Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
(4th right) and leaders from participating organizations kick off the
“Pattaya in Love: City of Ocean Arts” project.
Jetsada Homklin
Underwater photography and a whale shark exhibit will be on
display through the weekend at Central Festival Pattaya Beach as the
mall continues with its “Pattaya in Love: City of Ocean Arts” project.
More than 30 pieces by photographers Thirach Rungruangkanokgul, Marty
Angsakul, Yoshi Hirata and others are being showcased to highlight the
need for marine conservation and the plight of whale sharks, which are
virtually extinct in this region of Thailand.
The Aug. 7-17 exhibit is part of a six-month program by Central
Festival, the Amari Orchid Resort & Tower, Centara Grand Mirage Beach
Resort, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya office and Rak Phaendin.
A 5-meter-long sculpture of the gentle giant - which feeds on plankton,
not people - also is on display. Funds raised through sale of the
artwork will go toward preservation of the environment and endangered
animals.
From Oct. 24-26, 50,000 people will have an opportunity to sign a
15-meter-long floating model whale shark (not unlike the huge yellow
rubber duck in Hong Kong) destined to buoyed in Pattaya Bay to promote
tourism.
From Jan. 30-31, the sculpture, and those of seahorses, will be
submerged off Koh Phai, in Pattaya’s Far Islands chain, to become home
for coral and fish as well as a place for scuba divers to take photos.
Finally, scuba-diving lovers will return to the Koh Phai site Feb. 13-15
for underwater marriage ceremonies on Valentine’s Day.
