• Kusofiyah’s paper sculptures explore how diverse cultures in Thailand’s southern provinces co-exist
• She incorporates local flora and found objects into her 3D wall sculptures
• Her work challenges mainstream narratives of the region, depicting peaceful everyday moments

While pursuing her master’s degree in printmaking in Bangkok, Kusofiyah Nibuesa was confronted with stark stereotypes regarding her home in Thailand's southern provinces, a region frequently branded by the media as a 'red zone'. This did not resonate with her own experience of a once thriving port town where diverse cultures and religions have always peacefully co-existed. In her 3D paper scenes, Kusofiyah captures the small, everyday moments of her community’s generosity and mutual care. She incorporates dried leaves and local flora such as mangosteen and soil to imbue colour, alongside found objects such as plastic floats from fishing nets and sarong strips used as market umbrella ties. In weaving the fabric of the community’s everyday life into her work, Kusofiyah challenges prevailing narratives about the south, and questions the fragility of paper.