Ramakien: A Rak Opera

The hippest artists in Bangkok — filmmakers, visual artists, rock and pop stars, underground electronica DJs, and other assorted Thai scenesters — converge in New York for the world premiere of Ramakien: A Rak Opera. This extraordinary happening is a non-traditional retelling of the Thai version of the two thousand year old epic, Ramayana, the most important literary and oral text of South Asia. With a remarkable artistic team led by Rirkrit Tiravanija, one of the most innovative artists in today’s visual art world, Ramakien portrays Thai sentiments, customs and beliefs.

Extravagant visions, ferocious demons, prankster monkey gods, warrior kings, and beautiful women come to life in “The Floating Princess,” only one of the hundreds of stories in the Ramayana. This radical and lusty version of a timeless masterpiece illuminates contemporary Thai culture in a vibrant, fiery, and often raucous extravaganza.