Thai Artists Reimagine Elephant Symbol in Neo Art Toy Exhibition
Thai artists reimagine the elephant symbol through 49 contemporary artworks at the Neo Land Festival 2026, opening at Icon Siam on the Chao Phraya River. The exhibition features painted sculptures by 33 acclaimed artists using diverse techn
Icon Siam, a world-class landmark on the Chao Phraya River, is partnering with KHUNPARE COLLECTION to present the Neo Land Festival 2026—an art exhibition featuring painted sculptures called NEO Art Toys inspired by the elephant, a symbol of Thai identity. The works reinterpret this icon through contemporary perspectives of Thailand's diverse artists, inviting audiences to experience creativity and artistic identity in a fresh format.
The exhibition comprises 49 artworks by 33 acclaimed Thai artists spanning contemporary Thai art, pop art, doodle art, surrealism, and other modern genres. Each artist conveys stories, experiences, beliefs, and imagination on neo sculptures using distinctive techniques to create unique original works.
"Neo" is a dimensional art canvas representing "rebirth," reflecting how artworks transform when placed in an artist's hands. Rather than being predefined, neo serves as a starting point for imagination that is constantly reborn. Through its distinctive and singular works, neo is not merely an elephant character or art symbol—it is a space of creative freedom where artists can fully unleash imagination and creative potential without limits on canvas and dimensional surfaces. Every artwork in the exhibition is handcrafted by artists using varied techniques including oil paint, acrylic, spray paint, colored lines, and markers, becoming a space for new ideas and endless artistic interpretation.
Among the exhibition's highlights is "Horse of Dawn," a 170-centimeter-tall art toy by Indy Nine (Chanok Nanth Khwan Muni), which conveys the human condition in the modern world facing expectations, power, and spiritual seeking through the symbol of a golden horse representing freedom and wisdom. Set against intense red tones, delicate flowers hint at hidden gentleness within the human heart.
Another notable work is "Flash Space" by Uang Angyakorn Mun Phonlasri, a doodle-art-style piece blending cars, speed, space, and infinite imagination with vibrant colors expressing maximum playfulness and bold thinking outside convention. Her "Doodle Flow" conveys simple yet powerful lines in doodle style, while "Love of the Forest 01: My Sleeping Forest Summer" tells of nature's resurgence. "TAMU's Land" reflects ideas of sustainability and clean energy, and "Rhythm of Love" draws inspiration from Ganesh as the origin of art and creation.
The exhibition also includes "Low Fat" by Norngchai Oon Jai, a surrealist work peeling away neo's outer "shell" or patterns to reveal inner muscle and skeletal structure, signifying the "common foundation" hidden beneath diverse differences. The work humorously takes its name from the artist's personal experience with weight management.
Other notable works in the exhibition include Monster Parade, NEO 2050, Ruby Ganesha, NINJA Ganesha, and Night Dr.
