Latitudes 18 - Eng

QCHIEF EDITOR

Christophe Chommeloux

+66 (0)918 233 500 chris.choms@gmail.com

CO-FOUNDER

Caroline Laleta Ballini

+66 (0)869 504 961 carolinelaleta@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Christophe Chommeloux, Alexander Batman, Chom’s, Tiphaine Mallégol, Catherine Vanesse, John Roots

PHOTOS

Covert Art by Stephff, C. Laleta Ballini, Sawasdee France, IsoPixel, Istock by Getty Images, Le Mazette, Niche Malta,Village Underground, Le Petit Salon, Raphaël Lugassy, Thesndoctor, La Machine, Fotocom Agency, Arnaud Nazare Aga, Tourism Authority of Thailand

Latitudes

GROOVY EDITO

IQn music, a discipline surprisingly subject to many highly mathematical rules, groove represents the human element, the slight imperfection, the little something that changes everything and provokes an irresistible attraction to a rhythm, to a trance, that makes the hips undulate, the hormones take off and the body wiggle and surrender.

In dance, groove embodies a style, a particular way of moving to music, expressing rhythm and melody through harmonious body movements. From Salsa to Rock, Disco to House, Gavotte to Pogo, Bantoubalouba to Voodoo, every genre has its grooves.

But the term “groove” also has a metaphorical dimension, which can be applied (or not, for cold fishes) to the whole of an individual’s life. It stylishly describes a state of synchronicity, rhythm, a feeling of ease, fluidity and pleasure in daily activities, work, private life, leisure and other commitments. “Do it while having fun!” my old man used to tell me when I’d shy away from some chore, preferring more sanuk stuff. An old-school wisdom that we strive to pass on and share through our media and events.

An expression of Art de vivre, in Thailand.

Chom’s

Laleta Ballini

Cameron Platter

Stephff

Raphaël Lugassy

Christophe Chommeloux

Well known in Thailand for his hilarious cartoons, Stephff does not limit himself to delivering his jubilant and sarcastic graphic swipes in the pages of daily newspapers or on social media. The artist releases hilarious collector’s books on the quirks of the Farangs in the land of Siam and devotes himself without transition to contemporary painting of tribal inspiration...

STEPHFF

By Stephff

From the Mekong to Gavroche, from the Bangkok Post to The Nation, via Courrier International or Le Paris Phuket, the corrosive drawings of Stephff have for a long time taken a cruel and funny look, filled with derision, revolt and distance, on political life and the biases of society. Installed in the middle of his impressive collection of tribal art, the journalist artist also paints contemporary graffiti-ethnic

works, between two harsh criticisms of the power in place or of his contemporaries.

This last theme is now available in the form of books with the release of Farang Affairs, sets of drawings either unpublished or revisited, brought together in collector’s editions with a very limited print run of 1500 copies, only available from the author via his Facebook page.

Stephff

Stephff promises it, once sold out, there will be no reprinting, so don’t miss this rarity containing some politically incorrect pearls that will never be republished.

When we met for the article in Le Paris Phuket in 2015, you already told me that you wanted to publish a book on a real theme, like that of the Farangs. It was finally released in 2020, then #2 this year, tell me about these years of gestation of Farang Affairs. It’s not gestation, it’s just procrastination! My job as a political cartoonist was eating up a good part of my energy, therefore I let the book build a little bit by itself by publishing this series once a week in the Phuket Gazette and later on in the weekend edition of The Nation.

The problem is that it was just an accumulation of drawings sometimes a bit sloppy, because always made at the last minute in the urgency of the deadline...

Sometimes I had the problem of making too many drawings on the same theme, like bar girls, and not at all on other subjects. However, in a book you need all the themes to be addressed. In short, when I lost my job at The Nation in June 2019, I immediately took advantage of this free time to say to myself, “come on, you finish this damn book once and for all! I’ve been talking about doing it since the time of Gavroche, so 25 years!” But I quickly realized that I was not just going to make a stupid compilation of my work (which was what most of my friends in Thailand suggested), but that I had the opportunity to do a little better, to realize something more thorough with new drawings. So that’s what I did and it took quite a while...

But I’m really happy with the result and frankly I don’t say that often about my work. I think the people who follow my drawings have been pleasantly surprised. For me it was really worth it to go to great lengths and fall behind (I was 4 months behind my first promises to finish the first opus by the end of December 2019). After all, who’s going to complain about getting twice as good a book while waiting a little longer? This is not an Airbus A380 delivery!

The success of the first opus seems to have made you want to come back to it?

First of all, it’s a relative success. I sold 1,500 copies of the first one, but that’s only 1,500 copies and it’s not enough to make a living. But in any case, it’s been a big hit with those who appreciate this kind of humor.

How is Volume 2 different?

It’s not really different, it’s a collection of other situations from the expat’s life in Thailand. Other than that, I’d say it’s a little more polished in the drawing.

