Wat Rong Khun, better known as "the White Temple, Chiang Rai – Ajarn Chalermchai Kositpipat, renowned National Artist and creator of Wat Rong Khun, elaborated about the event: "Even though Wat Rong Khun already reached its 22nd anniversary, organizing the Light Fest has always been on my mind since the start of this temple. One day, I got a chance to discuss this idea with Mr. Kriangkrai Kanjanapokin of Index Creative Village. The feedback was great and there came our collaboration with a mutual vision to create it in a global scale. Mr. Kriangkrai or 'Mek' went on and imported full-suite equipment which is considered the world's state-of-the-art light display technology in order to build a reputation for Thailand. Our only wish is to compete with other global-scaled events. We would like to reiterate the captivating beauty of Wat Rong Khun that's changing throughout various times of the day. Our whitewashed temple ornately decorated with mirror glass is well-known for its exquisite splendour of daylight reflections. As the day travels from dawn to dusk, the beauty of light reflection at a different time varies. During the nighttime Light Fest, when the rays of colourful lights illuminate the temple's structures, it will be even more beautiful, more sensational. If you've been to an international light festival abroad before, we'd like to invite you to come and experience our Thai-curated Light Fest. We want to show the world that Thai people are talented. We want to put an accent on our national art – a beauty for the mankind. It's a way for the world to praise the greatness of the Thai art and for Thai people to glorify our national art together. I consider this project to be a return of benefits to my hometown. While Wat Rong Khun is the pride of Chiang Rai's locals, it also belongs to all the Thai people. It is considered Thailand's national treasure."
Mr. Kriangkrai Kanjanapokin, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Index Creative Village Public Company Limited, a leader and hub of creativity in ASEAN, ranked the 7th world's best event (ranked by Special Event Magazine, USA), and the Creative Director of Wat Rong Khun Light Fest, revealed about the project: "Wat Rong Khun Light Fest will be the greatest light show ever held in Chiang Rai Province. With the main objective to glorify Thai art in the global scale, the Light Fest articulates the development of the contemporary art industry, as well as opens a new worldview to the presentation of Thai art in a more creative way. The public will have a chance to appreciate artistic beauty from a new perspective through elaborately dazzling multimedia-packed performances created by advanced digital technology. This event is a showcase of skills and capability of Thai production teams with the same quality of international standard. Apart from serving as an important highlight to promote quality tourism, the event also helps create a good image and reputation for Thailand in order to drive a more bustling tourism atmosphere during the time of event organizing for related businesses, such as hotels & resorts, restaurants and public transportation. Moreover, the Light Fest will create employments and more income for people in the area. At this show, visitors are guaranteed to receive valuable and memorable experiences. With six stunning light-up temple landmarks, both domestic and international tourists will be amazed by the magnificent beauty of the famous temple as it's livened up at night with dazzling displays of multicoloured lights. This Light Fest may also be the only time of such a sensational nighttime experience at the temple. It's targeted to sell a total of 37,000 tickets from every round and will contribute to around 740 million baht tourism income for Chiang Rai during the one-month show period."
"Wat Rong Khun Light Fest, Episode: Begins" is an innovative story-telling light show about the life, the soul and the artistic journey towards the stardom of a great National Artist – Master Chalermchai Kositpipat. It will be the first world-class digital multimedia phenomena to take place at Wat Rong Khun – an iconic and revered Buddhist architectural landmark in the North of Thailand. The cutting-edge multimedia technology includes the 3D-projection mapping, the laser show, the immersive experience technique, as well as the water-curtain performances. Mysterious riddles from the Buddhist teachings are presented under the theme: "The Illumination of White Temple" delivering the first phenomenal immersive experience at five light-up spots on the same grounds of the temple for visitors' excitement and photo opportunities. 1. THE WAY TO HEAVEN is a replica of the exquisite heavenly land of Dhipaya Viman, welcoming those who had aborted lustful greed, same as a lotus rises out of the water. 2. THE SINS is an area surrounded by the horror of hell before crossing the overpass to gleaming heaven. Only those with enlightment attained in their mind will be destined to journey towards the place beyond all sufferings. 3. THE ASTROLOGY is a wishing well for you to make a wish and bring illumination into your hearts. 4. THE ENLIGHTING is the Bodhi Tree that tells the story of the Lord Buddha's enlightment. 5. CIRCLE OF LIFE is a domain of the life's truths: birth, aging, disease and death. To escape the rebirth cycle, a person needs to follow Lord Buddha's teaching of the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering (Dukkha), the truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya), the truth of cessation of suffering (Nirodha), and the truth of the path to cessation of suffering (Magga).
The grand finale - 6. "WAT RONG KHUN BEGINS" takes place at the shrine of Hindu God of Success – Ganesha in a form of theatre performance. The opening scene will be complete with musical prelude, accompanied by illuminating lights shining to the eye-catching centrepiece of Lord Ganesh.The story then will take you back to where the great artist began his path – at a small, remote village in Chiang Rai Province. Visitors will be told an inspiring story of Master Chalermchai's journey and struggles in the pursuit of becoming a world-renowned National Artist. Through the meticulous creations of each scene, culturally-rich elements and the beauty of Northern-Thai livelihoods will be presented. The show features pleasing sounds of the Northern instruments along with the use of alocal Lanna dialect, adding charms to the audience who will be impressed with the story and the overall performance.
In addition to the collaboration between Master Chalermchai Kositpipat and Mr. Kriangkrai Kanjanapokin, the phenomenal event "Wat Rong Khun Light Fest, Episode: Begins" has also brought together behind-the-scene masteries from professional Thai artists of different fields. The team includes Songpol "Mod" Trinate, Show Director with over 20 years of experience in stage-show directing and mixed-media display design expertise at Index Multimedia Studio, Sarawut "Nann" Lertpanyanuch, Thailand's most renowned writer/composer for theater musicals and music director for concerts, Nipon Wannamahin or "Jo Variety Dance", an internationally-acclaimed dance director and choreographer, and LightSource Co., Ltd, Thailand's number one leader in entertainment lighting industry.
Visitors to "Wat Rong Khun Light Fest, Episode: Begins", apart from getting a chance to experience the glorified and much-cherished art of our proud nation, will contribute to the donation with part of the ticket proceeds to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital. The Light Fest will be staged between November 22 to December 22, 2019, with tickets available for purchase at Thai Ticket Major Tel. 02-262-3456 or www.thaiticketmajor.com.
For more information about the Light Fest, follow: facebook.com/Watrongkhunlightfest; Instagram: Watrongkhunlightfest; and log on to: www.watrongkhunlightfest.com.