1996-97; steel, herbal medicine, wood; 400 x 300
x 600 cm. Collection of Estate of Montien Boonma, Bangkok.
In his installation House of Hope, Boonma suggests an invitation
to step into the house/temple through thousands of prayer beads to experience
walking in meditation. In traditional Thai iconography, the walking Buddha
offers freedom from fear to his followers. The thousands of lines of prayer
beads made of herbal medicinal balls are like chants beseeching the Buddhist
ideal of no-soul (anatta) which can lead us to transcend suffering. The
painted walls simulate the stains from candle and smoke in temples.
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