An exhibition that may not be the most perfect—but might be the warmest.
This is a living, growing journey created with children from the Mahanak community. Not just a final outcome, but a process—where kids explore who they are while discovering the stories of the place they call home.
Step inside and experience:
• Art as a shared language connecting people and community
• Local history, design, and stories through maps and a photo essay (still in progress!)
• Community memories passed from elders to children through sound (curated by Hear & Found)
• Collaborative works with students, residents, and artists
Come by, explore, and be part of the story 💛
📍 Asvin Contemporary Arts & Culture Space
🗓 30 Jan – 31 Mar 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Hello! Today, let me take you to explore the exhibition “Mahanak Ally” at Asvin Building, Nakarach Alley, Khlong Mahanak in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. You can spot the entrance right here—just follow the sign. Walk through the tunnel, where a little Naga will guide you inside.
At the entrance, you’ll see an old map of the Mahanak area, telling the story of Khlong Mahanak, which was dug during the reign of King Rama I. The city once grew along the canal, and later expanded as roads were built. This area was once home to the bustling Bo Bae Market, which has since become quieter over time. Interestingly, this site was also once the location of Thailand’s first childcare center.
Following the Naga, we arrive at the exhibition. It asks a simple question: When a neighborhood grows quiet, what can we do?
This project aims to equip local children with the skills to tell stories about their community through community maps and photo essays. What you see here is not a final result, but an ongoing process—weekly works created by the students.
In this section, students build timelines of Mahanak’s history. Nearby, you’ll find mind maps of important places, traditions, and local food. Over here is Islamic art, taught every Saturday—art becomes a bridge that brings everyone together. Students also learn to design icons, which they will later use in their maps.
Here, children practice drawing maps starting from the mosque—turning left, turning right, discovering what’s around them. Upstairs, you’ll see their handmade prayer mats, designed with geometric patterns, as Islamic art avoids human and animal figures.
This area showcases students’ photography, compiled into beautifully crafted photo books. In the listening lab, each chair represents a voice—recordings of community elders sharing memories of the past.
There’s also a collaboration zone featuring artists and contributors from outside the community, including workshops led by national artists.
Finally, everyone is invited to write what they hope to see in Mahanak’s future—both local children and visitors have shared their ideas here.
If you’d like to experience the work of Mahanak’s youth and the Mahanak Ally project, come visit us at Asvin Building.
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