Thai Crafts Meet MOLLY in Bangkok Anniversary Exhibition
An exhibition in Bangkok pairs traditional Thai handicrafts with the global toy character MOLLY to mark its 20th anniversary. Held at Chulalongkorn University, the show features bencharong porcelain and other crafts reimagining MOLLY through contemporary design. Organized by POP MART Thailand with TAT and the university, it runs from September 24 to October 25, 2069.
The Thai government’s SACIT institute is continuing to build on its knowledge and wisdom of Thai handicrafts, steering them toward the creative economy. It gives Thai creators a chance to adapt their handicraft skills and knowledge to contemporary culture through the works of SACIT Craft Station winners who have reimagined the MOLLY character from fresh perspectives. This takes place inside the “MOLLY 20th Anniversary Exhibition-Bangkok” under the theme “The Little Galaxy – Journey Through the Universe of Time,” organized by POP MART Thailand in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Chulalongkorn University Asset Management Office (PMCU). The exhibition runs from September 24 to October 25, 2069 at the Chulalongkorn University 100‑Year Park.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Anucha Teerakanont, director of SACIT, said, “Bringing Thai handicraft knowledge together with an internationally known character shows that traditional wisdom is not frozen in the past; it can be advanced through creativity to produce contemporary works that reach consumers and younger generations.”
Inside the exhibition, SACIT presents the link between Thai artisan wisdom and modern culture through bencharong designs on porcelain ware, conveying art on tableware alongside Thai food‑eating culture and vessel use. The bencharong pieces were created by Thawi Phansee, winner of the SACIT Craft Station 2026, together with inlay and lacquer work, refined Thai arts passed down for generations, using materials such as mother‑of‑pearl, eggshell, gold leaf and silver leaf to portray MOLLY in a contemporary style. These were crafted by Chalermkiat Samdunyawat, winner of the SACIT Craft Station 2025.
The collaboration highlights the potential of Thai handicraft knowledge and skills to be extended through contemporary design language, connecting cultural roots with an internationally recognized character.
The exhibition celebrates the 20‑year creative journey of MOLLY, the famous character created by artist Kenny Wong, through original works, contemporary art, and interpretations by artists and craftsmen from various cultures.
Siriporn Phlaengjanthuek, Head of Southeast Asia for POP MART, said, “What matters to us is making the world of MOLLY connect with creativity, culture, and people in Thailand in a meaningful way. We want to give Thai artists and craft teachers a space to show their potential from new angles, and to link art with education, community and tourism.”
Visitors to the “MOLLY 20th Anniversary Exhibition-Bangkok” can travel through the universe of time, looking back at two decades of MOLLY’s development via Kenny Wong’s original sketches, paintings, figures and key works from different periods, seeing how the distinctive girl grew up alongside the world of art and art toys to become an internationally known character.
The show also gathers works from artists and craftsmen of many cultures, applying techniques such as painting, Sichuan embroidery, paper cutting, candle‑wax dyed fabric, silverware, lacquer and various handicraft fields to interpret MOLLY through individual viewpoints, demonstrating that traditional wisdom and contemporary culture can create new dialogues and reach younger audiences through the language of creativity.
Besides the SACIT collaborations, the exhibition also features…
