To go into a community, society or area that's rarely seen by others and to be accepted into their world, access may be considered a photographer's most valuable asset. Yet for Pericles Boutos, Greek ambassador to Thailand, access was handed to him from the day he landed in the Kingdom three-and-a-half years ago.
Living and working with the crème-de-la-creme of the seemingly polished and carefully staged diplomatic world, Boutos, who's been an avid photographer for even longer than his three-decade diplomatic career, takes viewers into his world of "Official Functions" -- on display in Silom's Kathmandu Photo Gallery until June 23.
Hung on the walls of the quaint gallery (which was jam packed with high-ranking diplomats at last Saturday's opening) are candid yet delicately composed shots of the odd goings-on and truthful human interactions within official gala functions, taken on either the ambassador's phone or Fuji X100T.
There are shots you'd never see from a polished "official" photo, such as a photograph of the Polish ambassador with a stern face, busting a move on the dance floor with his smiling spouse. There's a man crawling on his knees across a stage where Boutos was standing as onlookers take photos of an unknown subject out of frame. Then there's the chuckle-inducing photograph of a lady looking straight into the camera with a large scowl on her face as others smile and laugh around her.
Boutos basically took street photography indoors. Capturing all of the uncontrived human moments within the stifling nature of Thailand's countless gala functions, his shots result in viewers becoming participants instead of outsiders looking in.
"I'm bringing this type of shooting in the world of diplomatic receptions and diplomatic events," he explained. "Most of my life I've done street photography. It's my favourite type of photography to do because it always gives you the element of surprise -- of looking at the world with different eyes, approaching the world with a different set of thinking and so on. In the end, you are interacting with a lot of things that are happening before your eyes."
Photos courtesy of Pericles Boutos
The idea of documenting gala events came out of Boutos' friendship with Manit Sriwanichpoom, Kathmandu Photo Gallery's curator. Having shot different subjects in each country he's lived in (the Carnival in Italy and street portraits in Russia), Bangkok proved to be a little hard to find a focal point in. Shooting anything and everything since the first day he stepped foot in Bangkok, Manit helped narrow his focus to simple subject matter: his work and the places he goes, as technical precision, artistic depth and access is the holy-grail combination for any photographer.
"Of course, I go to functions in order to represent my country and to be there as an ambassador and to discuss issues with other people," said Boutos. "But at some point I also decide that, well, I have some good scenes here and it would be a pity to lose them. So then I take out my camera and I become a photographer [laughs]."
But unlike in street photography, where one can just shoot and go, everyone knows him, and he knows everyone -- which at times can be a double-edged sword.
"Because I know these people, at the same time it's easier and sometimes a little bit difficult," said the ambassador. "Of course they accept me with a camera in my hand, and they're used to me photographing them, which is a big advantage. On the other hand, sometimes I think I'm overdoing it. I'm becoming a little bit sensitive about what they are thinking. Maybe I'm becoming a little too much of a nuisance with my camera. I shouldn't [think that way], but that's how I feel sometimes."
Originally a self-taught photographer, Boutos perfected his skills and techniques by attending seminars of the Platon Rivellis at the Photography Circle of Athens in 1985, in addition to taking courses at the School of Visual Arts and the International Center of Photography in New York. So every shot displayed -- no matter how candid -- is well thought-out.
"Many of these things are happening very quickly," he explained. "But I think I have a pretty good idea from the beginning if there's a possibility to take a picture because what's happening is interesting, or the figures are well placed in front of me.
"Then I start thinking about it through the viewfinder. I try to see what my lines are, what my volumes are, what I can include or leave out. Then of course the moment either happens or doesn't. At one event I may shoot 200-300 photos, and choose three or four."
Having always wanted to exhibit his photographs in Bangkok, it was a cathartic moment for the ambassador -- and just about time, as well, since in two months Boutos' tenure in Thailand will finally end.
"It's my first posting as ambassador, so it was new to me to completely run an embassy and see what I have to do and how to promote relations," he said. "At the same time, I had asked to come to Thailand and stay for a few years, and it was a pleasure coming and seeing all of the happenings in this country. It was an interesting period, of course. Ups and downs."
"We have a common thing," added the ambassador about his home country and Thailand. "Greeks and Thais are very proud of their history and culture, and we promote it as much as we can. I really enjoy being here and I wanted to stay a little longer. The other thing is I made a lot of good friends here. I hope we keep in touch with everyone, and I'm leaving with sadness."
