If you’re wondering about the connection between “Elephants, Smurfs, and the President,” you’re not alone. This eclectic medley of subjects might sound like the title for an oddball comedy, but instead, it forms the latest chapters in the diary of a perpetually travelling entertainment professional!
My odyssey began in the serene settings of Phuket, Thailand back in April… Here, in stark contrast to my work devices and their endless notifications, I had the pleasure of visiting a peaceful local elephant sanctuary: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. It borders the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park and includes a 600-metre-long and 6-meter-tall canopy walkway. This trip wasn’t merely a philanthropic gesture, it was an intimate reunion with my elephant friends. As a fervent conservationist, my travels invariably include visits to endangered animal sanctuaries. The majesty of these gentle giants, their wisdom, and their ecological significance continuously inspire and remind me of our crucial duty to protect our world’s wildlife.
A tad sun burnt, here I am with one of my magestic friends!
June: Leaving the calm embrace of Phuket, my journey transitioned into the pixel-rich world of Smurf Village. I had the pleasure of announcing our groundbreaking partnership between SEE® Touring Exhibitions Inc. and THE Smurfs, to establish THE Smurfs XSpace, an interactive family entertainment experience. This innovative initiative merges state-of-the-art technology with the eternal charm of THE Smurfs, offering a transformative way for families to engage with their favorite characters and narratives. This immersive deep dive into the Smurf village promises to be an awe-inspiring experience for all ages!
Called ‘Smurfs – The Adventure’, the attraction will utilise the XSpace platform from Smart Entertainment to combine immersive video projection and ‘phygital’ systems that control sound, light, video, and personalised interaction into one single experience.
July: As the final chapter of this tripartite journey, I landed amidst the hustle and bustle of Manila, Philippines, where my exhibition, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition, is currently being hosted. This exhibition is a deeply personal project, an immersive exploration of Michelangelo’s timeless masterpieces, reimagined in a way that invites visitors to experience them as never before. I was honored to guide President Bongbong Marcos and the First Lady through this up-close perspective. Their shared appreciation for the artistic and historical richness of the exhibit underlined the universal power of how art unites us, regardless of our different roles, backgrounds, or political affiliations. I am proud to report that they felt that this premiere was an educational and cultural necessity for their people.
Explaining the Up-Close, Life-Sized, and Never-Before-Seen perspective, of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition.
And so, the journey weaves from the tranquil corners of an elephant sanctuary, through an interactive imagining of Smurf Village, and culminates under the breathtaking recreations of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, in the company of the presidential couple. It’s an unexpected blend of experiences that adds color to my life and fuels my passion. It reinforces that life has an infinite variety.
