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One-year Project…Experimental Community 2
October 1, 2007-September 30, 2008

Submitted by the Land Foundation, Chiang Mai, Thailand

1. Rationale

The Land Foundation’s “One-year Project…Experimental Community 2” (2007-2008) is aimed to continue to exchange experiences, develop new knowledge, and share lessons learned from activities of the One-year Project…Experimental Community (2005-2006).

The Land Foundation intend to create alternative phenomenon to fulfill gaps that key social institutions do not have access to or are simply incapable to do due to restricted rules, procedures or frameworks. The Land Foundation, however, do not intend to perform these duties or cite deficiencies resulting from such gaps. In fact, the Land Foundation only aims to provide options for project participants to raise a continuation of questions and openly search for answers without any anticipation or expectation.

The Land Foundation will provide spaces for experimental alternative education, offering opportunities for alternative learning and preparing minds for a development of thinkers’ society where discussions and holistic learning are met. The Land Foundation attempts to bring together people from all walks of life with different subjects and interests in order to support and promote arts and cultures, natural agriculture, and self-study with Vipassana meditation technique. Activities under this proposed project will focus on education, intellectual discussion, and abstract and concrete knowledge sharing, while adding the values of complexity and delicacy that occur from a process of challenging culture and the present world. Therefore, the Land Foundation is proposing project components that are tied with the philosophy and concept of natural agriculture, self-study with Vipassana meditation technique, and art and cultural activities.

Philosophy and Concept

1) Activities to support natural agriculture
One of the human’s basic needs is food. Therefore, natural agriculture project is developed to ensure that humans can live self-dependently and sufficiently with nature leading to a freedom to live.

2) Activities to support self-learning with the technique of Vipassana meditation
When we have a freedom to live, we will thus have a freedom of expression. This is an important factor for human spirits to live. At the same time, too much freedom of expression can affect other people in a society. Vipassana meditation technique teaches us to learn and control our minds. When we truly understand the nature of self, we will understand others, making all of us living peacefully in a society.

3) Activities to support arts and cultures
Lied at the heart of arts are freedom of expression and abstract and concrete aesthetics. When we can live self-dependently and correspondingly with nature through body and mind, we can therefore utilize arts as a tool to inform a society.

The Land Foundation believes that certain types of experiences and knowledge take time to learn. The Land Foundation, therefore, has developed “One-year Project…Experimental Community” as a long-term project to support new generation culturists who are interested in philosophies and concepts of the Land Foundation that focus on alternative education, creative working atmosphere, and natural places for benefits of alternative learning.

2. Objectives

The One-year Project 2 has objectives as follows.

To build up alternative communities to fulfill gaps that key social institutions do not have access to.
To create a unity atmosphere among existing alternative institutions.
To promote atmosphere for living sufficiently within alternative frameworks through self-learning, media, alternative communities and arts.
To provide opportunities, create hopes, and generate vividness for old generation who were disappointed from conventional learning systems.
To create community perspectives and connect the ideal world with social reality.
To create personal working atmosphere and ‘me’ time, focusing on the time to think, refresh and examine intellectually.
To support creative working atmosphere that inspires team working with communities.
To encourage enthusiasm for self-expression in public places and be open to criticism and difference viewpoints.

3. Project Description, Approaches, Methods/Forms for Implementation

The One-year Project 2 is developed to extend an experiment with previous projects to exchange experiences and accumulate knowledge derived from the original concepts. The project team recognizes the importance of “experimental community” and envisions that the Land Foundation can be spaces to develop community perspectives and link the ideal world with social reality.

The “One-year Project…Experimental Community 2” (2007-2008) provides opportunities for project advisors, project team, and participants to face and overcome fears that derive from familiarity or social forces, leading to an obsession with consumerism and capitalism. As a result, they will be able to live independently unattached to social trends; to live in harmony with nature and invisible relationships, such as interpersonal skills, hospitality, and generosity; and to learn to adapt to uncontrollable situations with open minds and creative thoughts to live sufficiently.

