Showing 1 - 10 of 10
A bitter farewell
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 15/05/2023
» The Robot Building on Sathon Road is a childhood superhero that comes to life. Standing on staggered floors, the chunky android is studded with nuts and bolts. Its head boasts metallic-lidded eyes and two communication antennae and its frontal body is outfitted with black glass and blue stripes like armour. It is ready to fight a monster in the urban jungle.
When art gets stifled
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 21/11/2022
» 'Art is short, a case is long," read a banner. Students apparently hijacked the well-known motto "art is long, life is short" by Prof Silpa Bhirasri, the father of Thai modern art, in protest of Chiang Mai University's legal action against its own lecturers and a student who "trespassed" on the art centre to exhibit works, some of which might challenge those in power, last year. It is a case in point for stifling democracy in Thai art.
In a king's footsteps
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 26/09/2022
» The sea breeze blew in as a group of visitors arrived at Mrigadayavan Palace, the former summer retreat of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi. After more than two years since the beginning of the pandemic, the heritage site remains closed for a restoration project that unveils traces of its early days.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 11/08/2022
» After hours, I switched off the computer and left my cubicle. When I looked out the office's window, I saw high-rise buildings and winding motorways. Cars were stuck in a traffic jam day in, day out. It dawned on me that something was missing in life. I did not know what it was, but I would like to sort out my mind. A few days later, I took a break and left the city for a tranquil retreat.
Complicated history and a comeback
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 02/06/2022
» On the partition of a quiet seaside wood house is more than an old photo from circa 1881. It is hard evidence that King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and his entourage, including his half-brother Prince Damrong Rajanuphap, visited the island in the easternmost province of Trat before it was subject to French rule. Despite the withdrawal of troops, colonial legacies remained for years.
Will liberal arts perish much like razed Scala?
Oped, Thana Boonlert, Published on 13/11/2021
» Surrounded by a tall fence, the once-grand Scala, the last stand-alone cinema in Bangkok -- a quasi Cinema Paradiso for movie buffs -- was razed to rubble and thus no more.
Finding ideas from local design
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 11/10/2021
» Inspired by Thai architecture, the United States is building a climate-resilient annexe at its existing embassy compound in Bangkok to upgrade consular and diplomatic activities.
US turns focus to South China Sea
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 14/07/2020
» Last week, US army chief of staff Gen James McConville visited Thailand to strengthen the 65-year-old military alliance, culminating in the signing of the Strategic Vision Statement. Early this month, China held a five-day naval drill near the contested Paracel Islands. Then the US carried out military exercises in the waterway showing support for the free and open Indo-Pacific, as the South China Sea has been subject to overlapping claims by many countries, including China.
School 'failed to get nod' for foreign pupils
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 25/07/2019
» The Office of the Private Education Commission (Opec) has confirmed that International Hotel and Airline Business School (I-HABS) failed to seek permission from the Ministry of Education to enrol foreign students on an eight-month hotel management course in Bangkok following reports that Nepali students ended up working and living in subpar conditions.
Private Education Commission orders inquiry into school 'scam'
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 23/07/2019
» The Office of the Private Education Commission (Opec) has launched an inquiry following a report that 10 students from Nepal, who applied to take a hotel management course in Bangkok ended up working in the country and living in sub-par conditions.