Mister Hoy
refers to a common name for the leader of a business network, a rachero, or the leader of a droving party, and is a nickname for someone who is proficient in business matters. In the past, for a man in Issan to be respected, to be a man of means with a career, he would be a "Mister Hoy," which translates directly to the head of a buffalo army, or a drover (in the north he would be called a "Cow Father" or "Horse Father"). These men would travel to conduct commerce in central Thailand (Bangkok, the center of power), with each trip taking a month to three months.
The drovers, or Mister Hoy, would have an additional appellation according to what kind of commerce he was engaged in; for example, a man selling water buffalo (krabue) would be called Mister Hoy Krabue. If he was selling salt, he would be Mister Hoy Salt. If he were to sell pork, he would be Mister Hoy Pork, and so on.
Mister Hoy's travels would take him to a variety of locations, both by sea and on land. At the time, the Issan economy was still dominated by subsistence agriculture, with low levels of production and few ways to make money, resulting in thousands of Issan people traveling down country to work as itinerant workers with no transportation systems. Mister Hoy was the man who led all laborers to work and made them get paid, as well as herds of cattle to sell, in the absence of a railway.
To summarise the "Kaen Kao Kao" 2021 S.O.E. Our City Old Town art festival,
participants were invited to learn about the history of the old city, the first community to be founded, and the wide variety of people who traveled from many places, for many reasons, to what is now known as Khon Kaen. This year, participants are invited to follow the path of Khon Kaen’s historical movements through the lens of modern art to see the impact of domestic and international trade forces that changed a community into a city. The exhibition intends to stimulate the imagination of audiences and residents of the old city to be able to understand and become a part of creative reminiscence. This includes the perception of diverse experiences as part of working together to develop the future of our city.
The "Kaen Kao Kao" 2023 S.O.E. "We Trade Everything" art festival project intends to present an exchange of cultures through modern art, from domestic and imported sources, with the artists operating on behalf of Mister Hoy. The festival will have different exhibitions, held on different sites, that hold specific relevance to the history of Khon Kaen as a livestock hub for the drovers and are unified by the theme of trading stock (culture), information, and experiences. The festival enables the artists and participants to re-live the exchange that the Misters Hoy and the drovers had, with the goal of replicating the innovative cultural movement and benefits to society that occurred through the avant-garde cowboys.
Anurak Tanyapalit Tidarat Nakbutt Tada Heagsakul
Attitayaporn Seanpo Sureena Chema Chompunuch Putta
Phana Petsamrit Wiroon Janthong Thamrujah Thammasaroath
Wanranya Thongbor Salwanee Hajisamea Walai Buppha
Anuwat Apimukmongkon Suhaidee Sata Chindanai Phuankam
E-suwan Chali Nitipong Nikaji Pongton Kitpitak
Jamilah Haji Bussaporn Thongchai Gobpong Khanthapan
Jehabdulloh Jehsorhoh Wilawan Wiangthong Pongsaton Najai
Korakot Sangnoy Awika Samukrsaman Veerayut Nanglae
Muhammadsuriyee Masu Prapassorn Konmuang Puvamin Indee
Muhammadtoha Hajiyusof Chayarat Ritaramb Nontanan Intarajakra
Nordiana Beehing Decha Deewiseth Sahapon Chootinan
Nuratna Hawae Patcharapa Inchang Kisanaphol Wattranavinyoo
Pichet Piaklin Sareena Sattapon Tipawan Wannamahin
Ruangsak Anuwatwimon Piasn Ampim Voranon Suetrong
Pytt Saisangthong Kantapong Tesnes Tanaphat Kongnam
Puttita Karunamit Afinee Jehda-oh Jamilah Daud