A rRT ts S
art 1-on-1
Bangkok is a hotbed of creative energy, be it in the fields of fashion, music, entertainment, or art. Each month, our resident Thai art expert Steven Pettifor meets with the country's most interesting artists to discuss their work and views
Ampannee Satoh Last April, the French Government passed a law banning the public wearing of the burqa – the full-faced covering of Muslim women. Ampannee Satoh, 28, a Thai student of photography in France, felt oppressed by such a law and decided to show her disagreement by ordering several custom-made burqas from her home town of Yarang, Pattani and posing in them in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and other landmarks, letting the colourful burqas float on the wind and dance in the sunshine. This eye-catching series of thought-provoking photographs will be on view at Kathmandu Photo Gallery from August 5 to September 25. How do you see your role as a photographer? Definitely if an opportunity comes, but as of yet the plan I believe that photographs do not only record events or to exhibit it in France isn’t finalised. Certainly, an exhibition memorable moments, but that we can also express our there would be the natural home for this work. intentions, feelings and subconscious minds Both Burqa and your previous series through them. Photography can cast a spell Muslimah feature Muslim women as the on people and make them stop and focus Thai women are central subject. Will your next series directly on a subject. lucky – we can maintain this thematic focus? choose whether Muslimah tackled the subject of Muslim Do you feel any social or religious to wear a veil women in the three border provinces in the responsibility as a young female or not. South, while Burqa is a call for the rights of Muslim photographer? Muslim women in France. In the future I want Yes; with this series I’m standing up for to focus on other rights surrounding Muslim Muslim women’s rights – saying that they should have the right to choose. When the rights of people women. It’s not only my rights that are being diminished, in a society are limited by laws, when human feelings are but the rights of Muslim women all around the world. They repressed, I don’t think that’s right. We should share spaces deserve justice, equality and freedom too. and respect one another, not introduce laws that infringe How is your new position as a teacher of on other people’s own faith and rights. photography at Bangkok’s Rangsit university? How did you feel as a young Muslim woman living Being a teacher is not only about teaching; it also allows you to exchange knowledge with your students and learn from them. in Europe as compared to Thailand? Thai women are lucky – we can choose what religious Teaching there helps inspire my photographic creations. practices we want to perform and whether to wear a veil or not. This is different from what is happening in some European Which photographers past and present do you countries, which on the surface appear to offer the freedom admire and why? to think and to live but, in my opinion, don’t in practice. The Henri Cartier-Bresson has been my hero since my old adage ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ comes to mind. childhood. Although they were taken a long time ago his photos continue to move me. You come from Pattani in Thailand’s Deep South. Has life altered significantly during the years of Interview by Steven Pettifor violent political instability there? Burqa by Ampannee Satoh runs from August 6 to The tragedies that have happened in my hometown in September 25 at Kathmandu Photo Gallery. The Pattani are indescribable. The mental pain in our family, opening party is on Saturday August 6 at 6:30pm. among our brothers, sisters and relatives is just too deep to put it into words. WHERE Kathmandu Photo Gallery, 87 Pan Road (near Indian Temple), off Silom road, Bangrak; 02-234The Burqa series hasn’t been shown in France yet. 6700; www.kathmandu-bkk.com Are there any plans to exhibit it there? 34
august 2011
arts
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