As long as you believe in dreams, someone will always be there believing in you
A tribute to Isamu Noguchi, honoring a mutual vision and belief in Children’s lives and imagination.
A part of the Moutain of Life, a film by Patavee Viranuvat
The relationship between silence, darkness, and solitude
“THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT” and the “EXTINCT PLANT”
They are a part of each other…aren’t they?
Well, I think they are, but no one knows that secret:
one day, when I had to live in the snowy mountain for half a year
where everything was in hibernation and frozen - without life.
In fact, they are alive, but being unseen.
I found the relationship between silence, darkness, and solitude.
"I'm always here as you are always there !"
Said the mountain, to the plant.
Unfortunately, not a living plant,
a plant without leaves, but the soul remains.
Patavee Viranuvat
Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the twentieth century’s most important and critically acclaimed sculptors. Through a lifetime of artistic experimentation, he created sculptures, gardens, furniture and lighting designs, ceramics, architecture, landscapes, and set designs. His work, at once subtle and bold, traditional and modern, set a new standard for the reintegration of the arts.
Creator Story
Patavee Viranuvat earned his Master’s degree in 2015 from the Graduate School of International Management, majoring in E-Business Management at the International University of Japan (IUJ). His primary research was inspired during the course Corporate Level Strategy under the supervision of Prof. Kimio Kase. (Prof. Kimio Kase is a former collaborator of IESE’s Strategic Management Department. He holds a D.B.A. from the University of Manchester, an M.B.A. from IESE Business School, a degree in business science from ICADE, and a B.A. from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.)
Patavee was nominated and awarded the highest scholarship from Monbukagakusho, presented by former IUJ President Prof. Shinichi Kitaoka, based on his strategic proposal for International Social Infrastructure Development, along with exchange initiatives in economics, society, and arts & culture between Thailand and Japan.
His continued involvement since 2010, beginning with his selection by The Japan Foundation under the JENESYS Program, led to further recognition. Patavee was later invited to Japan for the first time as an Artist-in-Residence in Sapporo at S-AIR (Sapporo Artist in Residence).
In 2005, Patavee earned his Bachelor of Film & Television from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bond University, Australia. His thesis film, shot on 16mm, recreated his final memories with his father in Japan. The work received the Dean’s Award and earned the highest score in his class. Later in 2006, he received the Young Thai Artist Award from the SCG Foundation and was selected as a finalist for the Rat Pestonji Award at the 10th Thai Short Film & Video Festival.
Moreover in 2008, Patavee’s feature-length creative documentary project Stratosphere, which explores the journey of young people who leave home to begin life in the wilderness, inspired by the influence of celestial forces, was selected by Produire au Sud at the Nantes Film Festival, France, as well as the World Film Festival of Bangkok. The project continued to gain recognition and was selected to represent Thailand in a collaborative film production program with emerging Asian filmmakers at the Asian Film Academy (AFA). During the Busan International Film Festival 2008, he received mentorship in directing and cinematography from Hou Hsiao-hsien, Arthur Wong, and Brillante Mendoza.
Soon after, in 2010, Patavee was selected by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture, to participate in an advanced workshop for Film and Television Producing. He began his career as a Co-Producer on Tongpong Chantarangkul’s debut feature I Carried You Home. He competed in the Thai Film Pitching event at Alliance Française Bangkok, where the project won first place, leading to invitations to meet potential investors at the Cannes International Film Festival 2010, as well as in Thailand and Singapore. The film later received Official Selection status and made its World Premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2012, followed by screenings at numerous international film festivals worldwide. It went on to win two Suphannahong National Film Awards—Best Cinematography and Best Actress.
Questioning the fate of countless abandoned and overlooked films, Patavee initiated and collaborated closely with core team members—including Tosapol Boonsinsukh, Penwadee Noppaket Manon, Sasiwimol Wongcharin, and several others—to establish the Doi Saket International Film Festival (DSIFF) 2010. He also worked with international partners from Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan. As Co-Founder & Festival Director, he developed policies and strategies for a film festival unlike any previously held in Thailand—redefining screening formats, venues, and audience accessibility. The festival curated over 150 films from 25 countries, screening them free of charge across 13 community locations throughout Chiang Mai over eight days, attracting more than 2,000 attendees. The festival was made possible through support and collaboration from organizations including The Japan Foundation, Alliance Française, AUA, Electric Eel Films, and Reading Room Bangkok.
Patavee had the opportunity to work with Apichatpong Weerasethakul, serving as Project Manager for Kick the Machine Films on the Exploding Cinema project, a collaboration with the Geneva School of Art and Design, Switzerland.
In 2013, he continued his international academic pursuits in international business management in China and Japan, receiving a scholarship from Peking University to study Economics, followed by his Master’s degree studies in Japan.
Patavee founded Projectionist ASIA in 2015, an organization that supports education and knowledge development in Intellectual Property Management and International Co-Production for emerging filmmakers in Asia, under the management of Alternative Universe Co., Ltd. He currently serves as Director of Business Development at World L.P.G. Group, driving initiatives in Business Diversification & Strategic Expansion, Joint Ventures & Partnerships, Corporate Identity & Brand Positioning, Innovation & New Product Development.
In 2018, Alternative Universe Co., Ltd. was established with a registered capital of 5 million baht. The company is headquartered on South Sathorn Road, with its first branch located on Charoenkrung Road as a small alternative space named Slure, the space has its architectural design by
Win Rojanastien. The company aims to grow into a corporation specializing in Social Infrastructure Development in Thailand and across Asia.
Artwork Story
I’m always here as you are always there (“Letter of A Boy from Another World”) by Patavee Viranuvat marks the first introduction of this collection, curated at House 695 (House of Birds, บ้านนก).
It stands as an opening gesture of respect to the artist Isamu Noguchi, who passed away in 1988, before his dream was realized. That dream—a vast playground and landscape of 900 rai—was eventually brought into reality in 2005, seventeen years after his passing.
During his lifetime, Isamu Noguchi never sees his dream come to life, despite being the most important project. It remains only an idea, carried forward by belief and time, until it is finally realized.
Within this place, born from Isamu Noguchi’s dream, the dreams of Yama and Hikari may find their way to connect to one another.
Through his piece, Patavee Viranuvat opens a gentle prologue— one that leads us towards understanding how dreams are carried, and how beauty can be discovered within itself.
The journey begins by carefully stepping into dreams of another, allowing the dream to guide us towards the next.
Credits
Master Plan and Design:
Isamu Noguchi
Executive Architect: Fuller and Sado PC
Shoji Sado
Takashi Sasaki
Architect: Architect 5 Partnership
Junichi Kawamura
Hidetsugu Horikoshi
Takeo Matsuoka
Landscape: Kitaba Landscape Planning
Koji Saito
Specification
Project Title
A part of the FilmProject
“I’m always here as you are always there” (จดหมายจากคนสองโลก)
The Mountain of Light (Hikari No Yama) 光の山
Credit
Writer & Director
Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Mentor
Executive Assistant to Director
Producer Assistant
Executive Assistant to Creative Director
Acknowledgement
Patavee Viranuvat
Patavee Viranuvat
ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE
Vuca Digital
Art4D
Pratarn Teeratada
Thunjira Hearunyakij
Thunjira Hearunyakij
Artittaya Chumchai
Win Rojanastien
Prabda Yoon
Apichatpong Weerasethakul