A string of 23.16 karat gold (96.5% pure), weighing one Baht and extending 2.565 meters, delicately hangs in the gallery. This piece is not just a string of gold, but a powerful symbol of the fragility and weight of Thailand's socioeconomic divide. It reflects the historical gap between the elite and the ordinary people, a divide that is as delicate as it is heavy, and one that we must all bear the weight of. These tensions can be seen as a "thin line" floating in space. Despite our best efforts, we must stay within that line.
Wantanee’s personal experience during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as the inspiration for this work. It symbolizes the gold she needed to retrieve her father's pawned ring. Despite having a secure salary, She faced severe financial hardship and had to repay the loan with interest, mirroring the broader economic strains that many of us have faced.
Though known as the "Land of Gold," a title that reflects both the country's rich history of gold mining and its cultural reverence for the metal, Thailand remains deeply divided, with stark disparities between the wealthy and the impoverished. The gold string embodies this persistent divide, highlighting personal and societal struggles for equity and harmony in a divided world.