Tala 2005, by Savanhdary and Mungsamai Vongpoothorn, is based on efficacious healing incantations, or khaathaa in the Lao language of her native country, given to Savanhdary Vongpoothorn by her father, an ordained Buddhist monk and musician. The incantation for Tala is a spell designed to drive away bad spirits. Vongpoothorn has transliterated these scripted incantations using Thai transcriptions of the ancient Pali texts, used by priests in Theravada Buddhism, so that her painting only approximates the sacred meanings of the words.

Tala is a Sanskrit word, also used in the Lao language, which refers to the recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle in Indian classical music which at a metaphorical level is said to recapitulate the rhythm of creation. Each section in Tala is expressed in different colours and perforation patterns to echo the repetitive five ‘beats’ or rhythms of the structured sounds of a Buddhist mantra.