The Division of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, together with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Assistant Professor Suksanti Wangwan, Assistant to the President for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Dr. Keran Wang, Lecturer in Dance, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and a 15-member ‘Khon Modindaeng’ team, participated in the promotion of Thai arts and culture at the Hainan Free Trade Port – ASEAN Intangible Cultural Heritage Week 2025. The event took place from 6 to 18 December 2025 in Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China.
This large-scale platform for intangible cultural heritage in the ASEAN region was organised by the Hainan Provincial Cultural Centre to serve as a venue for international cultural exchange and to promote sustainable cooperation in arts and culture between China and ASEAN nations.
Assistant Professor Suksanti Wangwan stated that this participation represents a significant step for Khon Kaen University in presenting the cultural identity of the Isan region on an international stage. It also provides an opportunity to build collaborative networks in art, performance, and the creative economy among Thailand, China, and ASEAN. This collaboration is expected to lead to the development of joint academic work, research, and student exchange programmes between the two countries through co-developed curricula, strengthening the potential of Thai youth for future international careers.
The Khon Modindaeng team served as Thailand’s representative, presenting the traditional Thai masked dance (Khon) with a new dimension that incorporated media techniques. The presentation and its components were adapted and refined to appeal to Chinese audiences while retaining essential Thai elements. This included actors wearing exquisite masks and headpieces, performing graceful yet powerful movements, focusing on the ‘Abduction of Sita’ episode from the Ramakein epic (Ramayana). This pivotal scene, which triggers the war between the giants and the monkey army, was portrayed beautifully, garnering high praise from the numerous attendees.
Furthermore, the Khon Modindaeng team hosted the “Thai Khon Art Exhibition,” promoting Thailand’s cultural soft power to the global community. The exhibition detailed the history of Thai Khon through stunningly ornate Khon costumes, explained the training process involved, and featured videos of grand performances.
In addition to the main performances at the Hainan Free Trade Port – ASEAN Intangible Cultural Heritage Week 2025, the Khon Modindaeng team conducted a continuous Khon roadshow at Hainan University and various Chinese shopping centres. This effort disseminated knowledge about Thai Khon to Chinese and international spectators, aligning with Khon Kaen University’s role in driving Isan arts and culture to an international level.
