Racharudee (Zhu clan), 2023


In the 'Racharudee' project, Wantanee embarked on a distinctive endeavour: deconstructing a family treasure that chronicles the history of the Zhu clan, descendants of the Zhu emperor in China (1911-1941). Each sheet was torn and shredded to be remade into memory layer papers. This transformation invites reflection on the nature of historical objects and collective memory. It poses thought-provoking questions: Does the status and meaning of the family clan book endure or vanish when its form is altered? What truly determines an object's value, importance, and recognition—the essence or its (non-)appearance?

Inspired by the name 'Racharudee,' the first 'Royal Museum' in Thailand, which displayed King Rama IV's collectables exclusively for royal guests and ambassadors rather than the public, this project operates within a unique and exclusive context. It explores themes of accessibility and the private nature of historical memory, challenging us to consider how the presentation and preservation of history influence its perception and value.