Lalisa Manobal
Esan is a paradise on earth. It is also a place where goddesses exist, where women of extraordinary beauty live. Indeed, the story of Ek Thee Tha is a tragic love story involving a fabulously beautiful woman. For more than a thousand years, the women of Esan have been very beautiful, and this remains true today.
Esan Girl is an affirmation of this. It is a project that represents contemporary Esan girls as having divine beauty, the kind of beauty which transports the viewer to a world of perfection, beyond our everyday experience. The beauty of the women of Esan is the third important dimension of the project. Master Tawee combines the Plato/Renaissance ideas about divine beauty, the concept of Esan as an earthly paradise, and Esan women being blessed with great beauty. These are the origins of Esan Girl : Real Thai Beauty.
Thailand is widely regarded around the world as having some of the most beautiful women. Many have a perfect physique, and a beautiful face. But there is an extra dimension to thai beauty, what we call “thainess”, or ”being thai”. The culture, the history, the traditions, the way we organize our Thai society – these form part of being Thai, and it is this quality that makes Thai beauty special. There is no other place in the world like Thailand.
Foreign visitors have recognized this for more than 150 years. The first European visitors to Siam (as Thailand used to be known) were astonished by the natural beauty of the country, the magnificence of the royal palaces, the ornate and opulent temple architecture, the exotic nature of its culture, the spicy food, and the wonderful fabrics and crafts. But most of all the visitors were captivated by the beauty of its people men, women and children. Currently, 40 million foreign visitors travel to Amazing Thailand every year, to experience this same sense of wonder.
Over the past 50 years, Thailand has become more integrated into a globally connected world. By watching TV, or traveling abroad, Thai people have been exposed to foreign culture. This has helped Thais to understand better the distinctive and unique aspects of their own culture. Consequently, today, more than ever before, Thai people also understand just how special their country is. Amazing Thailand is no longer just a message to attract foreign visitors. It is a message to all Thais to be proud of their country and its unique, distinctive identity.
Recognition of the beauty of Esan women is part of this growing awareness of being Thai, the things that make Amazing Thailand, amazing. It is a form of beauty that is linked closely to the history of Esan, its people, its culture, the natural beauty of the landscape, and the customs and traditions of this earthly paradise.