The One-year Project 2 dreams for an ideal world with integrated knowledge and encourages participants to be up to with present social situations. The project team envisions that the project is feasible by adapting philosophies and practices for living and working balance, and by leading thinking directions through art and academic experiences. The project allows the project team, comprising of those who had participated in the One-year Project 1 (2005-2006), who believe in the Land Foundation’s profound philosophy, and who dare to express differences, to utilize their direct and indirect experiences from the One-year Project 1 to manage the One-year Project 2 with freedom to create activities with an advice from project advisors. For the fact that this proposed project is not an ad-hoc arts project, the project team believe that success is to be maintained; lessons to be learned; problems to be solved; creativeness to be enriched; native wisdom and concept to be studied; and dependency and generosity to be exercised to develop partnership with communities. More importantly, we need to be open-minded and brave to try new alternatives.

4. Target Groups

The One-year Project 2 is open for any interested individuals from different subjects, domestically and internationally, with an emphasis on those who are curious to learn, share experiences, and develop and distribute new knowledge. The One-year Project 2 is also designed for people who are looking for alternative ways and thinkers who are interested in integrated knowledge, able to live in group in experimental community, and be able to join the One-year Project full-time for a whole year. The project team will not select participants with certain criterion like those of other organizations as we mean to offer equal opportunity to each participant, based on a belief that individual has good virtue and grace. Also, the project team aims to design this project as a holistic learning and an alternative for present society. From our experiences with previous one-year projects, we believe that the nature of participants and the nature of the Land Foundation are proof of participants’ commitment and natural selection process. In addition, the One-year Project 2 welcomes any interested members of general public to join its activities at any time.

5. Project Detail and Planned Activities

Activities are designed to include theories and practices with project manager responsible for overall management and coordination with organizations and speakers, and project mentors responsible for providing advice to participants who will learn from invited speakers, other participants and other sources. Based on participants’ interests, activities are designed in relation to time and space, and linked with other project components, based on a belief that all activities are interconnected and that looking from different points of view can generate better learning perspectives.

Learning Outline

Mind development through Vipassana practices to learn about the work of being (or existence) and to show sincere respect to others.
Natural agriculture and self-dependence with respect to ecology and support to urban and countryside sustainable living.
Understanding of media philosophy, being up to the media’s influence and analysis of social phenomenon.
Arts as a cultural communication tool, given that we provide time and recognition to thinking process.

There are four key learning components as stated below.

‘PEACE’ (being silent): participants will have opportunities to think, examine themselves and clear their minds without taking in new information or giving out new information. This is to be an opportunity to be fully exposed to new information with clear goals.

‘Alternative communities and natural agriculture’: participants will have opportunities to explore and visit other alternative communities; to study the philosophy of living; to learn about works of individual organization; to build up a network; to cooperate in strengthening alternative communities; and to utilize own experiences and gained knowledge to develop lands at the Land Foundation.

‘Media’: participants will have opportunities to experience the philosophy and concept of media, the use of media, and the influence of media. Participants will then utilize media with the project’s activities through learning, conceptualizing and experimenting processes.

‘Art’: participants will have opportunities to together study the philosophy of art history, produce art works in a studio, exchange opinions, and search for information as source of knowledge and inspiration for their art works.

Each learning component takes about three months as described in the following pages.Project Component PEACE (being silent)
Timeframe 1 October – 31 December 2007
Project Advisor Mit Jai-Inn
Responsible by Thepparit Nantasakul and
Jirasak Saengpolsith

Objectives
-To escape from surrounding environment and to be tranquil to prepare for learning.
-To practice being silent and be attentive to body, words and mind to observe what are happening within self.
-To understand relationships and changes in order to adapt with real life situations.

Project
Stop doing and being attentive to body, words and mind to develop inner and outer peace is a learning process of exploring self and environment. This is to prepare participants before living together in a new community. The silence that emerges and leads to tranquility will provide various ways of learning, each of which is a foundation and capital of life. Every participant who is living in this alternative community is a coming truth.

