Between the Rice Fields (2025)

 

I capture brief moments of “being seen” in the life of weeds in rice fields, those fleeting times when seeds fall, drift, and appear within the small contexts of their existence.Since my family has been farming rice

 

In this project, I return to the rice fields of my home in northeastern Thailand to observe these weeds again. I am fascinated by certain plants, such as Yha Rad Khiet (Lesser Fimbristylis) and Kok Sai (Rice Flat-Sedge), which I chose to portray in this series. I capture short moments in memory when I saw these small plants. They are considered harmful to agriculture and must be removed, yet I also see them as a natural part of growth. This complexity feels contradictory. I know they damage economic crops, but I still admire their beauty. It is like trying to connect with nature while facing an unseen barrier telling me these plants are not “good.” This leaves me questioning how we define them. My research also revealed that some weeds play an ecological role and support biodiversity in rice fields. This perspective leads me to ask about the boundary, what defines a weed, or what counts as an invasive plant.

 

I portray these plants using colored pencil on filter fabric, representing a process of selection, while what remains on the fabric exists in the in-between moment of human decision. At the same time, I create space for air beneath and beyond the frame, allowing the outside air to connect into the painting. I see the air as carrying the weeds, letting them travel without boundaries. In doing so, I question the boundaries humans impose on nature, while making visible what is often unseen, both weeds and the wind itself.