Thai musician, instrument maker and Sonic Moon Festival performer Arnont Nongyao on his approach to experimental vision and sound
Words by Arnont Nongyao ● Photo by Prapaporn Kumyard
Experimental sound and film has been my primary medium since 2003. My own understanding of experimental is an open mind, and a space to encourage people to do things their way. In that way our cultures – that is Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos – are experimental cultures. When I walk the streets I observe strange things around me, innovations really, which are made by people. Especially minority group people. They adapt a lot of everyday items to use for simple things. Usually they use these innovations to fully function in everyday life. For example:
For me that is experimental process at its best. They use public space for experiments and to share their innovation with people around them.
I get a lot of inspiration from that. I have been making my instruments following that principle – adapt the very things around me to make something that suits my purpose. Each of my instruments therefore has its own unique sound.
What I make is DIY (Destroy It Yourself). I started out with the ‘Do It Yourself’ ethos, which encouraged me to make something, instead of buying something. Or to make something that you actually can’t even buy or that is too expensive. When you adapt things around you and you create something yourself and it works, it is very unique. For me that very process destroys the way we think about perfection and it also undermines the capitalist system. Hence you destroy it yourself by doing it yourself. And that is in itself an experimental process.
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To find out more about Arnont Nongyao visit his website: www.arnontnongyao.com . He is part of the Sonic Moon line up where he will perform (4 September at Phù Sa studio) and give a workshop (5 September at Hầm Hành).
