat Autthayota

Born in Payao, Thailand in 1985
Lives and works in Chiang Rai, Thailand

1) Phaya Prab (Welcome Drink), 2024
Sculpture: steel structure, fabric, and acrylic, 5 meters height

2) Sim (whisper), 2024
Sculpture: steel structure, fabric, and acrylic, 5 meters height

3) Uern, 2024
Sculpture: steel structure, fabric, and acrylic, 5 cm. height

When you visit a foreign home, there is always a host who warmly takes care of you. Nakkachaya Uthayot, a young artist from Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand, creates an impressive atmosphere with giant scarecrow figures placed at four points within Jim Thompson Farm.

Location 1: In a rice field next to a line of pine trees, the scarecrow figure represents a young man dressed in a mix of traditional local clothing to reflect a life shared with fields, forests, and mountains. Wearing a blue chambray shirt, a colorful scarf and waist wrap, along with traditional pants and white shoes, the scarecrow eagerly waits for visitors with a cheerful, inviting demeanor. Its face calls out with a raised glass of water in hand, as if inviting everyone to join in the fun and explore the captivating culture of Jim Thompson Farm. This giant scarecrow is placed near the entrance and exit of the farm, making it the first figure visitors encounter, offering a warm welcome and farewell, leaving a lasting memory for everyone who passes through.

Location 2: In the flower field, Utayotha presents the second set of scarecrow figures, featuring a young couple from Isaan holding hands and offering love to the visitors. The male figure, with a distinctive head cloth, is dressed in a mo hom shirt and white chong kraben (sarong), with a scarf around the shoulders and waist. The female figure, adorned with bright flowers like those in the field, also wears a mo hom and a charming phaa nüng (woven cloth). Jao Tee Jao Thang is the title of this work, which reinforces the idea of beings who have long resided in this land. These two figures are not just representations of local Isaan people but also embody the spirit that connects everything in this space, offering visitors a chance to discover new experiences.

Location 3: In the flower field not far from the young male and female scarecrows is the third set of giant scarecrows. This set of scarecrows is designed in the shape of a young man whispering his love to a young woman on the back of a buffalo sculpture decorated with colorful stripes. If we consider the pose of the couple on the back of the buffalo, it may remind us of an important mural in Thailand, Pu Man Ya Man, or the image of a young man and woman whispering their love at Wat Phumin in Nan Province, which is a symbol of timeless love. The application of the symbol of love from the North to adapt and display in the Northeast is like sending and connecting love from afar, or conveying the message that love can happen anywhere, with anyone, in any region. Those who come to see this piece along with the blooming flower field may unknowingly fall in love.

Point 4: The rice field scarecrows near the rice paddy, close to the Isaan village, are the last set of rice field scarecrows of Uthayotha’s work in 2024. This set of rice field figurines is grander than any that came before it. It features three people riding on the back of a buffalo in a joyful pose, with the extended arms of the figure in front inviting onlookers to look around, especially towards the backdrop, which features traditional Isaan homes and ancient Thai and Yunnanese-style houses, arranged to depict the roots of those living in the region. The front and sides of the figures are surrounded by vast fields, creating a striking image that reflects the way of life and development, which contrasts with the past.

Nakprat Autthayota is a multidisciplinary artist working in various forms, including painting, sculpture, and site-specific installation art. His most significant contribution was in the “Fish in Water, Cats in Rice” project at the Thailand Biennale – Chiang Rai 2023, where he designed and planted rice fields in the shape of three cats in the Son Sung village area.