• Preecha uses everyday local materials to create puppets
• He tells Buddhist stories and legends through characters with personalities
• His creations are living art forms that speak for vulnerable members of his community

When Preecha Karun first began making puppets, he did so with the marionettes and puppet styles familiar to international audiences. However, observing the daily life of the people of his community in northeastern Thailand changed his practice. "I saw them weaving bamboo reeds into bowls, plates and baskets for sticky rice, transforming everyday materials into objects of beauty," Preecha says. Following their lead, he built his puppets from these same materials, bringing them to life alongside local woodwind flutes to tell Buddhist stories and legends. Preecha's practice expands to working with marginalised children of his community, offering them a unique voice through his puppets to express what they might otherwise never say.