Manorah

Manorah and the Best Friends of the Snake presents Sakarin Krue-On’s poignant 2010 silent film, a reimagining of the beloved Thai folktale Pra Suthon–Manorah. Through a meticulously crafted visual narrative, the artist transforms this ancient myth into an allegory for contemporary society—its vulnerabilities, tensions, and the fragile balance between hope and disillusionment. Drawing from the original storyline of Manorah, a celestial bird-maiden captured and delivered to a human king, Sakarin reshapes the tale to reveal the forces that manipulate, divide, and reshape society today.

Set in the fictional “City of Best Friends of the Sanke,” Sakarin’s version unfolds as a world where innocence coexists with persuasion, and where the mysterious “wings” of Manorah—symbols of freedom, knowledge, and aspiration—become contested objects of desire. As King Suthon learns to fly with Manorah’s wings, the people, too, demand the same privilege, sparking waves of longing, envy, and discontent. This escalating struggle mirrors the social and political turbulence that characterises global society, where competing ideologies and manufactured hopes continue to blur the boundaries between truth and illusion.

The work is a part of broader project Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud and one sees the stars (2010), in which the artist examines a society overwhelmed by media persuasion, materialism, and the erosion of moral clarity. The film warns of a population increasingly unable to differentiate good from bad, and easily swayed by grand promises offered by those seeking power. It is a call for awareness: a reminder that only through discernment and reflection can a community safeguard its integrity.

By revisiting myth through a contemporary lens, Manorah and the Best Friends of the Snake invites viewers to consider their own “wings”—their agency, their choices, and their responsibility within a wider social landscape.

On view: 14 December 2025 – 18 January 2026