Fish in the water and cats in the rice paddy

December 18, 2023 6:09 PM

Thai rice farmer Tanyapong Jiakham in Chiang Rai has created art in his rice paddies by planting rainbow rice seedlings depicting sleeping cats. The artwork takes as its theme a Thai saying "There is fish in the water and rice in the fields" as well as model cat Cooper, whose colouring will be reflected in the rice plants just before harvesting.

Tambo art, or rice paddy art, is a popular tourist attraction in Japan, with related activities from the planting through to the harvest to keep visitors entertained.

Previously; previouslier.

posted by Athanassiel (13 comments total)

Omg. 🐱❤️😸
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:21 PM on December 18, 2023 [4 favorites]

He definitely has way too much Thai'm on his hands...
(It is amazing, though)
posted by birdsquared at 6:56 PM on December 18, 2023 [4 favorites]

This rice tastes funny...
posted by jim in austin at 7:02 PM on December 18, 2023

:3
posted by dismas at 9:55 PM on December 18, 2023

Impressively detailed artwork in the "popular tourist attraction" link. I guess paddy displays are high-ricelution.
posted by ZaphodB at 12:37 AM on December 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

Mod note: [btw, this post has been added to the sidebar and the Best Of blog]
posted by taz (staff) at 2:45 AM on December 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

This is delightful. It’s like if Pusheen had a baby with a corn maze.
posted by eirias at 4:34 AM on December 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

I think we need a picture of Cooper now. You know, for comparison.
posted by humbug at 6:47 AM on December 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

"A lively cat image created by Thunyapong Jaikum"

Maybe for that particular cat it counts as lively? I know of cats like that.
posted by tigrrrlily at 8:05 AM on December 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

This is incredible!
posted by caviar2d2 at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2023

Gosh. For every human doing something utterly incomprehensible with their time and energy you have a human like this person who makes something pointless and ephemeral and utterly and completely delightful. Why do we bomb when we could be farming?
posted by amanda at 8:45 AM on December 19, 2023 [4 favorites]

Missed opportunity to make a very large image of a bear in the paddies. Of course, that would probably take a ton of rice, hence a paddy-ton bear.

(This is delightful)
posted by eponym at 8:50 AM on December 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

As usual my cats comment is "of course" with that look, you know that look, that look. Of course, hoomn.
posted by winesong at 4:00 PM on December 19, 2023