In March this year Srinakarinwirot University, Bangkok hosted the Thailand New Media Arts Festival 2004, curated by Francis Wittenberger. Isabel Saij interviewed Francis in netartreview, who set up ICECA Thailand (Initiative for Cultural Exchange and Computer Arts) and the festival after coming to Thailand and seeing the creativity and influence Thai artists could have on the global media scene. The interview also gives a very insightful comparison of curating festivals and making art between Europe and Thailand.

“Punk” attitude and rebellion, as well as pornography, are not common at all. Thai people live a happy life eating, drinking, and having a very rich social life. If you present them with, for example, “hardcore electronic music, they will not get the point; “why do the foreigners listen to noise” will be a common thought, and, without further say, the common Thai will turn to the buffet to get a drink or some sweets and wait until the “noise” is over. Also, in Thailand, technology is something which “if it works, it’s good.” No one will have a language problem with an English menu on their picture-phone. If the tech device offers a useful feature, the English menu item will be memorized as a graphic icon, and from that point on the shape and location in the menu will be an address to access the useful feature–no more and no less.

thailand new media arts festival 2004