A Sustainable Spin on Tradition at the Waterfront at ICONSIAM

Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a hand-woven masterpiece that brings Thai craftsmanship and eco-conscious design to the banks of the Chao Phraya River

This season, the festivities at ICONSIAM are trading traditional plastic decor for a more soulful, sustainable approach to the Lunar New Year. Nestled along the River Park with the Bangkok skyline as a backdrop, a monumental new installation titled “Weaving Prosperity” is artfully presenting ancient Chinese symbolism through the lens of Thai artisanal wisdom.

The centerpiece of the celebration is “The Auspicious Blessing Scroll,” a massive three-dimensional sculpture crafted by the award-winning Thai artist Korakot Aromdee. By taking the concept of a traditional two-dimensional painting and expanding it into a dynamic physical form, Aromdee has created a space where art and tradition collide.

Symbols of Fortune and Strength

Visitors walking through the installation will find themselves surrounded by imagery deeply rooted in folklore. The sculpture features several key icons designed to usher in a year of good luck:

• The Eight Horses of Prosperity: Representing success coming from every direction, these figures lean into the power of the number eight, a classic symbol of wealth.

• The Crane and Clouds: Soaring happiness and longevity are represented by the crane, while the surrounding Yun (auspicious clouds) signify constant good fortune.

• The Thousand-Year Pine: A sturdy anchor to the composition, symbolizing stability and enduring strength.

  
  

Art with a Conscience

What makes this installation truly remarkable isn’t just its scale, but its soul. In a nod to the sustainability philosophy championed by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, the sculpture is a triumph of upcycling.

Aromdee and his team utilized indigenous materials and repurposed waste to create the textures of the piece. Look closely and you will see abandoned fishing nets wrapped around sturdy bamboo structures, blended with rice straw to mimic the fluid, soft strokes of a Chinese calligraphy brush. It is a masterclass in how discarded resources can be elevated into high-end art.

A Community Effort

This was no solo endeavor. The sculpture is a tapestry of regional talent, bringing together master artisans from Chiang Mai, Maha Sarakham, Pathum Thani, and Phetchaburi. By uniting these diverse craft styles, ICONSIAM is providing a global stage for local communities, ensuring that traditional Thai skills remain relevant and profitable in the modern world.

“Collaborating with local artisans and using materials found in our surroundings lies at the heart of this creation. My intention is to pass on inspiration and new experiences to everyone. The greatest challenge was transforming these materials rooted in Thai wisdom into art that creates opportunity, generates income, and restores pride to the communities—so they can live with genuine happiness and long-term sustainability,” says Aromdee.

Experience the Magic

Whether you are a fan of contemporary art, a believer in the power of auspicious symbols, or simply looking for the most beautiful photo opportunity in the city, the “Weaving Prosperity” sculpture offers a peaceful and inspiring way to welcome the new year.

The installation is open to the public free of charge and will remain on display at River Park and throughout ICONSIAM until 15 March 2026.

[PHOTO: Courtesy of ICONSIAM]

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