PhotoBangkok, Thailand's largest, home-grown international photography festival, will be launching its second iteration today at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).
Running for three months until Sept 9, this year's festival will have over 48 exhibitions and events across the city covering a myriad of photographic genres like photojournalism, street photography, fine art photography, conceptual photography, historical photography and even smartphone photography.
Some 202 artists and 34 institutes and galleries including the BACC, French embassy, Spanish embassy, Japan Foundation, PHotoESPAÑA, Bangkok University, Goethe Institute and The Museum of Photography in Seoul have come together to create ambitious photographic showcasing and educational programmes aiming to explore countless topics and propel up-and-coming Asian artists and curators into the spotlight.
With the festival occurring only every three years, better not miss out on some of the highlights it has to offer.
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Rama I (Closed Mon)
BACC, usually filled with all types of contemporary art, will essentially turn into a nine-floor photo gallery for the next few months. On the 1st floor, "Analog Booth" (July 3-22): Four interactive camera obscuras designed by Thai firm Deesawat will be on display to demonstrate the first and most pivotal discoveries in optics. On the 3rd to 5th floors, fun and quirky street photography takes over with the annual "Street Photo Festival" exhibition (July 5-Aug 3). On the 7th floor, curators Mary Pasanga and Alizz Vichchou present the "Thai New Wave Exhibition" featuring 11 rising photographers who rethink ways of understanding the photographic image. On the 8th floor, curators Toeingam Gubtabutra and Angki Purbandono present "Post-Repost-Share" (July 6-Sept 9), a survey of new relationships we have formed with photography -- exhibiting photographs by the likes of photojournalists, visual artists, commercial photographers, social activists and astronomers all living in Southeast Asia. Lastly, on the 9th floor, iconic images on the causes and effects of climate change are showcased, featuring more than 100 influential photographers like James Natchwey, Steve McCurry, Sebastian Copeland and Tom Jacobi in "Beyond The Air We Breathe: Addressing Climate Change" (June 28-Sept 2).
Bangkok University Gallery, Rama IV (Closed Sun & Mon)
The French Connection, July 7-Aug 31
The connection between the "French eye" and the "Thai subject" dates back over 170 years, starting with Father Larnaudie bringing the first ever photographic camera to Siam in 1845. In the meantime, "Thailand" as a subject for photography has become worn-out -- represented through Western eyes with the ever same superficial themes of working girls, paradise beaches and sacred temples. With "The French Connection", curator Manit Sriwanichpoom gathers eight French artists (both long-term and short-term residents) who have processed the country at a much deeper and more critical level.
Galerie Oasis, Sukhumvit 43 (Closed Mon & Tues)
Samadhi by Patrik Bundez, July 7-Aug 31
German photographer Patrik Bundez's peaceful and exquisite black-and-white photographs of meditating monks take viewers into another state of mind. The photos, shot in isolated temple forests of northern Thailand, perfectly grasp the varying states of mind and inspire viewers to stop, be still and briefly forget about other worldly desires.
House of Lucie, Ekkamai
Lucie Masters: Spotlights on Reza by Reza, June 20-Sept 1
Adding to their list of all-star exhibitions, House of Lucie will be exhibiting the iconic and dramatic photographs of international award winning Iranian-French photojournalist Reza Deghati, known simply as Reza.
Kathmandu Photo Gallery, Pan Road (Closed Sun & Mon)
Absolute Prisoners 1902 by Manit Sriwanichpoom, July 6-Aug 25
In 1902, the Tai-Yai people rebelled against the centralised ruling power of then-Siam to defend their own homeland in the North. Met with ruthless retaliation, they became political prisoners whose haunting, chained-up mugshots sat rotting in the Thai National Archives -- until now. Unearthing a little-known part of history and bringing the photographs and their unflinching gazes to life using the daguerreotype process invented in 1839, Manit Sriwanichpoom is driven to help them tell their side of the story. "To me, these Phrae rebels represent victims of injustice whose plight reverberates in contemporary Thai society."
Leica Gallery, Gaysorn Plaza
Ourselves Solitude by Virunan Chidaycha, 27 Jun - 7 Aug
Split into three parts, Thai photographer Virunan Chidaycha explores the meaning of being a middle-class Bangkokian. Taking notes from American painter Edward Hopper, Virunan artistically captures the melancholy and solitude of those moving to the big city seeking success and fortune.
RMA Institute, Sukhumvit 22 (Closed Mon & Tues)
Gradvia by Shane Bunnag, July 7-Sept 9
Thai-British independent filmmaker Shane Bunnag captures fleeting shapes, movements and forms that "exist briefly before the rational mind and its protective familiarity take control". The haunting series of photographs, which feature elusive and blurred female figures, defies articulation and explores the relationship between what is real and imaginary.
Serindia Gallery, Charoen Krung 36 (Closed Mon)
Life With The FT-2 by Jaroslav Poncar, July 19-Aug 26
For 40 years, German photographer Jaroslav Poncar only shot with one camera: the 1958 Russian-made panoramic FT-2. Taking it everywhere from Europe to Central and Southeast Asia until its very last film roll in 2016, Poncar has captured absolutely stunning and detailed panoramic landscape shots which visitors will truly marvel at. Some photos are up to 3m wide.
Subhashok The Arts Centre (S.A.C), Sukhumvit 33 (Closed Mon)
Good Day Bad Day But Everyday by Tavepong Pratoomwong, July 7-Aug 5
Thai street photographer Tavepong Pratoomwong's exhibitions are always a hoot. Packed full of his quirky and tongue-in-cheek humour and reflective of his ability to capture "the decisive moment", his photographs walk the line between reality and fantasy, making viewers question the "truths" that emerge from our eyes alone.
Contests and workshops:
Beautiful Bangkok Smartphone Photo Contest by Magnolia Quality Development
Get a chance to have your artwork exhibited for a month at the BACC and win cash prizes by entering the "Beautiful Bangkok Smartphone Photo Contest". It's as simple as snapping a shot on your phone and entering the contest at photobangkokfestival.com/beautifulbangkok. Selected photographs will be displayed from Aug 8-Sept 9 at BACC's 7th to 8th floor walking ramps.
Photobook As Object/Photobook Who Cares
In collaboration with the Japan Foundation and Reminders Photography Stronghold (RPS), a curated membership gallery in Tokyo, there will be a photobook exhibition along with a number of photobook-making demonstrations at Central Embassy's Open House Bookshop (July 6, 7-8pm) and the BACC (July 7, 11am-12pm). Visitors are able to learn how to convey their stories in a visually profound way and create valuable photobooks.
PHotoESPAÑA
Courtesy of the Spanish embassy, the Spanish International Photography & Visual Arts Festival PHotoESPAÑA will be holding a talk on July 22 at Cinema Oasis revolving around the careers of PHotoESPAÑA director Claude Bussac and Spanish documentary photographer Cristina de Middel.
Then on July 24 and 25, Bussac will return with PHotoESPAÑA's director of Professional Programs Ana Morales to do 20-minute, one-on-one portfolio reviews at the BACC. Photographers will receive constructive feedback and advice about possible career opportunities. Submission deadline is July 15.
For more information go to photobangkokfestival.com or facebook.com/PhotoBangkok.
