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PHOTO ESSAY : THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY

September 22, 2024
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The Fabric of Society
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TEXT & PHOTO: BARRY MACDONALD

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‘The Fabric of Society’ is a metaphor that refers to the underlying structure, relationships and interconnectedness that hold a society together. Just as fabric is made up of individual threads, woven together to create a cohesive whole, the Fabric of Society is composed of various elements such as shared values, norms, laws, institutions, and cultural practices. These bind individuals and groups together, and make us all a part of the common thread of society as a whole.

Phaa Bai (blue & white plastic tarp) is the flag of the working class, but everyone’s life depends on it. Every meal we eat, the food is grown, fished, transported, sold, cooked or eaten with Phaa Bai being involved somehow in the process. All construction, plumbing and electrical work will rely on this versatile material, every building has needed it at some point. All of the things that we buy might have used Phaa Bai for the transportation, storage or even making entire market stalls. Floor, table, walls, roof and all. From simple objects on the street to the most precious Buddhist Statues in a temple, Phaa Bai is trusted to protect them all.

This project is about Phaa Bai, but is also about society as well. Through focusing on Phaa Bai you can see globalisation and homogeny of design, with everyone using the same products from the same suppliers. Environmental issues of plastic production, reuse and upcycling, as well as the Thai flair for improvising materials into new forms and functions. It is also linked to issues with migrant workers and the trades they take up in Thailand, and how they sometimes live in housing constructed with Phaa Bai.

Without it the country would not be able to function, It is literally the embodiment of the social fabric.

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Barry Macdonald (born in 1984) is a freelance photographer from London, England. He started off shooting musicians and found out about the enjoyment of travelling from going on tour with bands around Europe and the USA. His work has evolved into a hybrid of street and documentary. He is interested in sociology and tries to look at culture and human nature through his photography. He has lived in Bangkok since 2022.

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PHOTO ESSAY : THE REFLECTIONS OF OUR IMAGINED REALITIES

June 22, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: NATTAKORN CHOONHAVAN

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Before I set out on foot and began my photographic journey to various locales, I established a thematic foundation centered on the concepts of ‘reflection’ and ‘duality.’ Each time I encountered scenes that embodied these concepts, I captured them, preserving these moments for further introspection. For instance, reflections in water that distort and invert reality reminded me of the theory of parallel worlds. Similarly, images of lotus leaves overlapping with concrete structures brought to mind how humans, like the mythological Lotus Eaters, are ensnared in the capitalist cycle. Photographs of butterflies fluttering within cages led me to ponder the notion of human freedom—trapped in the cyclical nature of existence yet possessing a spirit that soars and dreams of liberty. This thematic foundation provoked deeper reflections on the philosophies of existence as seen through the mundane moments of my daily life.

Freedom in The Cage

The butterfly may be physically confined to a cage, yet its mind freely wanders to distant places, mirroring the human quest for freedom and the deeper meanings of life. Even while constrained by societal constructs, rules, and the sheer dimensions of our existence, along with the cycles of samsara, we remain driven to define our purpose and uncover the essence of our lives.

The Reversed World and The Lotus Eater

This concept speaks to living within an endless cycle of rebirth and an ever-expanding parallel world. In any realm, we might become Lotus Eaters—those from Greek mythology who, in their quest for happiness, consumed lotus flowers and forgot all else in life. We endlessly pursue desires and materialism, a ceaseless chase that only halts when we grasp the true essence and profound meaning of existence.

The Other Me (s)

The Dividing between the Two Worlds

The Other Me (s) and The Dividing between the Two Worlds

Every reflection I see in water or mirror always has my mind wondering about the myriad dimensions that ripple through this universe. I believe these mirrored selves are echoes of us in multiple realms. Yet, no matter the world we inhabit, we still strive tirelessly towards our deepest desires, ascend towards our dreams, relentlessly developing in pursuit of perpetual growth.

The Encounter

This image unfolds into various imaginable interpretations. To some, it reveals the intricacies of a brain; to others, the vital breath of lungs. Yet through my eyes, it portrays two masked figures in silent confrontation. It bears a dual significance: masks grant us the liberty to assume any guise and skins that are not our own. Simultaneously, these masks form a veil, a sacred space where we can retreat into our truest selves, resonating with our innermost truths.

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Natthakorn Choonhavan is the founder and designer of the jewelry brand Middle M Jewelry. He enjoys capturing images with a film camera during his walks, as this allows him to observe more closely the stories of the people around him. Natthakorn frequently employs light, shadows, and reflections to add depth to his photographs, transforming ordinary scenes into extraordinary snapshots. In documenting everyday life through film photography, he consistently infuses his techniques with emotion and interpretive meanings, carefully selecting angles, distances, and timings for his shots.

