The rich history and multicultural heritage of southern Thailand are presented during "The Road To The Golden Peninsula", which will kick off tomorrow and run until Aug 9, on the Curved Wall, 5th floor of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Pathumwan intersection.
This is the first photography exhibition in 20 years by Chaiyos Pinpradab, a renowned Thai photographer known for his sweeping panoramic photographs of southern Thailand.
Featuring 114 film photographs, the show serves as a travel journal documenting his 150-day solo road trip through the southern peninsula, from September 2024 to January 2025.
The journey began in Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, a gateway to southern Thailand, and continued south to the Sankalakhiri mountain range and Tak Bai in Narathiwat, one of Thailand's southernmost areas.
Along the way, the Phuket native explored the region's distinctive architecture, landscapes, ways of life and the enduring spirit of the Golden Chersonese, the ancient name for the Malay Peninsula and southern Thailand.
By focusing on ordinary, everyday scenes, his images reveal unsung details, evocative light, deep shadows and rarely explored historical narratives.
Highlights include glimpses into the multicultural facets of the South, such as the abbot's quarters at Wat Chontharasinghe; a Buddhist temple in the Muslim-majority province of Narathiwat that exemplifies local craftsmanship; and the striking European-style Red Pavilion on Tang Kuan Hill in Songkhla, a little-known historical structure unfamiliar to many younger generations.
Chaiyos captured his travelogue using a Hasselblad XPan panoramic rangefinder film camera, with its distinctive 24mm by 65mm format offering expansive perspectives and an artistic depth that digital cameras cannot easily replicate.
Every roll of film was developed and printed using international-standard darkroom techniques by Srisuphat Satiansri, founder of Min Black and White Darkroom, a renowned darkroom specialist and the artist's close friend and companion on his photographic journey for over 30 years.
Each photograph in the exhibition reflects not only the beauty of its location but also the value of craftsmanship and the friendship behind the lens.
There is no admission fee. Visit facebook.com/cpinpradab.
