Earth From Above: Bangkok Art & Photography Event by Zen

AT THE ANNUAL BANGKOK ART & PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT by ZEN 3 June – 9 September 2008 At the Zen Outdoor Arena and Amphitheater Zone, Central World, Bangkok, Thailand Monday – Thursday: 10.00 – 22.00 Friday – Sunday: 10.00 – 23.00 Admission is free. EARTH FROM ABOVE: AN AERIAL PORTRAIT OF OUR PLANET Towards A Sustainable Development The spectacular aerial images of Yann Arthus Bertrand have toured 110 cities and have been seen by more than 120 million people. Documenting the realities of our changing earth from new and exciting angles, they present a variety of natural habitats and expressions of life, inspiring you to consider sustainable development and the future of our planet. Earth From Above: An Aerial Portrait of Our Planet opened in Bangkok for the first on 3 June and showcases 120 stunning aerial photographs taken above more than 100 different countries. Each image features an informative caption explaining man’s imprint and assault on his environment. Source: ZEN@CentralWorld Image and Text © Yann Arthus-Bertrand Heart in Voh, New Caledonia (French Overseas Territory) (20°56′ S, 164°39′ E) A mangrove swamp is a semi-aquatic forest common to muddy tropical coastlines with fluctuating tides. Made up of halophytes (plants that can grow in a saline environment), with a predominance of mangroves, these swamps cover almost one-quarter of tropical coasts and a total of some 56,000 square miles (15 million hectares) worldwide. This represents only half of their original extent, because these fragile swamps are continually shrinking due to the overexploitation of resources, agricultural and urban expansion, the creation of shrimp farms, and pollution. The mangrove nonetheless remains as indispensable to sea fauna and to the equilibrium of the shoreline as it is to the local economy. New Caledonia, a group of Pacific islands covering 7,000 square miles (18,575 km2), has 80 square miles (200 km2) of a fairly low (25 to 33 feet, or 8 to 10 m) but very dense mangrove swamp, primarily on the west coast of the largest island, Grande Terre. At certain spots in the interior that are not reached by seawater except at high tides, vegetation gives way to bare, over salted stretches called “tannes,” such as this one near the town of Voh, where nature has carved this clearing in the form of a heart. Introducing YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND One of the World’s Most Celebrated Photographers “The Earth is art, the photography is only a witness,” says Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Easily ranking as one of the most published photojournalists in the world, Yann has spent the last three decades flying in hot-air balloons, planes and helicopters over more than 100 countries and every continent, covering a single subject: the world we live in as seen from above. His spectacular books of landscape photography have sold a staggering three-million copies. His exhibition, Earth From Above: An Aerial Portrait of Our Planet, opens for the first time in Bangkok on 3 June at ZEN@CentralWorld, and has already been seen by more than 120-million people in over 100 countries. Highly graphic, Yann’s pictures are compelling art, with an arresting visual perspective that involve hours of preparation and logistics. His images require not only perfect weather conditions, but highly competent pilots and special flight clearances from governments who sometimes worry he is a spy. Yann’s work, which is completed under the patronage of UNESCO and for which he has received France’s highest artistic honours, has developed into a larger mission. He clearly illustrates mankind’s impact – and in many cases, assault – on the environment. Each photograph documents the state of the planet at the turn of the millennium, inviting us to think about climate change, sustainable development and the future of life on Earth. Aware of the impact of his own activities on the planet, Yann has founded the GoodPlanet.org organization and actioncarbone.org, with the goal of acting and encouraging others to act in favour of sustainable development. Web sites: http://www.yannarthusbertrand.org Action Carbone When Yann Arthus-Bertrand set up the Action Carbone programme, he had one goal in mind – to reduce his personal impact on climate change. By funding projects in the fields of energy-efficiency, renewable energies and reforestation, Yann Arthus-Bertrand hopes to offset the greenhouse gas emissions caused by his activities. Good Planet has created the Action Carbone programme, in collaboration with its chairman, Yann Arthus Bertrand. His aim is to encourage businesses, institutions and citizens to do the same — to tackle climate change to protect mankind. Source: The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand Bulletin dated 3 June 2008 Web site: www.goodplanet.org A non-profit association for the promotion of Sustainable Development chaired by Yann Arthus-Bertrand Related web site http://www.earthfromabove.com Image and Text © Yann Arthus-Bertrand Agricultural landscape near Cognac, Charente, France (N 45°42′ W 0°17′) In the nineteenth century phylloxera, an aphid-like insect, ravaged the vineyards of Charente along with nearly half of all French vines. A major part of the grape stocks of this region was replaced by cereal plantings, which still predominate in the landscape. The vineyards were gradually restored around the city of Cognac, where the production of the liquor of the same name has steadily