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PHOTO ESSAY : A SHAPE FOR BREATHING

June 15, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: CHATCHAWIN THANASANSUB

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According to the extension lines of the Bangkok Skytrain project, I could not imagine that Bangkok’s environment was not bad enough. Among the complex city, the clear blue sky is covered by solid concrete structures, not even high-rise buildings or low houses, but also the skytrain station, which blocks the city scenery. Some lines are inserted in a small area and nearly touch the surrounding buildings, or some lines are over the main road, which cannot grow the trees in the middle and along the streets.

The skytrain is the main public transportation in Bangkok, providing comfortable travel faster than a public bus and avoiding traffic jams. On the other hand, the dry and dense concrete floor floating over the sky makes the compressed and heavy feeling similar to an ‘unbreathable city.’ This photo set tries to express the uncomfortable feeling through an available void from the blocking of skytrain structures. The shapes occur in the context of their site. The different appearances depend on the intensity of obstructions and the variety of urban areas. Some shapes are very small and look like tiny windows because the skytrain station is quite close to the buildings.

I used to live in Singapore and got to know how well-managed and sustainable the city is. The MRT is the backbone of public transportation for daily use. Mostly, it runs underground, not over the roads or in any city areas. There are a lot of huge trees giving natural shading along the streets, and a clear sky contrasts with the high-rise buildings without obstruction. Actually, we cannot compare Bangkok with Singapore (I know about it) because of many limited factors. But at least this photo essay reflects the uncomfortable feeling of one who loves to walk in the city.

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Chatchawin Thanasansub graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Architecture, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi. He returns to study for a master’s degree at the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University. Chatchawin worked as a 3D visualizer and architectural photographer, but later became an interior architect who took photography as a hobby. His interest lies in the urban context, capturing the diversity of people, public spaces, and architecture through the photos he takes during his travels.

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PHOTO ESSAY : TOWARDS EVENING

June 8, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: FEDERICO COVRE

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The images depict a collection of projects undertaken in various European countries over recent years, including Italy, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. All photographs were captured during the late hours of the day, just before nightfall. They showcase different environments where serenity, natural light, and particularly, architecture play prominent roles.
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Federico Covre (1977) is an architectural and landscape photographer based in Italy and Sweden. He seeks to achieve a balance between conceptual rigor and functionality across different fields of visual communication concerning architecture. He works to feature clean and elegant compositions that describe architecture within their environment, capture the beauty of the physical object, and even beyond.

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PHOTO ESSAY: SUKHUMVIT- THE THIRD ROAD

May 26, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: ADAM BIRKAN

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‘Sukhumvit- The Third Road’ explores the hypothesis that Sukhumvit road is a microcosm of Bangkok, and perhaps society as a whole. Although the road spans from Bangkok to the border of Cambodia (As Highway 3), the section explored in this book focuses mainly on the 14km portion of the road situated within the legal boundaries of Bangkok, from its point of origin at Ploenchit BTS Station, in the heart of the city, to The Chang Erawan BTS Station in the south of the city, just a short distance past the cities legal boundary. The series of images within offer no answers; they simply reveal the breadth of life contained along one road in one city. What the viewer sees and understands is as much a reflection of themselves as it is a reflection of reality. The road, like all roads, is a physical embodiment of the human experience, where struggle and prosperity, industry and history, time and culture coalesce to create a living tapestry. All the while, the unstoppable forces of new generations and the immovable objects of old generations grind away at each other until the end of our time.

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Adam Birkan is a freelance photographer and visual storyteller. He has been named one of Magnum’s 30 Under 30 and PDN 30. He has a Bachelors of Science in Visual Communication from Ohio University and is currently based in Bangkok, focusing on long term, and short term projects. His personal work often takes a macro view of social and economic issues. His focus is on literal and metaphorical juxtaposition and finding subtle moments that, collected together, reveal a broad depiction of accelerated industries and economic disparity.

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PHOTO ESSAY: GENESIS

May 18, 2024
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TEXT & PHOTO: THANNOP AUTTAPUMSUWAN

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Have you ever traveled to a place so exquisitely arranged that you found yourself surrounded by stunning natural beauty, causing you to wonder if such splendor could have formed merely by chance? Do these elements arise naturally, or could it be possible that our world was designed and created by someone?

“IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH”

As a child, I often pondered how our world came into existence. Growing older, I encountered numerous scientific theories explaining the origins of our planet, yet none could definitively prove their accuracy.

But there exists a book, the best-selling book in the world, translated into many languages—the Bible. Comprising 66 books, its first is titled ‘Genesis.’

Genesis 1:1 writes, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This verse speaks of God’s creation of the world in six days. Through studying and understanding each verse, this photo essay was born.

‘Genesis’: The Creation of Our World by God

It emerged… it exists… it fades away.

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Thannop Auttapumsuwan graduated from Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Architecture. He works as an architectural photographer and explores personal projects with black and white film cameras and darkroom processes.

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