Boon Pha Wet, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 2600 cm./sheet, 13 sheets

Boon Pha Wet is a great merit-making event of the Isan region. It is usually held every month from February to March and is consistent with the story of Phra Wesson Dorn Chadok, which is the last life of the Buddha in the 10 lives or the ten chadok before enlightenment. Sittikorn Khawsa-ad, an artist who is native to Roi Et understands the traditional culture of the Northeast very well. He has created paintings that are consistent with Isan culture. He uses acrylic paint on more than 13 large canvases, telling the story of the 13 Kants in Mahavejsan Dr. Chadok, which consists of Tosaporn, Himpan, Thankan, Wanprawet, Chuchok, Chulaphon, Mahapon, Kumar, Matri, Sakbanpol, Maharaj, Raja Cha and Nakhon Kan.

The work is surrounded by the distribution hall in the area of Ban Isan or Sala Karnprian, where monks usually go up to Dharma and use this place to distribute the teachings of Buddhism to the crazy people who come to listen to the Dharma on various important occasions. The display of merit images at the distribution hall of Jim Thompson Farm this time is like a sermon for those who come to travel and watch the work. In addition, another interesting thing about this piece is that when the artwork is displayed at Jim Thompson Farm, Sitthikorn will present it to Wat Ban Por Daeng in Maha Chai Chana District, Yasothon Province, to make great merit for the villagers and to benefit the temple in the future, as it is an initiative jointly done with Kaew Panya School and the nearby Ban Por Daeng community.

Sittikorn Khawsa-ad is an artist based in Roi Et, Yasothon, and Mahasarakham. His works often explore themes related to Isan identity, labor, politics, and local culture. Sittikorn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from Mahasarakham University and a Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from Silpakorn University. His artistic practice often begins with research, interviews, and site visits. Sittikorn has exhibited at Jim Thompson Farm (2012), the “Across the sea of stars” exhibition at Chiang Mai University Art and Culture Center (2017), the Khon Kaen Manifesto: Flashy Flashes #1 festival (2018), and the “Converging Horizons 亦菜 Italok Taiwan” exhibition (2023).