increased. Growing on chalky soil, the ugni blanc grape (known locally as saint-émilion) yields a wine that is distilled and aged in oak casks, giving rise to cognac. The stock currently being aged exceeds the equivalent of 1 billion bottles. The trade name Cognac is reserved to this area alone, limited by legal decree since 1909, and is divided into six vintages. The Cognac region is home to more than 15,000 vineyards in an area of 350 square miles (900 km2), producing more than 190 million bottles of this prestigious beverage per year; more than 90 per cent is exported, chiefly to the United States and Japan but also to other European countries. Image and Text © Yann Arthus-Bertrand Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States (44°31’ N, 110°50’ W) Situated on a volcanic plateau that straddles the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world. Created in 1872, it covers 3,500 square miles (9,000 km²) and contains the world’s largest concentration of geothermic sites, with more than 10,000 geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs. Grand Prismatic Spring, 370 feet (112 m) in diameter, is the park’s largest hot pool and third-greatest in the world. The color spectrum for which it is named is caused by the presence of cyanobacteria, whose growth in hot water is greater at the periphery where the temperature is lower. Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, Yellowstone National Park receives an average of 3 million visitors per year. The North America continent, which contains the five most visited natural sites in the world, is visited by between 80 and 90 million tourists per year—11 percent of world tourism in numbers, but almost 18 per cent in revenues.

Arts of the Kingdom

	All images © ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center “Arts of the Kingdom” — a magnificent exhibition of exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts reflects the decades of work initiated under The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or the SUPPORT Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The SUPPORT project was launched in 1970 by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand and was established as a foundation on 21 July 1976. The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or SUPPORT Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Thai art and cultural heritage and craftsmanship and has enabled farmers to earn supplementary income during the period after the annual harvest. First launched in 1992 to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 60 th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen, the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition was last held to mark the auspicious occasions of the Diamond Jubilee or Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne and His Majesty the King’s 80 th birthday in December 2007. The highlights of the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition currently being held at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall at Dusit Palace include the awe-inspiring Suphannapetra golden junk – a masterpiece handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72 nd birthday anniversary, the Phra Mahajanaka golden junk studded with precious gems and embellished with beetle wing collage, as well as several new additions to the collection. A spectacular model of the Suphannapetra golden junk This masterpiece was handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72nd birthday anniversary. Sivikakarn – covered palanquin The golden niello Phra Tinang Buddthan throne A model of the majestic Royal Barge Suphannahongse or 'Golden Hamsa', a swan — like mythical steed of Brahma. King Rama I commanded the Royal Barge Sri Subanahongsa to be built soon after his accession to the throne in 1782. Sapakhap-phrakhajataan — a howdah or seat placed on an elephant’s back. The Thai kings of the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi period rode into battles on elephants, the royal mount. Bussabok Mala throne pavilion ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace 10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays) Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs. Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students) Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185 Dress code: Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. The Origins of The SUPPORT Foundation Following the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 1946, Their Majesties have made extended journeys to all corners of the kingdom, particularly to the more remote regions where the need for help and support is the greatest.During these royal visits, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit learned that farming activities alone did not generate sufficient income to support farming families in rural Thailand. While His Majesty the King has initiated over a thousand royal projects in efforts to alleviate rural poverty, Her Majesty the Queen has likewise strived to develop alternative employment opportunities to supplement the basic income of rural farming communities throughout Thailand. During Her Majesty’s frequent visits to the various provinces around Thailand, HM Queen Sirikit noted that each of the regions of Thailand are sources of a vast variety of indigenous raw materials and cottage industries. These natural resources provided tremendous potential for the development of indigenous handicrafts. HM Queen Sirikit was convinced that if efforts were undertaken to promote