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Unless you count its airborne mysticism, the Oscar-winning martial-arts movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" had nothing in common with "Golden Tiger/Hidden Monkey", a new exhibition at the Jim Thompson Art Centre.

 The show, continuing through February, mingles art with astrology and fortune-telling thanks to the aid of a feng shui master.

The average viewer's reaction is not surprising: The art and its meaning are largely ignored as visitors examine them for occult advice on their prospects for health, romance and becoming rich.

An animated film by Wisut Ponnimit catches a teenage visitor's attention by ascribing traits to the different animal signs in the Thai zodiac. She was born in the Year of the Dog and learns that she's most compatible with a Rabbit and had better steer clear of Dragons.

Twelve wooden boxes on the gallery wall contain burners that consume different aromatic oils blended by Pattree Bhakdibutr, founder of the Erb line of herbal products.

A man born in the Year of the Snake inhales the scent coming from his sign's box. It's ylang ylang, which is supposed to chill out the notoriously foul-tempered reptiles.

Elsewhere a young lady peers at 12 body suits designed by Roj Singhakul of the fashion house Issue, one for each astrological sign. She learns that blue, black and grey are auspicious for Rat people like her.

Kamol Phaosavasdi has set up a dimly lit, pleasant-smelling room partitioned off by dangling white fabric strips. There's a table with chairs where a middle-age lady consults a fortune-teller. Kamol's room is designed to set the mood for the oracle.

"The show aims to blur the boundary between life and art," explains curator Gridthiya Gaweewong.

"No one bothers to question art, but everyone wants to know how astrology relates to them. We're not encouraging people to believe in astrology or feng shui - we're pointing out how these 'sciences' still play significant roles in the age of digital communication and globalisation."

The exhibition's title refers to the coming Year of the Golden Tiger, which is ostensibly a horrible time for Monkey people - tigers and monkeys being jungle enemies. So 2010 should be a year of living humbly for Monkeys.

Accompanying the interpretations of this theme by an artist, an animator, a fashion designer and a perfume maker is "Bhrama Jati: The Siamese Horoscope" - 12 traditional Thai tempera paintings on saa paper from the Jim Thompson collection.

Gridthiya says the anonymous works, which date from late in the reign of King Rama III, caught the American silk tycoon's attention soon after he came to Thailand.

Thompson adapted the local astrology to his daily life, she says, and when he was building his famous house in 1959, he consulted a monk about the most auspicious day to move in.

The horoscope series is on view along with a personal astrological chart that Thompson had made when he turned 61 - shortly before he disappeared in Malaysia.

Gridthiya collaborated with feng shui master and astrologer Kochakorn Promchai to guide the participating artists, although Wisut, Pattree and Roj were already Kochakorn's students.

"I've been studying feng shui for 10 years," says Pattree. "It's based on qi, the animating force that regulates our emotional, mental and physical health. And it's related to aromatherapy, which uses essential oils to harmonise our nervous system."

Discovering that people of different zodiac signs have different reactions to specific scents, Pattree created 12 scents to match the signs.

"Each year manifests unique personalities with specific behaviour and health," she says.

"For example, hyperactive people will be calmed by the scent of jasmine, and people who suffer with depression should inhale the scent of citrus fruit to feel lively."

Roj, whose dresses often reflect his admiration for the colourful fabrics and patterns of Tibet, India and Sri Lanka, has in his zodiac body suits used digital prints that were derived from Thompson's Siamese Horoscope.

Accessories, like necklaces and shoes, are paired based on the relationship between signs.

"I always dismissed feng shui and astrology as unscientific until I discovered they're about balancing life with nature and bolstering our positive energy," says Roj.

Science or superstition? Gridthiya suggests it's not a black-or-white matter.

"It's actually conceptual. It depends on each person's judgement and intelligence. The merging of invisible knowledge and science is still in question."

 n "Golden Tiger/Hidden Monkey" continues until February 28 at the Jim Thompson Art Centre on Soi Kasemsan 2, opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road. It's open daily from 9 to 5. Call (02) 612 6741 or visit www.JimThompsonHouse.com.

n Kochakorn Promchai will lead a feng shui workshop on December 13 from 1.30 to 4.30pm. Seating is limited to 30. Admission is Bt300.

n Kitt Kertbundit will lead a workshop on mindful art on January 16 from 2 to 5. The Zen journey of self-discovery is open to 15 participants. Admission is Bt500.

n Chulalongkorn University Associate Professor Vorasun Buranakarn will lecture on "feng shui and scientific rationality" on February 20 at 1.30.

n Lectures are in the centre's William Warren Library.