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.
