‘Bloody tears’ mural opposing Doi Suthep construction painted in Chiang Mai
A group of four Chiang Mai residents have painted a graffiti mural onto a blank white wall in Chiang Mai’s Muang district as a symbolic protest gesture against the Appeals Court Region 5 construction of court buildings and 45 residences at the foot of Doi Suthep mountain in the northern province.
The mural depicts a crying eye with bloody tears streaming down, while a shadow inside the iris shows forestland being carved out in the controversial estate’s shape.
The mural, accompanied by the Thai wording for “Reclaiming Doi Suthep Forest” was on Wednesday painted onto a the wall of a consenting private property owner near Chiang Mai College of Dramatic Arts and has been shared widely in Thai social media.
Group representative Wichien Tala said the mural took two hours to complete. Since it was on private property, he wasn't worried that it would be erased.
He said his group had joined the Network to Reclaim Doi Suthep Forest activities, including holding protest signs and wearing green ribbons and posting their pictures with the ribbon on Thai social media.
They thought this art expression would help the cause and, as it has reportedly received good feedback, the group may soon create additional symbolic graffiti murals, he said.