an aimless day

This being my last full day in Chiang Mai, I decided to do whatever I want. 

Well, I do whatever I want everyday.  So there.  The plan was no plan:  I wandered all over the perfectly squared boundaries of the Old City, stopping at whatever caught my attention.

The highlight was meeting two local artists, one of whose work had already caught my attention a couple of nights ago at the walking night market:  Chumpol Taksapornchai.  I walked into his studio gallery and chatted at length with him about his work.  The simplicity but deeply philosophical and provocative nature of his illustrations resonated with my own approach to art.  There was an obvious Buddhist influence in his work, inviting the viewer to ponder the difference between alone and lonely.  Having begun his art career in Bangkok, it was after moving to Chiang Mai that his style took a new direction.  Most of his current work feature rain drops, which signify the constant changes of life and being:  water condenses only to evaporate again, a cycle which regenerates without constraints of time.

"consider" by taksapornchai

"silence under the moon" by bhumakarn

The second artist I encountered was Supachet Bhumakarn, who owns a gallery called "Things Called Art."  He had a special affinity for pachyderms, who often take center stage in his work.  My favorite painting was a large work called "Silence under the Moon."  There was a tranquil mystery to this piece, which he told me was inspired by his relationship with his girlfriend.  At the time, he felt that he had great difficulty understanding her, often only able to see a small part of her, hence the partial depiction of animals in this work.  I asked him if he understands his girlfriend (they are still together) better now; he just smiled.

Like all artists, he went through a period of self-doubt and fear of losing his artistic vision.  In the end, his imagination took the form of a rabbit on his canvas, himself represented by an elephant, and he called the exposition "No Rabbit on the Moon," hoping that the rabbit stays with the elephant forever.

In between strolling the streets and chatting up artists, I ate.  If my memory serves me, and it does so less well the more I put in my mouth.  I began with breakfast at the guesthouse, followed by - in random order - pastries, an ice cream sandwich, lemongrass juice, green tea milk, a bowl of kaow soi (delicious and distinctively Chiang Mai noodles in spicy coconut soup), pork ribs and noodles, and finally napa cabbage over rice.  Nothing cost more than 60 Bahts ($2 USD).

outside a coffee shop

the most irresistible invitation

view from my room

Of course, the day could not be complete with just visual and gustatory feasts.  The mind also required attention.  Luckily, there were centuries-old temples all over the Old City, including one across the street from where I was staying.  Every morning and evening, the sound of monks chanting resonated everywhere within the Square.  I visited two temples today, once sitting by myself in front of a statue of buddha in a futile attempt to meditate and find peace, the other time standing behind monks as they conducted their evening chant and prayers.

I can't stay I got much out of it, as my mind refused to be reined.  But that's all right.  This was an aimless day, and it could do whatever it wanted.