MBK photogenic for festive season
You’re going to need a Christmas tree in your selfies, so head to MBK Centre in downtown Bangkok. They’ve got one that’s 18 metres tall and decorated with krajang – the classical Thai double-leaf pattern.
If the tree doesn’t fit inside your photo composition, it’s also surrounded by wild and colourful sculptures and a train of circus carriages.
There’s purple-skinned Nong Mangkud holding her weird little ball., another little girl called Minky in control of randomly shaped animals, Mhok – a little dog with a flower face – Chluay, an elephant with a banana body. Makrub and Maja are waiting with their fancy neck decorations.
Welcome to “The Amazing Carnival”, says Siratha Suksawang of MBK marketing.
“For this year’s festival of joy, we’ve spent our marketing budget on both interior and exterior decoration in the form of a fantasy circus that perfectly infuses both Thai and foreign elements.
“We hope the carnival will bring excitement, joy and smiles to all visitors. We aim to create a new landmark for Bangkok to celebrate the end of this year and welcome the new one.”
Having only a Christmas tree wouldn’t have been amazing enough, Siratha says.
“I visualised MBK being the place for a rendezvous of visitors from space,” said Mamablues, one of artists involved. “Makrub is the ambassador inviting visitors to come from different planets and co-habitat with earthlings. It’s like our customers coming from all over the world to meet and shop at MBK.
“Nong Mangkud is the leader of the carnival parade and she also represents people of all ages. You can also see Jamue the nose with arms, Jow the kangaroo with a tail on his face, and the apple army with three arms who represent tender friendship.
“MBK Centre has always been very successful in incorporating art into the decoration,” Siratha says. “Both our street art and the Makrub and Maja sculptures by Lolay Taweesak Srithongdee have become landmarks where visitors take photos. This is the mall adjusting to reach the younger generations and keeping its appearance fresh and up to date.”
On sale are souvenir tote bags, animal-print scarves and coffee mugs with clown designs and a coaster shaped like a clown collar.
Learn more on the “mbkcenterth” page on Facebook.