indigenous handicrafts, the rural poor would be able to earn supplementary incomes. Her Majesty the Queen has since extended support to an extensive range of regional crafts. Royally-initiated projects specifically designed to promote indigenous crafts can be found in all four regions of Thailand. From the early days of the SUPPORT Foundation, Her Majesty the Queen has tirelessly devoted her efforts to the activities of the foundation. The SUPPORT Foundation provides vocational training for residents of rural communities dotted around Thailand and enables them to become skilled artisans. The training curriculum aims to provide future artisans with all the skills handed down from generation to generation by the most talented Thai craftsmen. The foundation also prepares trainees to go beyond the rote repetition of skills and patterns as taught and encourages individuals to develop artistic creativity. The SUPPORT Foundation also stresses the importance of technical excellence and the quest for perfection as being the way to achieve true creative freedom. Emphasis is placed on the incorporation of the ‘best practices’ in traditional Thai craftsmanship with the talents of an individual artisan. Marketing the products handcrafted by its trainees and graduates is one of the most important activities undertaken by the SUPPORT Foundation. Recognizing that it would be a challenge for village residents to find suitable markets for their craft products, the SUPPORT Foundation purchases finished products from each of the participating villages and arranges to sell them through various marketing channels, such as at the annual SUPPORT Foundation Fair held at Suan Amporn Gardens. The first SUPPORT Foundation training centre, which is also the headquarters, is located at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok. The organization houses a total of 23 training divisions. These are: Silver and Gold Golden nielloware Khram Damascene ware (the inlay of silver or gold strands on steel) Enamel Textile weaving Prae Wa silk Pha Jok weaving Pha Yok Dok and Pha Lai Khit Wood carving Soapstone Carving Handcrafted shadow puppets Yan Lipao basketry Lai Khit bamboo basketry Carpentry and rattan work Dolls crafted from Mai Mok Man Traditional designs Malaeng Thap beetle wings collage Mother-of-pearl decoration Embroidery Artificial flowers Dressmaking Packaging THE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION Please click to view Today, the SUPPORT Foundation has training centres and distribution outlets in all regions of the kingdom. ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace 10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays) Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs. Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students) Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185 Dress code: Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN SIRIKIT OF THAILAND Chitralada Palce, Rajvithi Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10303 Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9185 Fax: +66 (0) 2280 0338
	IMPORTANT Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel. Contact: Tourism Authority of Thailand Email: info@tat.or.th Website: www.tat.or.th Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines) Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines) FOR EVENT INFORMATION, please call 1672. Address: 1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee Bangkok 10400 Thailand

ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V

	All images © ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center “Arts of the Kingdom” — a magnificent exhibition of exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts reflects the decades of work initiated under The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or the SUPPORT Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The SUPPORT project was launched in 1970 by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand and was established as a foundation on 21 July 1976. The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or SUPPORT Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the Thai art and cultural heritage and craftsmanship and has enabled farmers to earn supplementary income during the period after the annual harvest. First launched in 1992 to celebrate the auspicious occasion of the 60 th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen, the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition was last held to mark the auspicious occasions of the Diamond Jubilee or Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne and His Majesty the King’s 80 th birthday in December 2007. The highlights of the Arts of the Kingdom exhibition currently being held at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall at Dusit Palace include the awe-inspiring Suphannapetra golden junk – a masterpiece handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72 nd birthday anniversary, the Phra Mahajanaka golden junk studded with precious gems and embellished with beetle wing collage, as well as several new additions to the collection. A spectacular model of the Suphannapetra golden junk This masterpiece was handcrafted by the artisans of the SUPPORT Foundation and presented to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on Her Majesty’s 72nd birthday anniversary. Sivikakarn – covered palanquin The golden niello Phra Tinang Buddthan throne A model of the majestic Royal Barge Suphannahongse or 'Golden Hamsa', a swan — like mythical steed of Brahma. King Rama I commanded the Royal Barge Sri Subanahongsa to be built soon after his accession to the throne in 1782. Sapakhap-phrakhajataan — a howdah or seat placed on an elephant’s back. The Thai kings of the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi period rode into battles on elephants, the royal mount. Bussabok Mala throne pavilion ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace 10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays) Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs. Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students) Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185 Dress code: Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. The Origins of The SUPPORT Foundation Following the accession to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 1946, Their Majesties have made extended journeys to all corners of the kingdom, particularly to the more remote regions where the need for help and support is the greatest. During these royal visits, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit learned that farming activities alone did not generate sufficient income to support farming families in rural Thailand. While His Majesty the King has initiated over a thousand royal projects in efforts to alleviate rural poverty, Her Majesty the Queen has likewise strived to develop alternative employment opportunities to supplement the basic income of rural farming communities throughout Thailand. During Her Majesty’s frequent visits to the various provinces around Thailand, HM Queen Sirikit noted that each of the regions of Thailand are sources of a vast variety of indigenous raw materials and cottage industries. These natural resources provided tremendous potential for the development of indigenous handicrafts. HM Queen Sirikit was convinced that if efforts were undertaken to promote indigenous handicrafts, the rural poor would be able to earn supplementary incomes. Her Majesty the Queen has since extended support to an extensive range of regional crafts. Royally-initiated projects specifically designed to promote indigenous crafts can be found in all four regions of Thailand. From the early days of the SUPPORT Foundation, Her Majesty the Queen has tirelessly devoted her efforts to the activities of the foundation. The SUPPORT Foundation provides vocational training for residents of rural communities dotted around Thailand and enables them to become skilled artisans. The training curriculum aims to provide future artisans with all the skills handed down from generation to generation by the most talented Thai craftsmen. The foundation also prepares trainees to go beyond the rote repetition of skills and patterns as taught and encourages individuals to develop artistic creativity. The SUPPORT Foundation also stresses the importance of technical excellence and the quest for perfection as being the way to achieve true creative freedom. Emphasis is placed on the incorporation of the ‘best practices’ in traditional Thai craftsmanship with the talents of an individual artisan. Marketing the products handcrafted by its trainees and graduates is one of the most important activities undertaken by the SUPPORT Foundation. Recognizing that it would be a challenge for village residents to find suitable markets for their craft products, the SUPPORT Foundation purchases finished products from each of the participating villages and arranges to sell them through various marketing channels, such as at the annual SUPPORT Foundation Fair held at Suan Amporn Gardens. The first SUPPORT Foundation training centre, which is also the headquarters, is located at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok. The organization houses a total of 23 training divisions. These are: Silver and Gold Golden nielloware Khram Damascene ware (the inlay of silver or gold strands on steel) Enamel Textile weaving Prae Wa silk Pha Jok weaving Pha Yok Dok and Pha Lai Khit Wood carving Soapstone Carving Handcrafted shadow puppets Yan Lipao basketry Lai Khit bamboo basketry Carpentry and rattan work Dolls crafted from Mai Mok Man Traditional designs Malaeng Thap beetle wings collage Mother-of-pearl decoration Embroidery Artificial flowers Dressmaking Packaging THE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS OF THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION Please click to view Today, the SUPPORT Foundation has training centres and distribution outlets in all regions of the kingdom. ARTS OF THE KINGDOM V By The SUPPORT Foundation's Chitralada Training Center At the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace 10.00 - 20.00 hrs. (closed on Mondays) Ticket sales from 10.00 - 19.00 hrs. Ticket prices: 150 baht (75 baht for students) Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9411, (0) 2283 9185 Dress code: Appropriate attire is required. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Skirts and Thai-style sarong for women. THE SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN SIRIKIT OF THAILAND Chitralada Palce, Rajvithi Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10303 Tel: +66 (0) 2283 9185 Fax: +66 (0) 2280 0338
	IMPORTANT Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel. Contact: Tourism Authority of Thailand Email: info@tat.or.th Website: www.tat.or.th Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines) Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines) FOR EVENT INFORMATION, please call 1672. Address: 1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee Bangkok 10400 Thailand