PHUM MHAK

Indoor Container

This work reinterprets the notion of the ‘urban talisman’ through the transformation of Phum Mhak—a traditional offering object in Lanna culture—into a new form of spiritual anchoring within the contemporary cultural landscape of Bangkok.

Phum Mhak originates from Northern Thai traditions, where a teardrop-shaped bamboo woven container was used to hold dried betel nuts and presented to elders as a gesture of respect, before betel consumption was prohibited during the era of Plaek Phibunsongkhram.

In this work, the original form of Phum Mhak is abstracted and reinterpreted through contemporary materials and finishes, such as a gilded surface, elevating it from a ritual-specific object into a contemporary talisman that can be owned, worn, or integrated into daily life. This transformation reflects the shift of cultural objects from context-specific ceremonial use to symbolic forms embedded in everyday experience.

Within Thailand’s syncretic belief system, rituals and sacred objects function as essential spiritual anchors in daily life. Traditionally representing generosity, respect, and social relationships, Phum Mhak, when reimagined in an urban context, becomes a medium that bridges past and present.

The work ultimately reflects how, despite evolving cultural practices, the core of belief and symbolic meaning continues to be reproduced and adapted within contemporary society.

Materials & Techniques:
Bamboo Weaving and Wood Lid

Measurements:
DIA 21 x 21 H40 cm.

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