Activities
PEACE (being silent) and Vipassana meditation activities are divided into three parts as below.

First Phase October 1-30, 2007
This is about learning theories and practicing meditation and Vipassana at various centers as follows:

1st Activity
-To attend a 10-day Vipassana meditation workshop at Master Goenka’s teaching-based Vipassana Meditation Center. The teaching is based on the practices of meditation by sitting and observing inner mind. Talking will be prohibited to allow participants to be attentive to body, words and mind.
Venue Dhamma Abha Vipassana Meditation Center in Phitsanulok
Timeframe 10 days

2nd Activity
-To attend a 7-10 day Vipassana meditation workshop at the Four Satipatthan -based Vipassana Meditation Center. This is to practice being mindful while standing up, walking, sitting and sleeping.
Venue Chiang Mai (Huay-som) Vipassana Meditation Center, or Jom Thong Temple, or Ram Peung Temple in Chiang Mai.
Timeframe 7-10 days

3rd Activity
-To attend a 7-day Vipassana meditation workshop at Doi Tone Cape Temple.
Venue Doi Tone Cape Temple in Chiang Mai.
Timeframe 7-10 days

Second Phase November 1-30, 2007
To adapt Vipassana theory and practice into real-life situations through pilgrimage in a jungle, mountainous areas, or the remote area that is far from communities or cities. This is to learn about the importance and necessity of the nature of tranquility and self-sufficiency.

4th Activity Pilgrimage
Venue Doi Inthanon, or Doi Luang Chiang Dao, or Doi Kueng
Timeframe 1 month

Third Phase December 1-30, 2007
To learn about living and working with the philosophy of the Land Foundation, which includes activities, such as living with presence tranquilly; practicing Vipassana; adapting self-sufficiency with the concepts of natural agriculture and alternative technology; adding arts in life to live beautifully in a contemporary world; and keeping up with media, its promise and the agenda hidden in a society.
Venue The Land Foundation and the City of Chiang Mai
Timeframe The entire projectProject Component Alternative Communities and Natural Agriculture
Timeframe 1 January – 31 March 2008
Project Advisor Kamin Lertchaiprasert
Responsible by Duen-talay Inchan

1) Objectives
Participants of the One-year Project and the project team will study about natural agriculture through publications, such as One Straw Revolution, and Ways to the Nature 1-3, etc., and from respected farmers whose farming practices are in harmony with nature. Participants will apply their understanding with activities at the Land Foundation in San Patong District, accordingly with the philosophy of the Land Foundation that people can be self-dependent by living with natural agriculture and developing sustainable community at the same time.

2) Field trips and learning together
2.1) ‘Vidhithai’ (Thai Ways) health program
By Ekachai Jinachan
The Vidhithai health program is a program about alternative ways of living with nature (from eating to living, resting and sleeping) and ways of taking care of health, which are basic foundation to alternative living. Activities include rice growing with natural ways, house building with mud or bamboo, yoga or Qigong exercise, healthy food cooking, and pain curing with acupuncture, etc.
Venue Suan Sai Lom Joy House, San Kampang
District, Chiang Mai
Timeframe 7 days

2.2) Agroforestry
By village headman Vibul Kemchalerm
Agroforestry is a mixture of different agricultural practices within the same area. Agroforestry brings a number of benefits, for example: values are added to the land; basic needs are provided (i.e. food, fruits, herbs, energy and economic woods); and nature and environment abundance is maintained.
Venue Sanamchaikhet District, Chachergsao
Timeframe 4 nights 5 days

2.3) Organic agriculture community
By Amnuay Chawalit
Participants will learn about a life of a woman who applies organic agriculture that has been practiced since her grandfather’s time through a memory of her childhood. She has more than 12 rais of farms, growing favorite vegetables and fruits, while collecting experiences that teach her about independent thinking.
Venue Suphanburi
Timeframe 2 nights 3 days

