Artist Pratchaya Phinthong speaks to Alia Swastika about his interest in mitigating the impact of the global climate crisis and the generative possibilities of research-based, contextual practice. Tune in to hear more about his collaborative project ‘We are lived by powers we pretend to understand’ (2024), commissioned for Sharjah Biennial 16 which included hand-carved granite stones bearing the patterns of solar panel grids being placed around Sharjah’s public spaces. Phintong tells us about how he organised this ecological initiative—involving scientists, divers, coral activists and UAE-based environmental policy makers—to extract coral from a heritage wall to resurrect reef structures.
CREDITS
Host: Alia Swastika
Guest: Pratchaya Phinthong
Editorial and Content Strategy: Jyoti Dhar, Kamayani Sharma and Mahshid Rafiei
Podcast Producer: Kamayani Sharma
Sound Engineer: Basil Kisswani
Show Notes: Rosalyn D'Mello, Kamayani Sharma and Jyoti Dhar
Music and Sound: Excerpt from field recording for 'We are lived by the powers we pretend to understand' (2024) by Pratchaya Phinthong
Special Thanks: Nawar Al Qassimi, Jiwon Lee, Sara Al Mheiri and Khalid Mohammed
© Sharjah Art Foundation, 2025
This episode was recorded on 2 September 2024.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.