Song: “Into The Wild”

Artist: Secondhand Strings
Label: Independent
We start this All Ears with an interesting project launched by Bedroom Studio which sees them invite independent artists to send in songs inspired by their favorite movie. The first single, “Jennifer’s Body” by EE-Pavo (a solo project of Believe Records’ O-Pavee), has already cracked Fat Radio’s top 40 chart. But for us the real stand-out so far is “Into the Wild” by Secondhand Strings (member of indie folkers Part Time Musicians). It starts out as a simple, hauntingly sparse folk tune before the acoustic strumming gives way to a wall of distorted electric guitar. The track’s slow-building tension is befitting of the epic 2007 biopic directed by Sean Penn—if someone told us that it came from the original soundtrack, we would totally believe them.              

Song: “Microwave”

Artist: Pae Arak
Label: Believe Records
Since striking out solo (and further building his reputation as the face of everything, ever), Arak “Pae” Amornsupasiri has endured constant comparisons to his old band, indie-rock heavyweights Slur. But this fifth single from his album with the Peesaj Band is pretty convincing in its own right. Even though his huge fan base is likely to lap up anything he puts out, “Microwave” really is a pleasant and catchy number. Armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and a mouth-organ, Pae sings lyrics that cleverly compare the growth of a relationship to microwave-cooking. Re-heated leftovers, this ain’t.

Song: “Seang Ar-Kad”

Artist: Pluto21 Studio
Label: Independent
“Seang Ar-Kad” [Sound of the Space] is another track to emerge from a Bedroom Studio project (different to the one above) and find a place in the Fat Radio chart. The understated electro-pop ditty comes courtesy of Juk Tongma and Atiwut Tima, a pair of Khon Kaen University students who go by the name Pluto21 Studio. It finds the duo delivering a moody, atmospheric sound that matches lyrics describing the feeling of floating in space. The single is yet more proof of the up-and-coming music scene in Khon Kaen as it seems like every week we’re unearthing new gems from this part of the world.

Song: “Ratree” [Night Time]​​​​

Artist: Summer Dress
Label: Panda Records
A few months ago, we picked Summer Dress as one of the bands to watch this year, so we’re as relieved as anyone that “Ratree” delivers on the hype. Not that there should have been any doubt. This latest recording finds the Panda Records five-piece making good on their stellar rep as live performers. The energetic yet restrained track finds the band’s guitar-pop take on a shuffling, disco-like quality that will get you moving. While the lyrics that tell of a guy waiting for the right time to meet his crush in a dream may be a bit heavy-handed, they’re made all the cuter by the female backing vocals and the the Two Door Cinema Club-esque melodies.  

How did this exhibition start?
For the past 10 years, I’ve been working for fashion magazines. It’s my job. This means I have to create work that satisfies customers, even if I don’t always agree with what’s considered hot. I have my own perspectives on fashion photography and always told myself that I should deliver what I believe in when the time was right. Now’s the right time as I believe I’ve seen enough and I am grown up enough to do it.   

What’s the idea behind A Man’s Soul?
Apart from doing fashion shoots for magazines, I’ve always loved shooting street scenes like street kids and Thai boxing. I’ve done a lot of it, but never gathered these images into a proper exhibition. When the time came to do my first exhibition, I didn’t want to just show my own work, but rather create a fashion-related showcase that calls on the help of my friends such as fashion stylist Ananda Chalardcharoen. A Man’s Soul is centered on the Thai guy who takes a lot of influences from Western culture, not only his costume and styling but the stillness deep inside. I’ve loved cowboy fashion since I was very young, even if it’s not such a big trend now. The models are mature Thai men who look cool. It was so much fun developing this idea, which also fits in with the venue, Badmotel. 

Why are all the models male?
I love to shoot both males and females, but in this exhibition the male models represent me. I like girls and doing fashion shoots when it comes to work, but it’s not my real life. When I set up a shoot for myself, I don’t want to think about how girls put on their make-up or how they get dressed up. Male fashion is my passion, so I can express it better. Four of the models—Surasak Wongthai, David Assavanond, Suchow Pongwilai and Petchy—are celebrities. Each of them has their own unique character: they’re Thais who have taken a lot of influences from Western culture. The others models are not professionals; I met them by chance and asked them to join.  

