PHLENG RUEA: TRANSMISSION AND CREATIVITY FOR THE “ART FOR THE PUBLIC” PROJECT DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Abstract

This article is aimed at 1) promoting the sustainability of phleng ruea taught at the Wangte-Sinuan Learning Center for the Phleng Phuen Ban of Central Thailand (the Wang-Sinuan Center for short) by focusing on knowledge transmission to young practitioners in order to preserve its cultural heritage value, and 2) creating new texts for phleng ruea suitable for its performance in the project titled “Art for the Public” during the COVID-19 outbreak based on relational aesthetic and collaborative creativity approaches using research and development (R&D) methods. The results revealed that: 1) the sustainability of phleng ruea taught at the Wangte-Sinuan Center consists of the following factors: a) the singing style of mae Sinuan, b) the specific ordering of the songs for rudimentary training and rhyming knowledge, c) practicing and rehearsals of performances; and 2) the creativity of new phleng ruea pieces that are suitable for the performance contexts of the Art for the Public project at Mahasawat canal in tambon Salaya, amphoe Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom province. This gave rise to new “rhymes”, namely: (i) the introductory lai rhyme, specifically designed for the youth trainees, (ii) the lau rhyme, inviting audiences to visit Salaya, and (iii) the lau rhyme, addressing the COVID-19 situation. I suggest that the central and regional organizations responsible for the event promote the Art for the Public project based on the local community’s interest. This project aims to foster the preservation of phleng ruea, networking of upcoming artists, innovative formats for contemporary works, and more learning platforms for artists and audiences alike, while observing the necessary preventive measures regarding COVID-19. It addresses rising concerns about artist unemployment caused by the pandemic and highlights the role of the performing arts in spiritual healing during difficult times. It also emphasized the need to encourage more public policy towards sustainable public arts.