ท่วมอยู่ได้ always prepare /

TCDC Bangkok

Distill the lessons from Thailand’s flood crisis and Japan’s major earthquake, to find insights on how cities, neighborhoods and individuals can cope with natural disasters. 

The exhibition “Always Prepare: Living with changes” explores how we can prepare for the unexpected by reflecting on Thailand’s experiences with floods in 2011 and Japan’s Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. 

The factors that determine how cities respond to natural disasters are different from those facing neighborhoods and individuals, as displayed in the three sections of this exhibit: ‘The City on the Floodplain’; ‘Neighborhood Life’, and ‘In the Know.’ From floodways built by the government, the way a coastal village has adapted to live in harmony with water, how to modify power and plumbing systems in existing homes, to DIY emergency kit—these preparations vary in term of size and complexity, but the thread that connects all of them is the creativity that reflects a real understanding of specific environmental conditions and the possibility of combining modern technology with traditional wisdom. 

Also demonstrated from the way we coped with previous disasters is the importance of cooperation among all facets of society. It is only by sharing our knowledge, experience, and expertise that we as a society can hope to find ways of dealing with change and building a sustainable future. 

This exhibition is sponsored by TCDC in conjunction with the Japan Foundation, Bangkok and Plus Arts, a Japanese non-profit organisation led by Hirokasu Nagata.