In a city known for its deep cultural roots and rapid innovation, Bangkok recently became home to a bold artistic experiment — the transformation of iconic Thai artist Thawan Duchanee’s work into a fully immersive multimedia exhibition titled “Lighting of the Soul.”
Brought to life by Fulldome, this exhibition seamlessly blended high technology, digital art, and cultural preservation, drawing thousands of visitors to the waterfront ICONSIAM center in late 2020.
With custom projection domes, interactive AR installations, and digitized content crafted with the help of the artist’s son, Doytibet Duchanee, this project stands as a landmark in how sacred heritage can be reimagined in immersive space.
The Artist: Thawan Duchanee and His Legacy
Thawan Duchanee (1939–2014) was a renowned Thai painter, architect, and sculptor, celebrated for his complex, mythological artworks rooted in Buddhist philosophy and Thai symbolism.
His life’s masterpiece, the Baan Dam (Black House) Museum in Chiang Rai, is a place of pilgrimage for art lovers and spiritual seekers alike. But his son, Doytibet Duchanee, had a vision:
To take his father’s works beyond Chiang Rai — and into the hearts of a broader, younger audience.
The answer lay in technology — and a dome.
The Fulldome Collaboration: From Concept to Creation
Fulldome, known globally for its cutting-edge immersive domes and 360° content, began working with Doytibet after a visit to Baan Dam in Chiang Rai.
The idea was simple but ambitious:
Digitize, animate, and spatialize Thawan Duchanee’s work — while honoring the sacred energy embedded within it.
Over the course of several years, the vision matured into a multi-site, multi-sensory exhibition hosted at ICONSIAM, one of Bangkok’s most prestigious lifestyle destinations.
A Full-Service Exhibition Experience
Fulldome.pro provided end-to-end delivery for this project, including:
- Dome engineering and projection setup
- Original 360° content creation
- Augmented reality integration
- Mobile app development
- Sculptural and spatial design
- Branded soft furnishings (beanbags, seating)
- Event management and technical operation
The Exhibition Structure: 5 Zones of Immersion
Promo Dome – A Golden Introduction
The Thara Hall atrium at ICONSIAM hosted an 8-meter dome wrapped in an inflatable golden shell, inspired by a Thai chedi (stupa). This visual instantly connected passersby to cultural and religious symbolism — while hinting at the innovation inside.
Inside, a short immersive teaser video gave visitors a glimpse of what the full experience would offer, acting as both promotion and preview.
AR Gallery – Interactive Art Activation
Surrounding the golden dome was an augmented reality gallery created by Fulldome.pro. It included:
- Sculptures by Thawan Duchanee
- Monolithic panels featuring his paintings
- QR codes beside each piece
- Mobile AR integration to animate the artworks
- Social media sharing features
Visitors could scan the QR codes to see the paintings come alive on their phones, combining physical and digital art in a way that appealed especially to younger audiences.
“This part of the show brought Thawan’s mythic creatures right into people’s hands,” said the onsite team lead.
Show Dome – The Immersive Experience
The centerpiece of the exhibition was a 14-meter projection dome, built on the second-floor terrace of ICONSIAM, overlooking the Chao Phraya River.
Inside, a custom 360-degree film made from Duchanee’s paintings was screened, offering a spiritual, meditative journey through his iconic black-and-red visual language.
Created in collaboration with Doytibet, the film preserved the soul of the original works while animating them into a flow of symbolism, rhythm, and visual transformation — complete with immersive sound.
Visitors lay on the custom-printed beanbags and looked upward as mythical forms and sacred geometry surrounded them from all angles.
Merchandise Dome – The Artist’s Universe
The smaller 7-meter dome housed a curated merchandise area, where visitors could:
- Purchase art books and prints
- Watch mini-documentaries about Thawan’s life
- Interact with digital archives
- Discover more about Baan Dam and the artist’s philosophy
This zone gave the audience a chance to take the experience home and deepen their connection with the artist’s legacy.
Inflatable Garden – Sculptural Journey
Guests walked a red carpet path between the domes, passing:
- Additional monoliths displaying Duchanee’s visual motifs
- An inflatable sculpture garden inspired by his use of color and mythology
- Atmospheric lighting and sound design to guide their journey
This open-air corridor served as both an emotional transition and a physical bridge between art zones — turning the space into an immersive museum without walls.
Digital Meets Divine: The Role of Tech in Sacred Art
At its core, Lighting of the Soul was more than a tech project. It was a meditation on how digital environments can become sacred spaces when designed with care and cultural respect.
With support from Doytibet, the Fulldome.pro team worked not just as technicians — but as curators, translators, and protectors of a national treasure.
Results: A Cultural Milestone in a Time of Distance
Installed during a period of social distancing and public restrictions, the dome experience offered a safe, isolated, and profound way to consume art. The exhibition drew thousands of visitors in a single month — and received praise from:
- The Bangkok art community
- International journalists
- Cultural influencers
- Educational institutions
- Tourists and families
“In a time when people couldn’t travel to Chiang Rai, we brought Baan Dam to them — in a way never imagined,” said Doytibet.
The Bigger Picture: What This Exhibition Means for Dome Culture
The success of Lighting of the Soul proves that:
- Dome-based exhibitions are viable for high art and heritage
- AR and 360 projection can elevate rather than dilute cultural content
- Immersive exhibitions increase visitor engagement, media coverage, and emotional retention
- Dome spaces are perfect for blending traditional values with future tech
This model is now being studied and requested across Asia — from museums and festivals to government agencies and luxury retail developers.
Future Possibilities
Based on this project, Fulldome.pro now offers:
✅ Custom immersive dome exhibitions for artists, institutions, and heritage foundations
✅ Mobile AR + dome integration
✅ Cultural storytelling consulting
✅ Projection content design rooted in local mythology, folklore, or architecture
Want to Create a Dome Exhibition?
Whether you’re an artist, curator, developer, or government body — Fulldome.pro can help you turn your story, brand, or collection into a fully immersive experience.
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When Art Evolves Without Losing Its Soul
“Lighting of the Soul” is more than a show title — it’s a reflection of what happens when vision, legacy, and technology converge.
By respecting the past and embracing the future, Fulldome.pro created a space where digital light became spiritual medium — and where the soul of an artist illuminated the eyes of a new generation.
This is how immersive domes aren’t just changing events.
They’re redefining cultural experience — one sacred projection at a time.
