Worth it? 143-year-old tree cut into pieces for art

An art project by one of Thailand’s national artists became the talk of Facebook town today after netizens found out it took the life of a 143-year-old tree.

The art installation being created by Kamol Tassanachalee and Japanese artist “Mukai” on the island of Krabi has been criticized and condemned by locals today as it involved cutting up a perfectly healthy, towering lakoocha tree for display in the island’s Andaman Cultural Art Center.

The story went viral after several media outlets picked up on a post by Akra Chakjinda, who vented her frustration and disbelief online.

“Dear artists, did art really drive you to do this?” Akradej wrote. “This tree is a hundred years old, and it was cut to create an art installation by a national artist. This was approved by Krabi’s mayor.”

Mayor Keeratisak Phukaoluan previously posted a photo of the tree last month stating the landowner where it stood approved of its destruction.

There has been no response from the mayor as netizens seemed in unusual agreement that destroying nature to create art was not very cool or in the best spirit of “creation.”

 

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