LET’S CONTINUE WITH THE POST-LOCKDOWN EAGERNESS FOR OFFLINE EXHIBITIONS WITH “KHAO SAN HIDE AND SEEK”, THE EVENT THAT INVITES EVERYONE TO REVISIT BANGKOK’S FAMOUS ROAD
TEXT: RACHADAPORN HEMJINDA
PHOTO: NAPAT CHARITBUTRA
(For Thai, press here)
Let’s continue with the post-lockdown eagerness for offline exhibitions (before COVID-19 returns, of course) with “Khao San Hide and Seek”, the event that invites everyone to revisit Bangkok’s famous road. Once crowded with tourists, stalls and vendors, nighttime Khao San is now far less chaotic with significantly fewer visitors. Nevertheless, within the loneliness and emptiness, stories reemerge, becoming more evident than ever.
The New World x Old Town exhibition, which took place in June, reignited people’s interest in the old department store in Bang Lamphu district, New World, which has been left deserted for decades. The recently ended event, PAK KHLONG STRIKE BACK!, took an interesting approach in curating activities and experiences. Through a photography exhibition, people explored and searched for flowers in the virtual world as they learned about the ‘humans of the flower market.’ The event brought a fraction of life back to the flower market after the prolonged and devastating impact of COVID-19.
Encouraging people to learn about a neighborhood’s history and identity through hands-on experiences and interactions with real people in an actual, physical space is a crucial strategy the Faculty of Architecture of Silpakorn University has been utilizing. With Assistant Professor Supitcha Tovivich leading the collaboration with students and local designers, the event has not only created new check-in spots (which turned out to be extremely popular among the social media enthusiasts) but it has also motivated people to go out, shop and experience other types of urban spaces besides department stores or community malls. The objective they were aiming to achieve was to create greater awareness in these local physical spaces and facilitate people’s interactions with local communities, encouraging the public to learn more about each neighborhood’s distinctive identity, appeals and history that aren’t found in regular textbooks.
“Khao San Hide and Seek,” which took place between 6th-15th November 2020, was a joint effort between the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University (Arch SU), Gaysorn Lamphu Club, Bang Lamphu Community, Bang Lamphu Youth Tour Guides, the Association of Khao San’s Business Operators and the Faculty of Music, Silpakorn University and L&E Lighting & Equipment.
One can say that the project had brought together collaborators who are both outsiders and locals to help bring back the Khao San spirit after the direct effect COVID-19 has brought upon the area. Khao San Hide and Seek’s highlights were eight lighting installations located at the beginning of the road near Khok Wua Intersection, down from Brick Bar to D&D Inn Bangkok. The venues hosting the works were among the neighborhood’s many establishments that have been fully affected by the pandemic.
“The kickboxing school is practically closed now, same goes for the stalls and street vendors whose businesses depended almost entirely on tourists. I remember the first time walking along Khao San Road after COVID-19 hit. It was very distressing because there were barely any people. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes because the road used to be flocked with people, and now it’s practically empty.
“But it did make me see something I’ve never seen. I’m not trying to romanticize the situation but what I saw was the vast number of people who were behind all the lights, visuals and sounds of Khao San Road were now disappearing,” Assistant Professor Supitcha Tovivich told art4d. This particular observation became the reason behind the images of people inside the frames hung from ceilings, including the ones projected on tens of LED screens installed in alleyways. They were portraits of people, strangers whose faces were unfamiliar, and whose stories we would later get to know.
The visual impacts these lighting installations created successfully and interestingly played with the definition and perception of Khao San. The five principal pieces included ‘Awaken’ by The Atelier 58. The work reopened MUAYTHAI FIGHT CLUB, welcoming, not only boxers, but visitors who were there to take pictures on the actual boxing ring. WIRE KNOT STUDIOs went back further and discussed the old physical condition of one of Khao San Road’s back streets, which used to be a canal. ‘Chao Phraya Ambient’ is the installation of an electric drum set that invited people to play them. The sounds generated by the drums caused the water inside the tray suspended from the ceiling to vibrate. The light and shadow created by the vibration were then reflected on the road’s surface, appearing like a moving stream of water.
‘After Party’ by A MILLIMETRE at Buddy Lodge was the result of the design team’s endeavor that arranged over a thousand green bottles of a famous beer brand on the side of the staircase and walkways to portray the atmosphere all the parties were over; a familiar sight to the Khao San Road regulars. ‘MISSING MATTER’ by PVWB studio played with lit-up fidget spinners, which was once a popular souvenir among tourists, but barely get sold these days. The design showcased an adaptation of the fidget spinners’ functionality by hanging them up into a massive light curtain for people to snap pictures. Empty Party: The Twilight Paradox’ by Cloud-floor was impressive for its simplicity, but ability to generate impactful interactions. Cloud-floor transformed the empty stalls into a photo booth. Glow in the dark letters (made of neon tubes) installed in angles that can be read as Party when entering the booth and Empty at the exit. It was clear that the work intended to encapsulate the current economic situation Khao San Road is facing.
Khao San Hide and Seek ended on 15th November 2020. Throughout the 10-day duration, the event hosted several parallel activities such as a discussion panel with Khaosan locals, live music performances, local tours by Bang Lamphu Youth Guides, and workshops. One would be envious of the ARCH SU team’s opportunities, considering how they get to work with some pretty cool sites this year. Judging how Assistant Professor Tovivich is actively leading all these collaborations, this year marks a promising sign that professions in architecture, design and creativity are still walking towards the same direction that our society should be heading. We have witnessed many previous projects that ARCH SU has done and how they have facilitated local community networks along with the old and younger generation members’ participation. If these networks can remain active even after all these events are over, we will definitely see more positive changes coming from these local neighborhoods.