Awakening Song Wat 2026, an immersive light art and digital art festival, has returned to the historical and hip neighbourhood until Sunday. The festival showcases 21 lighting installations across 14 locations in the area under the theme "Son(g)evity: The Longevity Of Song Wat".
Pongsiri Hetrakul, director of Awakening Festivals, said last year's festival successfully drew more than 170,000 visitors to Song Wat during the 10-day event.
The theme "Son(g)evity" concerns the long-term survival of the neighbourhood. While Song Wat has continued its economic growth, the question is whether it can keep the balance between traditional charm and rising commercialism. Here are some festival highlights.
- Installation : Light The Wish
- Artist : Nulty Lighting
- Location : Xin Pun Tao Kong Shrine
This is the first time that the Xin Pun Tao Kong Shrine was selected as an official venue for Awakening Song Wat. The shrine, which was built during the reign of King Rama III, is located on the rooftop of a shophouse.
Light The Wish is an interactive lighting installation which features 12 giant outdoor lightbulbs. A representative from Nulty Lighting said the installation, which is in front of Xin Pun Tao Kong Shrine, serves as a representation of incense sticks used when sending prayers to the deity Lao Pun Tao Kong. Visitors can make a wish directly at the installation or enter the shrine to light real incense sticks. There are motion sensors around the lightbulbs. When a visitor approaches, the sensors detect movement, which causes the lights to adjust brightness levels.
- Installation : Carry On
- Artist : Than-T
- Location : The Maskati Building
Carry On is a lighting installation constructed from cubic wooden frames wrapped with burlap fabric. It features stained glass designs and wrought iron patterns which are commonly seen on buildings around Song Wat.
The design team of Than-T named the installation Carry On to marvel at how Song Wat managed to survive over time. The team used items that represent living memories of Song Wat, such as wooden crates that were used to ship goods, while wrought iron patterns and stained glass were inspired by historical windows and buildings in Song Wat. The artists also created six interactive spots where lights blink when visitors stand there.
- Installation : Bob In The Nice Box
- Artist : Bob the Nice Guy
- Location : Ceremonial Matcha Atelier
Created by Chantisa Tetanonsakul, Bob the Nice Guy is a chubby white character with a big smile. Due to his joyful and humorous character, Bob brings a smile to the audience wherever he appears.
Bob In The Nice Box is made of hot air balloon fabric. Even though he is crammed into a tight space, he still smiles happily. Chantisa explained that Bob has complete freedom because he has never been tied down by the story of where he comes from; he was never meant to be limited to a specific place.
This time, she wanted Bob to look surreal, so she decided to cram him into the tight space. The projection mapping underneath Bob tells the cycle of Song Wat that keeps repeating itself from the old days to the modern era.
- Installation : Reflections Of Confluence
- Artist : Teerawat Wichaikhatka, Narissara Chaisang and Yuwadee Suradanai
- Location : Mosque Alley
Reflections Of Confluence is a design featuring colourful and patterned acrylic sheets. When illuminated, these various patterns become visible on the floor.
The artists, Narissara and Teerawat, explained that since the installation art is situated in front of a mosque, they wanted to incorporate Islamic architectural styles into their design. During their research, they discovered that the dome of the mosque features Roman style architecture, so they incorporated Roman patterns into the acrylic sheets. To show that Song Wat is a multicultural area, they also used a lotus bud pattern to symbolise Thai and Chinese cultures.
The artists also revealed their installation was designed to be viewed during day and night. While sunlight shines through acrylic sheets during the day, man-made light illuminates them at night.
- Installation : Song (Thong) Rong Khom
- Artist : Mojito Studio
- Location : Lost in Song Wat
Created by a team of robotics graduates from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Song (Thong) Rong Khom drew inspiration from historical Rong Khom Alley, which was once one of the largest paper lantern factories in Bangkok.
The interactive installation brings the past to life through two walls in the building. One wall showcases digital art lanterns, which allows viewers to participate by colouring a lantern on paper in their own style and scanning the image to be projected on the wall. Another wall features a drawing depicting the architectural structures found in Song Wat.
- Installation : The Flow Of Time
- Artist : Miss
- Location : Charoenwattana Warehouse
Created by three female high school students from Mater Dei School and Wattana Wittaya Academy, The Flow Of Time was inspired by Song Wat's history as a former centre for waterway trade. The young artists created an installation which represents a Chinese junk using organza fabric, while organdie cotton fabric is used to depict flowing water.
The trio explained that they chose organza due to its translucency and its ability to shimmer and capture the light's rays beautifully. With its rough texture, organdie mimics the traditional sacks used to transport goods in the past.
- Installation : Absent
- Artist : Yer Space
- Location : Warehouse at Soi Pratu Mai
Absent showcases numerous lightbulbs which repeatedly dim and brighten. The installation signifies the spirits of Song Wat; it reflects Song Wat's birth, death and ongoing transformation. A representative from Yer Space explained that Song Wat is a historical neighbourhood with its own narratives, continuous development and constant movement.
- Installation : Agar Archive
- Artist : Alteh Atelier (Nishapat Sawangkokgruad, Nawinda Chulchue)
- Location : Telephone Brand Jelly Building
Recognised by its iconic telephone logo, this historical building is famous for being the home of Telephone Agar powder, which has been produced here for more than 60 years. Nishapat and Nawinda created an interactive installation which replicated the giant rotary dial of a traditional telephone. One window, which features the rotary dial, also displays many symbolic images connected to Song Wat in the past, such as a Vespa, a Chinese lantern and a traditional Chinese scale.
When visitors rotate the large dial, the next window displays a digital image of a vintage telephone receiver on an LED screen. The installation represents Song Wat as the bridge between vintage and modern cultures and showcases Telephone Agar as a long-lasting brand.
Awakening Song Wat 2026 runs at Song Wat until Sunday from 6pm to 11pm. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/Awakeningfestivals.
