CURRENTLY SHOWING!

Faun Pii: Northern Thai trance dance photos by Michael lSakamoto
November 3-December 12, 2008
Glorya Kaufman Hall
2nd Floor Lobby Gallery
UCLA campus
(enter Westwood Plaza from Sunset Blvd, park in Lot 4)

In Summer 2008, I went to Northern Thailand to research Faun Pii, or trance dance, as it is commonly translated. Faun Pii is an ancient ritual form of spirit possession and ancestor worship practiced by mediums. I attended numerous trance dance and related possession rituals. One in Chiang Mai was held, oddly enough, on the grounds of the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, the largest tourist resort in Southeast Asia. Most were in the nearby small city of Lampang, a stronghold of medium activity throughout the centuries.

Thanks to Waewdao Sirisook for translation, Ajarn Viti for scholarly consultation, and to the many mediums who freely opened up their practices and lives to my wandering eyes.

Summer 2008 research sponsored by the University of California's Pacific Rim Research Program.