A growing space for culture and change
By Manithip Vongphachanh

This article is a part of CHECK-IN 2025, our annual publication. You can purchase the physical edition (with access to the digital copy) for SGD38, or the digital copy for SGD5 here.

'My Own Words' is a monthly series which features personal essays by practitioners in the Southeast Asian art community. They deliberate on their locality's present circumstances, articulating observations and challenges in their respective roles.

Lao Art Week 2023, exhibition view of works by various artists at Parkson Mall, Vientiane. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by Livanna Koo.

As the Director of The XYZ Art and Culture Center, which was also the organiser of Lao Art Week, I had the privilege of witnessing how a modest idea from a small team can grow into a national movement. In 2022, I co-founded The XYZ Art and Culture Center as an independent, artist-led initiative based in Vientiane, dedicated to contemporary art, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Our initial goal was simple: to create a space where creativity and community could grow together. Looking back, it is incredible to see how far Lao Art Week has come. What began as a local effort to make art more accessible to the people of Vientiane has evolved into a landmark national event that nurtures creativity, encourages cultural dialogue, and supports social development through the arts.

Lao Art Week originated from The XYZ Contemporary Art Exhibition (2022). It was a bold initiative we introduced in the aftermath of the global pandemic, at a time when many institutions were still in hibernation and creative networks had been disrupted. I wanted to revive the cultural landscape through experimentation and openness. Instead of hosting the exhibition in a conventional, small gallery, we chose to present Lao contemporary art inside the bustling, large-scale space of Parkson Mall. It was the first time audiences in Vientiane encountered contemporary art in such an everyday space, blurring the lines between daily life and artistic experience.

At the end of 2022, what had initially felt like a one-time event had sparked a new movement in Lao art. Building on the momentum of The XYZ Contemporary Art Exhibition (2022), we co-developed the next iteration with the Laos National Institute of Fine Arts again in 2023. This project evolved into the first edition of Lao Art Week, a platform where 103 artists across all artistic disciplines gathered to exhibit their work, to express themselves with confidence, and where audiences could engage with contemporary art free from the barriers of formality or exclusivity.

Willie Xaiwouth, Authority of Roots, 2024, mixed media installation presented in Lao Art Week 2024. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by The XYZ Art and Culture Center. — Willie Xaiwouth, *Authority of Roots*, 2024, mixed media installation presented in Lao Art Week 2024. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by The XYZ Art and Culture Center.

The second edition of Lao Art Week held in 2024 with the theme RISE – Growth and Transformation was made possible with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of Luxembourg in Laos, and other committed institutional and corporate partners. We also partnered with Parkson Mall, which once again served as our venue.

This edition brought together 187 artists across eight categories, ranging from painting, sculpture, and photography to digital art, textile design, graffiti, art toys, literature, and performance. The event ran from 12 to 27 October 2024, and welcomed more than 376,000 visitors, which we took as a resounding indication of the growing public interest in contemporary art. Lao Art Week is not just about viewing art. I see it as an invitation to reimagine where art lives and how it connects to everyday life. It invites people from all walks of life to engage with art not as distant observers, but as active participants. My aim has been to spark curiosity, foster shared appreciation, and explore how art can both enrich and reflect community life.

*Weaving Naga Motif*, 2024, exhibition presented as part of Lao Art Week 2024. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by A.D Studio.

Beyond exhibitions, I also designed the programme to include interactive workshops, artist talks, and cultural rituals that are deeply rooted in Lao tradition while creating space for reflection and renewal. A meaningful example is our artist workshop on the Naga motif, which is recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The activity brought together six master weavers and young students to explore one of Laos’ most iconic patterns. As the weavers demonstrated their techniques and shared the mythologies behind the designs, the workshop became a form of cultural transmission. One student, after completing her first Naga-inspired design, said, “I did not know these patterns had such meaning. Some of the pieces showcased are more than 400 years old. I am grateful to have the chance to see them with my own eyes, and this opportunity to learn about our roots is not something easily available.” In that moment, the loom became a bridge between generations. Such programmes not only safeguard traditional knowledge but also empower youth to see culture as a living source of identity, creativity, and pride.

Artist Talk, HAT:CH – Art Connect 2024, organised as part of Lao Art Week 2024. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by Livanna Koo.

A cornerstone of the programme is the “Artist Talk” series, where practitioners and cultural leaders from across Laos gather to exchange experiences, build community, and reflect on their creative processes. One such moment unfolded when a young artist from Savannakhet shared their story of exhibiting work publicly for the first time. “I did not know I was allowed to take up space like this,” they said, overwhelmed by the opportunity. After the session, a senior artist approached them, not to critique, but to collaborate. What began as a conversation became a mentorship and a testament to the spirit of Lao Art Week: a place where artists are not only seen, but deeply heard.

These conversations have extended beyond the arts community, influencing policy and advocacy. Recognising the structural challenges that artists face such as limited exhibition venues, unclear contracts, and minimal professional training, the team introduced HAT:CH – Art Connect for Artists in 2024. The workshop aimed towards long-term capacity building, covering essential topics such as pricing, negotiation, and intellectual property.

Live graffiti performance, Lao Art Week 2024. Image courtesy of The XYZ Art and Culture Center. Photo by A.D Studio.

Perhaps the most significant outcome of Lao Art Week is its ripple effect across the local arts ecosystem. Since its inception, the initiative has supported over 350 artists through exhibitions, workshops, and public programmes. It has also contributed to the growth of Vientiane’s creative landscape by inspiring the development of independent galleries and grassroots art spaces. Many of these spaces have been founded by individuals inspired by the event’s inclusive ethos, and transformed their homes or commercial properties into exhibition spaces and creative labs.

These efforts signal a quiet shift. People are beginning to understand that supporting art can be as simple as offering a wall, lending time, or simply showing up. That kind of involvement makes art feel alive, and accessible.

This inclusivity is what makes Lao Art Week distinct. While many arts festivals centre on the market or institutional prestige, Lao Art Week is rooted in the everyday. It merges ritual and innovation, tradition and experimentation, in a way that feels uniquely Lao: fluid, grounded, and community-driven.

Looking ahead, I envision Lao Art Week not just as an annual event, but as a growing cultural movement. With sustained support from public institutions, private funders, and cultural stakeholders, I hope to strengthen Lao Art Week as a long-term initiative. My aspiration is to see it institutionalised as a key part of the national cultural calendar, supported through annual funding, as well as policy integration, capacity building, and multi-sector collaboration. I aim to launch year-round programming, bring mobile exhibitions to rural communities, and co-develop a national art education curriculum with local institutions.

As Laos continues to define its place in a rapidly globalising region, Lao Art Week stands as a model for grassroots-led cultural renewal. It serves as a living archive of Lao creativity, identity, and resilience, offering a space where art is not only displayed, but shared, questioned, celebrated, and transformed.

What began as a hopeful experiment has grown into a vibrant force, an evolving symbol of how art can shape the soul of a nation. Through Lao Art Week, I know Lao voices can not only be seen and heard, but also held with care and dignity, and have the power to inspire lasting change. And I believe this is only the beginning.

This article is a part of CHECK-IN 2025, our annual publication. You can purchase the physical edition (with access to the digital copy) for SGD38, or the digital copy for SGD5 here.

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