FOTO_MOMO - art4d

ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHER, WEERAPHOL SINGNOI IS ONE OF THE MINDS BEHIND THE CREATION OF FACEBOOK PAGE FOTO_MOMO, FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAILAND.

The past 3-4 years have witnessed the vigorous rise of Modern Architecture. The growing interest in the genre can be seen through the sharing of photographs of buildings on both Thai and international social media platforms. The eager exchange of information and opinions via online media brings great acknowledgement of and appreciation for the importance of the conservation considering how architecture is conceived in the time of the Modern Movement, which shifts from the preconceived notion of architectural conservation that is predominantly related to ancient buildings such as temples, palaces, colonial structures or traditional houses in different regions of Thailand. Over the last couple of years, such movement has led to the official establishment of Docomomo Thailand. With support from the Association of Siamese Architects, a team of representatives was formed to work with DOCOMOMO (Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement) in the facilitation of collaborations between personnel and experts in the research and conservation of Modern Architecture in Thailand.

FOTO_MOMO, Photo by Weerapon Singnoi

FOTO_MOMO, Photo by Weerapon Singnoi

Architectural photographer, Weeraphol Singnoi, is one of the people whose interest in the architecture of this particular period inspired the creation of Facebook page Foto_MoMo (Fotograph of the modern movement). The page features photographs of modern architecture in different parts of Thailand that Weeraphol has come across and hopes to serve as a platform where people with a similar interest in Modern Architecture can share opinions and experiences. The images of architecture that Weeraphol has put together range from branches of banks scattered in different parts of the country, stand alone cinemas and hotels to architectural structures in educational institutions and office buildings. The Pleonchit branch of Krungsri Ayudhya Bank is among the architectural creations that were captured before the demolition or renovation that caused the program and functionality to change. These images will later become an important database that will be beneficial to the study of Thailand’s architectural history. From the social and cultural aspects, the photographs can provide us with a better understanding of the collective memories of people from different periods of time, as architecture has always been present as an important setting of the evolving history of the country and its culture.