Exploring My Passions Connects Me With Others – Part 1
From beach garbage to meaningful connections, creativity lights the way.
Settling In and Embracing What I Love
Now that I’m settled into life on Koh Lanta, I’ve been spending most of my time doing what I love, making things that, somehow, always involve cats.
Whether it’s my garbage art sculptures or writing articles (for myself or for a local animal charity), I’m happiest when I’m creating. I love making something from nothing, learning new techniques, and finding creative ways to use them. I’m always taking online courses, constantly inspired to try new ideas, tools, and methods.
This week, I want to share how my passion for cats and creativity, particularly through my garbage art. It has connected me with so many people over the years. And how, just last weekend, many of those connections all came together during one unforgettable weekend event.
A Festival That Brings Everyone Together
The Laanta Lanta Festival, held annually, is a major event that draws people from all over the Krabi province and beyond. A rough translation of the name could be translated to mean "Eyes on Lanta" and is totally fitting. For three days, all eyes really are on this beautiful island.
The festival is a celebration of Koh Lanta’s history, traditions, and community. There’s an opening day parade, cultural showcases, music, pageants, school performances, and award presentations. Booths line the streets, featuring local artisans and businesses, with food stalls offering every kind of Thai delicacy you can imagine — sweet treats, spicy dishes, drinks, tropical fruits, herbs, and spices.
It’s an incredible, high-energy event, and a must-visit for both locals and tourists. For three days, the island buzzes with excitement.
Garbage Artist? Yup, That’s Me!
I’m a garbage artist. My medium? Discarded plastic lighters; those small, clear, colourful ones you see everywhere. I’ve collected thousands (and thousands) over the years.
In low season (the summer months), when the monsoon wind blow in from the Andaman Sea, and sometimes all the way from the Indian Ocean, tons of garbage washes up on our beaches. And that’s when I gather new materials.
In a future newsletter, I’ll go into detail about how I collect and clean these lighters, and how I build my large sculptures. But for now, I want to focus on how this strange little passion of mine has helped me build so many meaningful relationships.
And last weekend, during the Laanta Lanta Festival, I realized just how far this journey has taken me.
The Workshop That Sparked It All
Back in February, I was invited to a Functional Art Workshop at one of the most luxurious resorts on the island. Think “White Lotus,” but maybe even a step up. The workshop was led by Mook, a famous Thai garbage artist who creates functional art from all kinds of waste.
She told us how her passion for weaving evolved into a thriving garbage art business, with installations across Bangkok and even internationally. I was the only farang (foreigner) in the room, but I felt proud to be there. I was included, inspired, and curious. Even though most of the presentation was in Thai, the visuals and my basic Thai language skills helped me follow along.
We worked with a variety of beach garbage: fan covers, fishing nets, lighters, plastic bottles, and even old shoes. Mook challenged us to see past the waste and start brainstorming creative uses. Garbage became craft supplies.
After lunch, we formed small groups and built something functional from the materials. It was a blast with a full day of learning, laughing, collaborating, and connecting with fellow creatives. I met government officials, local businesspeople, and artists from across the island. And I met Mook, someone whose journey as a garbage artist truly inspires me.
The Invitation (and Challenge)
At the end of the workshop, Mook and her team announced a Functional Art Competition would be held during the upcoming Laanta Lanta Festival. Of course, I signed up right away.
I jumped at the chance. I decided to enter the giant Happy Cat hanging on the side of my home. It was my first garbage art piece, and was of a cat, of course.
Unloading the giant Happy Cat at the competition site.
Soon after, festival organizers contacted me to ask if I could build a giant garbage art sign; something similar to a recent piece I had just finished. They thought it would highlight the importance of repurposing waste and celebrate the festival’s creative spirit.
They covered my material costs and gave me six weeks to build it. It was a drop-dead date as it had to be ready for installation two days before the festival began. I was very excited as I love sculpting, large, over-the-top pieces. That evening I started sketching and planning how I would do it.
Growing Community With My Garbage Art
Over the next six weeks, I threw myself into the project. I won’t go into the nitty-gritty details (I’ll save that for another post), but I can say this: during that time, the build was a full-time job, and I met so many people.
Many would stop by while I was working and ask what I was making. Locals brought friends to see the progress. Fellow artists offered to help. When I started installing lights, even more people came by, some staying late to lend a hand.
I shared updates on social media and in messages with friends back in Canada. Video calls with family turned into show-and-tells. Hardware shops started recognizing me and showing me pictures they’d taken of sculptures I’d done around the island. I was amazed that they had actually had taken photos of a giant turtle at a beach bar, my dinosaur at Lanta Cinema, and even the giant cat head on my house.
People started taking photos outside my home years ago. I don’t mind. Between the giant cat face on the front wall, and the full-sized cat sculpture on the side of my home, I totally get it. It’s something you don’t see every day, or ever! Some even dropped off used lighters for me to use.
My Festival Experience: Overwhelmingly Amazing
But all of that was nothing compared to my experience at the festival itself.
I was going back and forth between the location my entry in the competition, my giant Happy Cat Sculpture, and the massive Laanta Lanta sign I built for the waterfront. For two full days I was completely immersed in talking about art, passion, and creativity.
Of course, cats made it into the mix. My sculptures always seem to come back to cats. They’re my inspiration, my comfort, and my spark.
The judging committee visited each entry and spent time speaking with every artist. When they got to me, they recognized my work, not just from the Laanta Lanta sign, but from my other sculptures on Koh Lanta. They were amazed by the number of lighters I’d used. And yes, I won a prize!
I must have been in hundreds (and hundreds) of photos taken by the festival-goers. Both with my Happy Cat in the competition, and with my giant sign. Lots of people were always gathered around my sign at the waterfront. Many didn’t even realize I was the artist until someone pointed it out. The look on their faces when they found out was priceless. The sign is truly a sight to behold in person, especially at night when it lights up.
More Than Just Art
I had an incredible weekend, totally immersed in my creativity, surrounded by people who appreciated it, and connected by a shared sense of purpose. I even met a few other garbage artists who, like me, hope to reduce our environmental impact through art and community.
It’s been five years since I first picked up a lighter from the beach during low season. That year, we didn’t return to Ottawa in the spring, but we opted to stay on the island due to the COVID lockdown. With everything closed, I started making things.
I never set out to build a network or start a movement. I didn’t join a club or look for a social group. I simply followed my passion. And that passion introduced me to people, to opportunities, and to a side of myself I didn’t know existed.
Final Thoughts: Just Be Curious
My advice in retirement? Explore your passions, even if they seem silly or small. You don’t need to go looking for connections. They’ll come naturally when you’re doing what you love.
And if you don’t think you have a passion, it just means you haven’t found it yet. Be curious. Try things. Take a course. Talk to strangers. Learn something new, even if you think you’ll never use it. You never know what you’ll uncover.
Never in a million years did I think collecting used lighters on the beach would lead to anything beyond hugging my cat when I got home.
And yet… here I am.
What’s Next
In my next newsletter on May 3rd, I’ll dive into another one of my passions, writing. From my books and personal essays to my work with an animal rescue charity here on Koh Lanta, writing has opened even more doors and introduced me to a whole new world of inspiring people.
It’s all good!
Perley-Ann, your work is truly amazing. I am very happy for you. You're an amazing person.