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After pulling in more than 16,000 visitors last year, Illust Fusion Expo is back for another packed weekend at Paragon Hall. On June 13-14, the fifth floor of Siam Paragon gets taken over by 729 artists and creators spread across 1,108 booths – making it one of Thailand's biggest celebrations of illustration and independent creativity.
Every corner of the hall offers something different. Original illustrations sit alongside handmade objects, limited-edition merch and hard-to-find collectibles, plenty of which are produced exclusively for the festival.
This year's theme, ‘Shine in Your Own Way’, takes the lantern as its central motif – a nod to individuality and the distinct voices that make the local art scene worth paying attention to. A standout addition this year is a special pop-up café created with Joojee World, whose artwork also serves as the event's key visual. Think familiar characters and illustrations translated into a playful cafe setting that runs alongside the main exhibition floor.
The programme runs well past browsing, too. Artist talks feature popular creators including Peakkyboo, simpleseasun and Joojee World, while panel discussions tackle subjects like Our Lines, Whose Rights? and How to Use Inspiration Without Copying. Representatives from the Department of Intellectual Property are also on hand with practical copyright guidance, and live drawing sessions carry on throughout the weekend.
Visitors can join a Stamp Rally to collect exclusive souvenirs, try a free layered stamp-making workshop and pick up festival-only releases along the way.
Illust Fusion Expo runs June 13-14 at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, 10am-8pm. Tickets are B120 for one day or B220 for a two-day pass, available at the door.