Artists rally to save the Chao Mae Thap Thim ShrineArtists rally to save the Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine

Hemmed in on all sides by construction, colourful paintings are nailed to the metal sheet fences of an age-old community. Inside, there is thoughtful mixed-media artwork, performances and memorabilia left behind in the wake of displacement. Artists are campaigning all-out for the protection of the Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine ahead of a first court ruling that could result in demolition at the end of the month.

Wasitpon Tunsatapornpan, an organiser and artist, said people in this neighbourhood, once a hub for second-hand parts, have been evicted to make way for shopping malls and cafes. The Chao Mae Thap Thim Shrine is the last bastion of the Chinese community in Sam Yan. As a result, artists have joined hands in this exhibition to raise public awareness and protect the…