2.4) Tribal community, man and forest, and rotated farming
By Parue Odochao
Not only that agriculture makes us understand about Nature Ways, but living with forests like Pakakayor tribal community with small areas of agriculture is also a way of living and conserving nature.
Venue Sa-mueng District, Chiang Mai
Timeframe 3 nights 4 days

2.5) Phu Pha Fa Nam Community (Mountain, Sky and Water Community)
Participants will visit a strong alternative community which is successful practically and conceptually. Practically, a community does plantation farming only for community members and for producing community products for additional income. Spiritually, they follow the teachings of Buddha to live together.
Venue Phu Pha Fa Nam Community, Mae-rim District, Chiang Mai
Timeframe 3 nights 4 days

3) Plantation activities
3.1) To grow additional fruits (as participants need) by getting plants from local markets or other places.
3.2) To grow plants to add abundance to the area, for long-term use, and for the environment, such as yang, palm, afzelia, ironwood, Siamese Rosewood, etc.
3.3) To grow vegetables for daily consumption (as participants need). Participants can get seeds donation i.e. corn, taro, sesame, cassava, and green pea from Pan Pan (Mr. Jone Jandai).
3.4) To raise chicken and ducks for eggs
3.5) To grow rice as advised by rice farm caretakers and other local farmers.
Venue The Land Foundation
Timeframe The entire project
Project Component Media Studies
Timeframe April 1 – June 30, 2008
Project Advisor Uthit Atimana
Responsible by Praponsak La-or and
Surachet Sukomolnant

Objectives
This project component aims to increase the understanding of philosophy and concept of media as a tool that reflects thoughts of media practitioners at the individual, community, and societal level, so that participants will be able to analyze causes and effects behind media or societal phenomenon. Participants will also understand the impacts on individual, economy, politics, education, arts design, society and contemporary globalization as a result of media creation at the individual, community and societal level. The increased understanding from the Media Studies will develop curiosity to learn about a society to adapt with living and understanding life.

The Media Studies component is divided into two parts.
Processes of learning and building media concept
A learning process focuses on observation, discussions, and experience exchange during the implementation of project components, such as PEACE (being silent) and field trips to alternative communities. A process of building media concept includes forums and discussions with guest speaker organized by the Media Arts and Design Institute. Discussions and information exchange will occur at public forums that also include the members of the general public. The forums will be jointly organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, the Media Arts and Design Institute and the Land Foundation.
Experiment with media concept
A process to experiment with media concept will take about a whole one year of the One-year Project 2. The experiment will be extended and practiced during arts activities planned by the Land Foundation.

Public Forums
Public forums will be organized by the Land Foundation, which regularly encourages discussions and information exchange with the general public. The Land Foundation intends to utilize media as a tool to increase the understanding of impacts and relationships of surrounding things. At these forums, the Land Foundation will invite guest speakers to talk about different topics to increase knowledge and understanding for participants and the general public. There will be totally six forums, with four speakers are to be invited by the project team and the other two speakers suggested by participants themselves, subject to availability and their interest.

Guests Speakers
Thasnai Sethaseree
Thasnai is a lecturer at the Media Arts and Design Institute. He is an expert in Thinking History and an artist who is interested in the history of societal sensitivity.
Navin Rawanchaikul
Navin is an artist who is interested in working with communities. He uses local wisdom and community history to create art works which have been renowned among international art scene.
Thanet Charoenmuang
Thanet is a lecturer at Sociology Department, Political Science Faculty, Chiang Mai University. He is interested in community changes in Chiang Mai, and he is also a leader of environmental movements in Chiang Mai.
Kittisak Suwanapokin
Kittisak is a movie and writing critic whose works contain unique perspectives applying societal theories and local wisdom.

Project Component Art
Timeframe July 1 – September 30, 2008
Project Advisor Rirkrit Tiravanija
Responsible by Aroon Puritat

Objectives
To exchange opinions, theories and art history.
To observe movements of contemporary arts and cultures nationally and internationally.
To create personal working atmosphere and provide time to spend with self after obtaining learning experiences from other activities.
To develop creative working atmosphere in order to inspire teamwork and community work.

