Chiang Mai Art Connecting (CMAC)
2019-09-01 - 2025-11-01 | Art Connecting, Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand
An Ongoing Movement of Art and Exchange
Launched in late 2019, Chiangmai Art Connecting (CMAC) began as an extension of Hanoi Art Connecting, founded by Trinh Tuan of Asian Art Link (AAL). Initiated by La Luna Gallery as part of its founding vision, CMAC-I aimed to create a platform for artists across Southeast Asia to explore shared creativity and express complex emotions through visual language—often saying what words cannot.
In its inaugural edition, 19 artists came together, supported by AAL, Bluechips Microhouse, and La Luna Gallery. Workshops and collaborative art-making set the tone for what would become a recurring international initiative. However, just as the project was gaining momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world—and CMAC—to a pause.
In September 2020, amidst ongoing restrictions, La Luna Gallery hosted “Reconnecting”, a local exhibition that revived CMAC’s core purpose: fostering human connection through art. The original CMAC-I collection continued to be shown in rotation, keeping the spirit of exchange alive.
With global conditions improving, CMAC-II returned in 2023 under the theme “How the World Changed After the Pandemic.” This edition welcomed 35 artists from Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and parts of Europe, expanding both the scope and impact of the project. Alongside exhibitions, lacquer painting demonstrations by AAL members deepened CMAC’s commitment to traditional craft and cultural sharing.
Following overwhelmingly positive feedback and increased engagement from artists and visitors alike, the organizing team—AAL, Bluechips Microhouse, La Luna Gallery, and Art Connecting—announced plans for CMAC-III, scheduled for November 2025. From this edition forward, CMAC will adopt a biennial format, continuing to bring artists together under evolving themes that spark dialogue, collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding.

The Arrow of Time
2023-07-07 - 2023-10-06
Lacquer in LayersAn immersive, three-floor exploration of lacquer—past, present, and material origin.
This multi-level exhibition invites visitors to journey through the evolving story of lacquer, beginning with its contemporary artistic expressions and tracing back to its natural source: the lacquer tree. Each floor of the venue offers a unique lens on lacquer’s role in art, culture, and everyday life.
1st Floor – Contemporary TransformationThe first floor features striking lacquer artworks by three Vietnamese artists whose practices bridge tradition and innovation. Once considered primarily a craft medium, lacquer here is elevated into contemporary fine art, marking a critical turning point in its evolution.
2nd Floor – Cultural HeritageMoving up, the second floor delves into the historical and cultural significance of lacquer across the Lanna Kingdom, Burmese Mandalay, Shan, and Siamese traditions. Through patterns, objects, and storytelling, this display reveals the shared lineage and regional connections woven through lacquer’s design and daily use.
3rd Floor – Back to the SourceThe top floor brings visitors face-to-face with the lacquer tree itself. The exhibition compares two methods of sap collection: the traditional techniques of the Karen hill tribe and the refined processes developed through academic study. This floor reconnects lacquer art to its ecological roots, completing the cycle from material to masterpiece.
Together, these three layers offer a rare, holistic look at lacquer—honoring its heritage, celebrating its transformation, and grounding it in the living landscape from which it originates.
