The Arts of the Baojai is the flagship project of the stress relief arts program and activities in Thailand.

The project combines artists from three disciplines: Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Music, collaborating with medical and contemplative education. It was initiated in 2022 (and continues to the present day) under the collective name "Hong Sinxay" or “Sinxay Heritage House” derived from the operational location situated in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.

The primary objective of "The Arts of the Baojai" project is to create activities and artistic spaces to alleviate stress resulting from the daily lives of individuals of all genders, ages, and diverse backgrounds. It aims to care for emotions and inner feelings within individuals and groups through artistic endeavors that connect to wisdom in learning and self-understanding.

This project comprises artists and art practitioners from various fields such as:

Pachaya Akkapram, Ratchaneekorn Jantanharn, Pongsathorn Phuthakhot, and Thippayaporn Kanthawong (Performing Art); Songwit Pimpakun (Visual Arts); Artit Krajangsree and Apisit Sangrocha (Music); Wanaporn Wattanakool (Medicine) and Thirakorn Maneerat (Nursing).

They are responsible for designing ideas, conducting art practices, and facilitating activities. Additionally, they serve as project evaluators.

Expanded Summary:

Given the current situation in Thailand, the Thai people are experiencing the impacts and tensions arising from various factors, including politics, economics, society, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and political changes. The project emerged from the realization of the Hong Sinxay group is recognized for the principles and practices of art, medicine, and contemplative education can be integrated to create "tools" for nurturing care towards the "internal emotions" of individuals. This is intended to alleviate these stressors and foster a positive state of well-being in human lives.

‘The Arts of the Baojai’ employs diverse artistic skills and cultural resources. It pays special attention to Sinxay (local literature in the northeastern region of Thailand) and utilizes it as a foundation for study, analysis, interpretation, and the creation of activities. Its overarching aim encompasses the establishment of spaces for emotional care. Consequently, the activities blend cultural resources, environmental systems, and artistic practices. These culminate in emotional expression, the sharing of feelings, the exchange of perspectives, introspection, and connection to wisdom, all of which contribute to self-discovery and reshaping thought perspectives to generate inner positive strength. This equips participants with the ability to effectively apply these insights in their daily lives, amidst various pressures and stressors.

The project's activities cater to diverse groups, including autistic individuals, parents/caregivers of autistic individuals, university students, senior citizens, and families. It has successfully engaged with autistic individuals and their caregivers, resulting in noticeable improvements in emotional management and life skills, particularly in communication with others. The activities offer a multifaceted view of autism (autistic spectrum) and lead to a deeper understanding of oneself. University students, on the other hand, confront high-stress levels due to academics, exposure to political news, and pressures from within themselves, their families, and society. These activities allow them to release thoughts and emotions through artistic engagement, resulting in improved emotional well-being. Lastly, the senior citizen group shares and imparts their life experiences, which shape the "inner threads" within them, influencing their lives over an extended period. The activities enable them to share and use wisdom for introspective reflection to alleviate these inner threads. This aids in recognizing their self-worth and leads to a happier life.

The Unexpected:

Engaging in the Arts of the Baojai activities with the elderly population has revealed that activities involving storytelling through writing, reading narratives, and role-playing scenarios induce a profound sense of connection among certain elderly participants. This engenders extensive sharing among group members and sparks introspective questions regarding their nearly 70 years of life experiences. This process has led to the emergence of a phenomenon akin to "dilemma" where the release of a lifetime of accumulated stress during their later years prompts them to "turn back" and reevaluate the causes that had rendered their seven decades fraught with tension.

The origins of this tension can be traced to paternal pressure, a force they had vehemently opposed. Curiously, however, they have assimilated their paternal traits and worldviews, employing them in their own lives. The arts of the Baojai session, which unlock avenues for memory exploration and restoration, have a pronounced impact on the participants' emotional well-being. This raises a pivotal inquiry: To what extent can activities centered around the theme of "memory or inner conflicts" be orchestrated, and how should they be orchestrated to ensure minimal disruption to the emotional equilibrium of the participants?

To what extent can activities centered around the theme of 'memory or inner conflicts' be orchestrated, and how should they be orchestrated to ensure minimal disruption to the emotional equilibrium of the participants?

OUTCOME:

The outcomes of the project have resulted in the creation of stress art programs and activities, amalgamating knowledge and skills from various artistic domains (visual arts, music, and performing arts), cultural heritage, medical expertise, contemplative education, and overall well-being. This array of activities was trialed with a remarkably diverse group of over 300 individuals, spanning regions across northeastern Thailand, including Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, and the capital city, Bangkok. Of the project participants, exceeding 90% experienced transformations in diverse aspects.

These transformations encompassed cultivating positive self-perceptions, releasing accumulated stress, refining attitudes and perspectives to cultivate creativity and invigorate a positive life force, self-understanding, and self-respect, as well as learning adaptive responses to societal phenomena. Participants became attuned to change, particularly its implications on their lives, and embraced a heightened awareness of managing stress independently.

Questions & CONSIDERATIONS:

What factors should be considered before implementing ‘The Arts of the Baojai’ activities with individuals or groups to ensure they do not negatively affect emotions?

What preparations should artists or facilitators use ‘The Arts of the Baojai’ programs make before commencing an activity?

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Is it necessary to consider the relationship between participants and facilitators, and does it impact the execution or effectiveness of the activities?

To what extent can participants ethically share personal stories, thoughts, and feelings within the framework of the program, and how should this be managed?

How should the preservation of participants' personal narratives that emerge within the context of the Arts of the Baojai project be handled?

RESOURCES

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