Project Component Description
Participants will live together in a farm with modest living basic facilities for three months. Participants will work on their own art project and group works, with equipments and materials to be decided by discussions among participants. The Arts project component will be assisted by the Project Advisor and the project team. Guest speakers will be invited once every three weeks, and each seminar will be recorded by various media i.e. photo, video, printed media, and the Land Foundation’s website. When the project is ended, all the knowledge gained will be published for educational purpose and for the use of the general public.

Project Component Approaches
Activity 1 Thinking Studio
Based on an assumption that contemporary artists give less importance to thinking process, the One-year Project, therefore, aims to provide space to create personal working atmosphere that allows better learning and experimenting so that participants have time to think, examine, and pay attention to their concepts and working process rather than the work itself. The process will encourage the participants to think out of the box, experiment alternative arts, work in a team and interact with communities under creative atmosphere; all of which are an inspiration to create art works.

Activities
Participants will live and work in a studio within a compound of the Land Foundation for three months with an assistance of the Project Advisor and the project team.

Activity 2 Forums
The One-year Project aims to provide opportunities for participants to discuss and exchange information with academics and thinkers from other subjects i.e. Architecture, Sociology, Humanities, Arts and Museum Administration and Management, etc. Learning about these new subjects, participants will have new perspectives and worldviews when interpreting art history. This will also assist participants in improving their personalities, such as more confident with his/her thinking and self-expression in public places, respect others’ opinions and differences, and open to criticism.

Activities
All 12 forums will be organized once a week. The Project Advisor and the project team will invite four guest speakers while the other eight speakers will be decided with suggestions from participants. The four guest speakers include:

Thaneth Wongyannawa
Professor Nithi Eiewsriwong
Himito Na Tokyo
Pen Pakta Jai-in

Activity 3 Field trips
Based on an assumption that hands-on and direct experiences can bring different perspectives usually gained from reading books or presentations, the One-year Project thus encourages participants to expand their visions through site visits, discussions, and analysis of present society, its roles and impacts, as well as interaction with people and organizations to build up future networks.

Architectural field trips:
Historical/old building: Ton Gwen Temple, Heinrich Boell Foundation, and Mon Phai Village for 1 day.
Artists’ Houses: Houses of Rirkrit Tiravanija, Kamin Lertchaiprasert, Thaiwijit Peungkasemsomboon, and Julatat Kittibutr for 1 day

Arts and cultural management
Public organization: National Museum, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai University Art Museum, Center for the Promotion of Arts and Cultures, Chiang Mai University for 1 day.
Private organization: private galleries, such as Ji-Qoo Gallery, La Luna Gallery for 1 day.

6. Expected Results

Be able to build up alternative communities to fulfill gaps that key social institutions do not have access to.
Be able to create a unity atmosphere among existing alternative institutions.
Be able to promote an atmosphere for living sufficiently within alternative frameworks through self-learning, media, alternative communities and art.
Be able to create diverse community perspectives and connect the ideal world with social reality.
Be able to develop learning that given time and recognition to thinking process.
Be able to develop integrated knowledge and new paradigm toward living and working.
Be able to develop creative working atmosphere that inspires individual and team working as well as working with communities.
Be able to encourage enthusiasm for self-expression in public places and be open to criticism and difference viewpoints.

7. Project dissemination

There will be public relations activities with media (i.e. radio and television), press (i.e. magazines, art and culture magazines, and newspapers), print media (i.e. posters, leaflets and brochures), cyber media (i.e. website and internet) and membership network.

8. Forces for communities and cultures, and arts development

8.1) To develop thinking process at the individual level toward living and art interpretation.
8.2) To understand life, and arts and cultures with
broadened perspectives.
8.3) To train participants and artists about contemporary
cultures to be able to interpret and produce artworks focusing more on concept rather than technique.