What made you want to start photographing karaoke bars?
Everyone who lives in Bangkok is familiar with the bright lights of karaoke bars that line the streets, but no one would consider them "beautiful". Instead, these institutions are associated with sex and a place of taboo. However, I have fond memories of karaoke bars from when I was younger, when my friends and I would hop around these bars all over the country and sing karaoke songs all night long. It was a big adventure, meeting new people and singing with them. I started to think about how I could provide a neutral impression of karaoke bars, since I don't have the bias that most people do. I thought it would be an interesting topic to explore, which hopefully can expand people's perspectives about these institutions.
What are the impressions that Thais and foreigners have towards karaoke bars?
Because it is a place commonly associated to sex, Thai people often turn a blind eye to karaoke bars. Meanwhile, I feel like foreigners are slightly more open to the concept; some may consider that they look romantic, but there's definitely still a concern about safety as to what lies behind the doors. It doesn't help that the bars' interiors are often dimly lit, sometimes with improper signage, which makes the space seem more mysterious and scary. Actually though, karaoke bars aren't as seedy as they may seem.
What really goes on inside these bars?
The insides of these bars are a big spectrum of emotions—happiness, sadness, erotic-ness, loneliness—much like the bright neon colors shining outside. It's a place where the working class come to relax in the comfort of the night's darkness. The fact that these places often have names like "Oasis", "Sweet Dreams" and "Mist" highlights that they aim to be a place of comfort, a safe haven, where people can release stress that they might have built up during the day. In a way, you could consider it a transaction in exchange for a place to escape. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up for debate.
What was your process for taking these photos?
I worked alone on this project, starting with an aim to capture the bright neon signs of these bars around the city. When capturing the photos, I made sure to keep the perspective at eye level, because I want the shots to capture how people would see the bars if they were walking along the street. I made sure to take the shot when nothing else was going on in the street—no cars, motorbikes or passersby—so that the bar could stand alone with no distractions. In terms of capturing the inside, I entered as if I was an ordinary customer. I used their services, I ate and drank normally while asking permission to record my experience. I took both photos and videos, with the videos capturing the loud ambience of music and conversations, in the hope of depicting the most accurate experience possible.
What can Thai karaoke bars say about our society as a whole?
In a way, they show the importance that Thai society places on keeping "face." It's so important to have status and maintain your image in this society, otherwise you easily become marginalized. Meanwhile, these institutions serve as a place for people to relax without having to keep that facade up. They are small spaces where people can express their true emotions and behave naturally after hours. In a way, these karaoke bars are an example of how there are always two sides to the story—the outer image that people present and who they truly are inside.
