Art over the moon for mooncakes
Phannapast Thaychamethakool, whose fanciful illustrations have been commissioned by such big names as Gucci and Instagram, has designed 200 exclusive boxes for the Peninsula Bangkok to fill with mooncakes.
Proceeds from sales fund art scholarships for underprivileged students.
The hotel’s famous egg-custard mooncakes are presented in an embroidered gift box that draws inspiration from a Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival folk tale about the Goddess of the Moon and a rabbit, as well as the classic Thai poem “Jun Euey Jun Jao” (“Dear Moon”).
This famous poem about an elder sibling making a wish to the moon has long enchanted Thai children and been adapted into a popular lullaby.
Inside Phannapast’s box is a music box that plays the well-known Chinese song “The Moon Represents My Heart” by Teresa Teng. On the back cover is a pink rabbit surrounded by the moon and Thai flowers and birds, which is the artist’s signature motif in all of her artworks.
It costs Bt4,980, which will help a student secure a four-year scholarship to study for a bachelor’s degree in fine and applied arts at Chulalongkorn University.
Phannapast has become a much sought-after artist, whose work is instantly recognisable amd merge her Thai-Chinese background, fashion experience, love of animals and aesthetic obsession with tribal art.
The 30-year-old caught the world’s attention when Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele came across her vibrant beasts wearing Gucci’s cruise collection on her Instagram page.
He invited her to contribute to the “#GucciGram Tian” digital talent project in 2016 and last year she was commissioned again to create a stunning fairytale book and installation with her writer friend Aracha Cholitgul to promote Gucci’s Le Marche des Merveilles jewellery line.
Instagram last year invited her to design a fun backdrop for its headquarters in New York. Luxury Thai silk brand Jim Thompson has her printed wallpaper collection. She also designed the logo and illustrations for the “20 Amazing Thai Experiences” programme created to celebrate the Peninsula Bangkok’s 20th anniversary.
Order your box of mooncakes at (02) 020 2888, [email protected] or www.Peninsula.com/bangkok.
