The Installation Art “The Crystallization of Time”: The Visualization of Time in The Production of Ancient Rock Salt at Bo Kluea District, Nan Province

Abstract

This research aims to: 1) study the traditional wisdom and way of life regarding rock salt production in the Ban Bo Luang community, Bo Kluea Tai Sub-district, Bo Kluea District, Nan Province; and 2) create contemporary artworks that reflect the crystallization process and the concept of time within an artistic dimension, explored through the perception of time alongside the existence of ancient wisdom in a contemporary context.
The research is based on the hypothesis of constructing “The Visualization of Time” in art through documentary research, observation, and interviews. Data were analyzed using a qualitative research methodology, leading to the creation of artworks for public exhibition. This process involved replicating the crystallization of salt within an artistic space, inspired by rock salt production techniques, and synthesizing the resulting knowledge.
The findings reveal that “The Visualization of Time” represents “change.” Although it can’t manifest in a physical shape, it appears only through traces, sediment, and specific observable evidence. This concept is presented in the form of a mixed-media installation, utilizing moving images and art objects to create interconnected meanings within the exhibition space. By exploring two dimensions of time—Objective Time and Subjective Time—the research is interpreted through the art series titled “Crystallization of Time,” exhibited at Baan Tuek Art Center, Chiang Mai. What the audience perceives through the work is “change,” which constitutes a facet of subjective time. Consequently, it can be concluded that the visualization of time is an intangible dimension that can, however, be experienced through the medium of artistic space.