Nawarat ‘Nammon’ Welployngam & Tharinee ‘Palm’ Ratanasatien

November 7 - 29, 2024

Nawarat “Nammon” Welployngam is an artist, activist and the visionary founder of COMMUNITY LAB in Nang Loeng, Bangkok. With a passion for social change and cultural preservation, Nammon has dedicated her life to empowering her community through art and collective action. As an artist, Nammon’s work explores themes of identity, community and the urban landscape, often using mixed media and public installations to provoke dialogue and inspire change. Through the establishment of COMMUNITY LAB, Nammon has created a vital space for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy, enriching the cultural fabric of Nang Loeng and beyond.

Tharinee “Palm” Ratanasatien is a dedicated community-based artist and activist. She is the founder of Studio UpCircle, an innovative organization that combines art and upcycling to address environmental issues and enhance living standards in marginalized communities. Palm’s work, exhibited in galleries and public spaces, focuses on community engagement and sustainable practices. Her projects provide economic opportunities and skills training, particularly for women and underprivileged individuals. Through her art, Palm promotes mindfulness, well-being and environmental sustainability, striving to create a just and equitable future.

These artists visited the UK via Lab X, a pilot artistic residency and cultural exchange between Thailand and the UK, supported by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture program.

Artsadmin and Creative Migration have co-designed this nine-month artist development program, to confront the profound challenges faced by artists and producers working internationally. This micro-residency is designed to provide artists with time, space and money to develop their practice, without expectation of delivery, and it is an opportunity for artists and producers across locality to engage in mentorship, artistic dialogues and cross-sector support.

  • Art Spaces & Organizations

    Palm and Nammon were deeply inspired by Somerset House, Spike Island, MAYK, British Library, Wellcome Collection, Afri-Co-Lab, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and Live Art Development Agency (LADA). Each space offered a unique energy—thriving artist communities, visionary collaborations and invaluable resources that sparked new ideas.

  • Inspiring Connections

    Travelling in the UK and Wales allowed Palm and Nammon to reinforce the importance of socially engaged art, offering recognition and validation that empowered the artists to push their work further. The residency encouraged non-hierarchical collaboration and promoted more inclusive ways of thinking. These exchanges laid the foundation for sustainable, long-term partnerships, ensuring ongoing creative dialogue between Thailand and the UK.