What drives your fashion photography?
I started off as an assistant photographer and I’ve also been strongly influenced by Western culture. I love fashion sets from that part of the world but feel that Thai fashion has appropriated these influences in the wrong way. Thai fashion photography has a weak identity as it’s all about full make-up, fantasy costumes and 100% retouching. When we see designers’ collections, they always feature what’s on trend, like fantastic dresses and overcoats—but we can’t wear these, even in winter. When I try to make my fashion sets minimal, people complain that it’s too dull. That’s how it is in our fashion scene. I can’t do anything about it, as I’m in the minority. In Japan, they take the same influences but adapt them according to their own culture. Thai people know their own culture very well, but fashion turns them into something they’re not.

Has it been emotionally difficult putting on this exhibition?
There have been a lot of struggles, particularly when discussing Tim with his parents and close friends. Other obstacles are technical, like getting the photo copyrights, contacting agencies and dealing with the press.

How did you guys know each other?
We met in Wales in 1999. He and I were both professional photographers. We both loved to travel and shared a common vision to show a sense of humanity that moves past stereotypes. We became close friends.

As a photographer yourself, how would you describe the impact of these photos?
It allows us to see the humanity that exists behind these soldiers, what happens in the daily lives of these 19 to 25-year-old young men who are asked to fight for their country.

Thankfully, most people never have to experience firsthand the ravages of war; how is the exhibition relatable to Thai audiences?
You don’t even have to be interested in war stories or politics to go see it. Every nation has soldiers but most don’t know what goes on in these men’s lives. It’s not all about a bunch of guys shooting bullets at people. Things can be quite unexpected—how their lives are just like any normal young men, how they become good friends and learn to live with each other. I think this can be applied to the Thai soldiers fighting in the South right now.

It’s been mentioned that the exhibition reveals humor in the warzone; can you elaborate on that?
During the time Hetherington spent with the platoon, his photographs capture the domestic lives of the soldiers. It’s similar to how you would hang out with your friends: they played Guitar Hero, wrestled, showed off their new tattoos, just had fun the way guys do, except that it was in the middle of a warzone.

What message do you want audiences to taken from it?
I want them to look at war in a fresh way; to think and interpret things differently. This is a universal goal that photographers all around the world want to accomplish.

What exactly can we expect from the exhibition?
The exhibition shows photographs published in the book Infidel, as well as two films. The photos were taken by Tim Hetherington in Afghanistan and mainly feature the lives of the soldiers in the valley, a slice of their personal lives and the inhumanity of war. The videos, called Diary and Sleeping Soldiers, are definitely worth seeing. The films give an insight into Hetherington’s personal experiences and work during his ten years of conflict reporting.

After the exhibition in Thailand, where will you be showcasing it next?
We’ve done the show in London and Washington DC, and Thailand is our first stop in Asia. We haven’t got concrete plans on where we will go next.
 

Tell us a bit about how ArtdeGround came into being.     
I discovered lots of art galleries and stage crews around my university [Thammasat] that so many people seemed unaware of. So much of this art contained very real social and cultural value. I felt a need to get involved, so I started an art community which later became ArtdeGround. I want the group to be a real social enterprise and this idea was recognized with a Thai Health Promotion Foundation’s 20 Best Ideas Award. Later I met Chai at a stage workshop hosted by Crescent Moon Theatre, and I asked if he wanted to join us.

So what exactly is your focus?
Basically we host and run a Facebook page (facebook.com/ARTdeGround) for art lovers focused mainly on contemporary art. We post and share stuff that we’re interested in, including upcoming art events in Bangkok. We then pick one activity and ask our followers to join us on an art tour, which we film and air on our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/theartdeground). These art tours have been our main thing so far, but now we are launching our own art projects. We plan to put on two performances this year, the first of which is Ocean Butterfly. We will also run occasional workshops, like drawing therapy and special art classes for kids.     

What’s the inspiration behind Ocean Butterfly?
Ocean Butterfly was borne from a curiosity with Thai fantasy; if you talk to the younger generations, fantasy is all about witches and zombies. Thai fantasy is not so popular among children because it is always presented in an old-fashioned way. If it were not included in the school curriculum, it would surely go extinct. That inspired us to do a modern reinterpretation of Pra Apai Manee, long considered one of the great works of Thai literature. We tell the story through the eyes of Pee Sue Smut, the ocean beast, whereas normally Pra Apai Manee is the main character. We also add in 3D techniques for that supernatural touch, but keep the original poetic dialogue.                

What’s next for you guys?
Our next performance, Transaction, will run later this year. The story will combine two sciences seemingly at odds—economics and art—presented through physical theatre. ArtdeGround will develop the show, as economics is my profession, while for the performance part, we are collaborating with Thanapol Wirunhakul, a dancer and choreographer who has worked with many stage troupes like B-Floor. It will be a whole new thing for our art scene.