What is Laos Project?

◆How LaosProject Began

LaosProject began as a collaborative project between National Institute of Fine Arts of Lao (NIFA) and Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) with the background of TUA being selected to take part in Inter-University Exchange Project (ASEAN).

Luang Prabang, Laos, is an old city known for its numerous Buddhist temples. The monks walking around town in their orange robes is a impressionable scene of the city. They often use black umbrellas as sunshades when they walk outside because the sunlight is very harsh during the day.

Novelist, Haruki Murakami has written like this in his travelogue, "What on Earth is there in Laos?" (Bungeishunju, 2015):

"Many of the monks use umbrellas to avoid the strong sun, but unfortunately these umbrellas are normal black umbrellas you'd use when it's raining. That makes me think. . . Perhaps some NPO or foreign aid department ought to make beautiful umbrellas, maybe orange ones to match their robes or yellow ones to match their belts."

From Murakami's text, we began to develop the idea of creating and donating umbrellas for Luang Prabang's monks.

◆Is it Possible to Donate Umbrellas for the Monks to Use?

～Visiting Laos, March 2017～

The project started with members from National Institute of Fine Arts of Lao (NIFA) and Fine Arts School of Luang Phrabang (FASLP) with the goal of donating beautiful umbrellas made at workshop events, to the monks.

In March 2017, we visited Laos for fieldwork. Along with the members of NIFA and FASLP, we conducted interviews to the monks of Luang Prabang.

This interview led us to reconsider the fundamental aim of this project, to donate the umbrellas to the monks.

We found out that in the stream of Buddhism practiced in Laos, it is forbidden to have anything above the monks' head with botanical or animal patterns. Also, the monks who are going through trainings do not decorate themselves with items and fancy clothing, therefore they do not use umbrellas with decorative patterns.

◆Umbrellas That Changes the Cityscape!

～Towards Worksop Event in Laos, March 2018～

We were able to learn the Buddhism practiced in Laos and the Laotien way of thinking by actually visiting Laos.

After returning to Japan, we carefully discussed about the project, and decided to move the project forward by using the primary idea of "changing the cityscape" as the core concept.

By asking the people of Laos and visitors to use the brightly coloured umbrellas that are reminiscent of the monks' orange robes, made at the workshop event, we aim to subtly transform the cityscape.

With the cooperation of the members from NIFA we are moving towards the workshop event scheduled in Laos, March 2018.