Gallery Tours
Walking Tour: Homecoming to Ban Khrua by Keeta Isran
By Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and Jim Thompson Art Center
Speakers:
Keeta Isran, Artist curator and founder of Muslimah Collective
Phitsanu Jareepun, The Islamic Committee of Kong Asa Cham Mosque and Director of the Ban Khrua Historical Learning Center
Meena Mumadaree, The Islamic Committee of Kong Asa Cham Mosque
Suniti Chuthamas, Researcher at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
The artwork Baan Krua Baan Khaek by Keeta Isran, currently on display at the William Warren Library on the second floor of the Jim Thompson Art Center, invites viewers to engage deeply with the history and identity of the Baan Krua community—an ancient settlement situated along the banks of the Saen Saeb Canal. This community is traditionally understood through a dominant historical narrative, which highlights its establishment by the Cham people during the early Rattanakosin period. However, the work also presents alternative perspectives—those of local residents who lived through moments of profound national change, including the Cold War era and various episodes of political upheaval. These accounts reflect the tensions between the state’s push for modernization, which at times threatened the community’s autonomy, and the resilience of the community itself. In addition, the work explores the enduring relationship between Baan Krua and Jim Thompson, whose presence on the opposite side of the canal is still remembered.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the James H.W. Thompson Foundation, Keeta Isran —together with the Baan Krua community, the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, and the Jim Thompson Art Center—extend an invitation to revisit the layered history of Baan Krua. This commemoration includes a guided exploration through the community’s narrow alleys and riverside walkways, offering a sensory and reflective experience of its cultural heritage. Participants are encouraged to consider the continuing presence of traditional lifeways, culinary practices, and the persistent struggle for community survival amidst urban transformation. These reflections culminate in a community-focused special walk tour titled Latlo Lim Rot Baan Khaek (Krua) with Keeta Isran, which forms part of the exhibition The Shattered World: Micro Narratives from the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Great Steppe.
– This activity will conduct in Thai without translation
– Participation fee includes meals, and refreshments: 800 THB.
For more information, please contact:
Education Department, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Tel: +66 (0) 2 214 6630-8 ext. 519
Email: [email protected]
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BIO SPEAKERS:
Keeta Isran
Keeta Isran is a curator and founder of Muslimah Collective, a group of new coming female artists located in Narathiwat. Keeta was born in Bangkok, raised in Muslim community in Bangkok called “Baan Krua Community”. Later, her family moved to the south of Thailand after that she went to The Art Student League of New York, USA. Keeta was also joined a group exhibition showing her wooden sculpture for her graduation.
Keeta is a distinctive female artist who portrays her Muslim and cultural tradition in her artworks. She combines her experiences, recollections and the environment in her art. Her works reflect feminine Muslim feelings through forms, facial expressions and meaningful gestures. Keeta has been selected to show her artworks at many museums and galleries. “So Hope” was her solo exhibition at The National Art Gallery. Furthermore, her artworks have won many awards, including Gold and Silver Medals from the Bualuang Painting Competition. A Bronze Medal (Painting), 58th National Exhibition of Art.
Keeta was selected as a new generation female artist of Thailand in the name of ThaiLand Eye. In addition, she was one of the 101 most outstanding artists of Thailand in 2017. She exhibited “Patani Semasa” at MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Chiang Mai and Ilham Gallery Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in 2018. Moreover, she is invited to be part of the Bangkok Art Biennale representing Muslimah Collective and artists from the south. There are drawings, printmaking on objects and mixed media; as a set of her memoirs. Her artworks consist of different methods and styles of expression. However, she expresses all matters and personal feelings into a symbolic interpretation in which viewers are encouraged to connect with her deliberate works.
Pisanuch Jareepun
Pisanuch Jareepunholds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ramkhamhaeng University and has extensive experience in the field of mass communication. He previously served as a news reporter for the Public Relations Department, director and program supervisor for the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, and Head of Technical Operations at the Parliament Television Station.
He is currently the Director of the Baan Krua Historical Learning Center, where he plays a key role in researching and preserving the history of the Cham community in the Baan Krua neighborhood. He also initiated and proposed a public hearing process to government agencies in response to the planned construction of the CD Road expressway, which would directly impact the Baan Krua community.
Meena Mumadaree
Meena Mumadaree is one of a key community leader in Baan Krua, an historic Muslim neighborhood in Bangkok. She currently serves on the committee of Kong Asa Cham Mosque, and holds the role of Chair of the Subcommittee on Women, Youth, and the Elderly, as well as Secretary of the Baan Krua Community Savings Group.
She plays an important role in supporting bereaved families within the mosque community and continuously promotes activities for children, women, youth, and the elderly. Meena is also the initiator and driving force behind the Ban Mankong housing security project, aimed at improving the living conditions and environment of this long-standing community amid the ongoing urban development surrounding it.
Suniti Chuthamas
Suniti Chuthamas is a researcher at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre. He holds academic training in archaeology from both Thailand and Jordan. His current work focuses on research and translation of ancient texts to convey the cultural heritage of Muslim communities through archaeological evidence and historical documents in Arabic, Persian, and Malay. His aim is to deepen the understanding and connections between Thailand, Southeast Asia, and the Muslim world. Suniti also has field experience in ethnographic research in Bangkok, where he has uncovered the histories and cultural diversity of Muslim communities in the capital—reviving forgotten narratives and bringing them back into contemporary public consciousness.
Image Gallery
