Maman's Final Bow: A Weekend of Art and Emotion at Khao Yai

A moving celebration marked the final days of Louise Bourgeois’s iconic Maman sculpture in Khao yai, Thailand

On August 16–17, 2025, Khao Yai Art Forest hosted “Farewell to Maman”, a moving celebration marking the final days of Louise Bourgeois’s legendary sculpture in Thailand.

Together we said goodbye to Louise Bourgeois’s legendary Maman

Since its arrival in February, Maman—the monumental spider by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois—has captivated audiences with its commanding presence amid Khao Yai’s lush forest landscape. Conceived for Tate Modern in 1999, this beloved work is one of only seven editions worldwide, and its six-month stay at Khao Yai Art Forest marked the sculpture’s first appearance in Southeast Asia in 25 years.

Visitors join 'Mandala' activity, connecting with Mother Earth and Nature.

More than just a striking form, Maman embodies the strength and tenderness of motherhood—a spider weaving tirelessly to protect her young. Within Khao Yai’s natural setting, the sculpture resonated deeply, sparking an extraordinary dialogue between art, nature, and humanity.

A Khon performance that breathed with the forest, echoing the spirit of motherhood beneath Maman.

The farewell weekend was filled with immersive experiences designed to honor the sculpture’s departure. Visitors took part in hands-on eco-printing workshops, crafted floral mandalas, and created seed bombs as acts of renewal and remembrance. Performances added further depth: the hauntingly beautiful Khon dance “Melancholy of Mandodari” by choreographer Jitti Chompee and master artists from the Fine Arts Department echoed themes of maternal love and resilience, while live music—from Temp._in_set’s experimental soundscapes to Plern Vern’s electrifying Isan beats—infused the forest with rhythm and emotion.

K-BAR, the forest’s hidden gem, opened its doors for a farewell toast to Maman.

Guests also explored the forest’s celebrated art installations, including Fujiko Nakaya’s Khao Yai Fog Forest and Elmgreen & Dragset’s K-BAR, where the signature “Black Widow” cocktail became a playful nod to Maman.

The celebration culminated in an unforgettable open-air dinner within Khao Yai Forest Park, framed by the bound-to-depart Maman. The menu was crafted under a sustainability theme, featuring ingredients sourced from local communities—freshwater fish, passion fruit, bamboo shoots, and seasonal vegetables—transformed into elevated dishes that honored the land and its people.

Local ingredients shine in a specially crafted dinner, with Maman as the unforgettable backdrop.

For many, the highlight was simply standing beneath Maman one last time—feeling both the sculpture’s monumental power and its quiet tenderness, before it returns to the Easton Foundation in New York City.

The weekend was not just a farewell, but a reminder of how art can connect us to each other and to the natural world. Though Maman has departed, the memories it left behind at Khao Yai Art Forest will linger long after its journey home.

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