City Center Flower

(Daytime) Chula Xiang Kong or Suanluang Xiang Kong has served as a market center for used spare parts for vehicles, with lots of shops and various kinds of spare parts. The spare parts market shifted here from its former location in Talat Noi and Samphantawong, which were too small to support the growth of the businesses. Rows of three- or four-story shophouses rose at Suanluang to do business as spare part shops, big and small. At present, Suanluang Xiang Kong accommodates more than 200 shops that sell specific kinds of spare parts according to the merchant’s expertise, such as spare parts for sedans or pickup trucks, for European or Japanese cars, for diesel or gasoline engines, and minor fittings. Some bigger shops have more comprehensive offerings on their premises. Some of these shops are passed down from generation to generation and are well-known among customers, both in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand.
Inspired by the story of Suanluang Xiang Kong, the artist has chosen used taillights to create a flower with three heart-shaped petals. The three petals signify the Samyan area, and the flower that blooms in the center signifies the people in this old business district who have had to adjust to the growth and changes of the Samyan-Suanluang area. The taillights in the sculpture “City Center Flower” will emit red lights at night, suggesting the dissipation of energy on the roads and the use of alternative energy.