I’ve also pushed certain situations a little further into the absurd.

Will there be more?

Yes, I’ve collected enough ideas to do a volume 3 and a volume 4; in fact, I’m already working on the storyboard for 3 and 4 simultaneously, so as to be able to manage a good distribution of situations and gags right away. There’ll also be a “naughty” special edition with a print run of just 500 copies, to be sold “under the table” (impossible, I think, to get an ISBN hahaha!!!).

You work surrounded by your primitive art collection...

Since becoming interested in primitive art, I have been looking for what no one collects. It’s kind of the Holy Grail to find something local that no one has thought of yet. That way, I can set up any exhibition in an ethnographic museum in Europe!

I am piling up in my house, it is a little delirium. Since I’m a crazy collector, the idea is to stop collecting anything and focus on things of value, art, and then make it my retirement.

I am unable to keep money, so I might as well slam it for things that are valuable!

I imagine that there is a direct filiation between your tribal paintings and your collections?

Yes, but precisely, the paintings came naturally. I also collect paintings and I have a collection of artists somewhat similar, African, etc.When you collect paintings by artists, it creates a stimulus, you realize that, whatever the artist, no work is ever perfect, that there are lots of flaws, and step by step it makes you more relaxed, in fact, you tell yourself that you could do it too.

When I see a piece, when it’s a punch in the face, it is so beautiful and I can never afford it, I put it on my computer and tell myself that I will be able to draw inspiration from it one day. It’s a bit of a way to counteract frustration by telling myself that I’m going to take it on. There is a whole idea where the perfect piece that you cannot have, you will create it yourself.

You seem to diversify more and more with this tribal-inspired art, will this translate into a more important work in the years to come?

My work is not tribal art per se, it is just contemporary art inspired by tribal art.

What I do is therefore largely influenced by this so-called primitive art, mainly from Africa and Oceania, but also by a lot of modern artists like Keith Haring. As soon as I love a shape, a design, whether it comes from a Paul Klee or from an obscure celebrity, I appropriate it and use it my way. I even self copy quite often, because after a few years, if I look at one of my older works, it inspires me some new thing. In short, it’s a bit of an endless story and I could paint another 500 years without losing my inspiration. So, yes, the ambition is to produce a larger, more mature, stronger work.

I really have big desires and good ideas to develop, but always remains the problem of time and my guilty pleasure to disperse myself quite easily. Even if I keep only the painting, I still disperse and do the opposite of what galleries and art pros expect, I have fun and I don’t necessarily develop a particular style. But hey, I still manage to sell this way. It would bother me terribly to lock myself in a style just for marketing and career reasons. So too bad, I may never be a real great artist,

but at least I’m having fun and I must say that of all my activities, it is probably the painting that turns out to be the most recreational for me.

What evolution(s) do you see in this work over the last 3 years?

It’s evolved mainly because I’ve been more productive in recent years.Well, evolution or not, it’s still hard to make a living from paintings alone, especially when that’s not all you do. I do feel that there’s been an improvement and I’m finding it easier to surprise myself, so I’m having a good time. After that, all that’s left is to surprise others, and that’s still a long way off!

Finally, I want to talk about your titles, usually always in the comic/cartoon spirit. Is it a way for you to keep a link with the humorous and cartoony side of your artistic production?

The titles of my paintings? Yes, it’s a bit difficult to explain, a title is a mixture of spirituality, which I really fully support, with a layer of self-mockery.

In fact, the title ends up being exaggerated to the point where it doesn’t mean much anymore. It is more the beauty of the chosen words that is supposed to go with the painting. And at the same time I make fun of my titles myself by making them super snoring and pretentious. So in fact it still starts from an intuitive choice of words that go with the painting, then in the end it doesn’t really mean anything anymore. Besides, in general, I turn down people who ask me to explain these titles to them, because I’m unable to. Now, some of these titles still make sense. Basically, if I use the word Cosmic Christ or Cosmic Buddha, it really means something, in New Age spiritual literature for example, and that’s really what I wanted to paint. So maybe I’m exaggerating my own sham a bit by pretending that my titles are meaningless. I hope it’s clear? Hahaha!

To order Farang Affairs 2 or artworks, contact  Stephff : stephff.artist@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/stephff_art

Charoen Krung Road, 1947

Charoenkrung Road during the reign of King Rama V, 1910

CREATIVE DISTRICT

A River of Art

Along the Chao Phraya, the many historical and religious monuments associated with the birth of the capital are far from standing still, and the district is now one of Big Mango’s trendiest and most creative, with contemporary art galleries, giant frescoes and artists’ studios.

Astroll along Charoen Krung is like stepping back in time: in a cheerful interweaving of shophouses, ruined buildings and luxury hotels, between temples, churches and mosques, visitors are invited to try Chinese, Indian and Thai street food, or sip a cocktail at sunset overlooking the majestic Chao Phraya. Running parallel to the river, the street stretches for almost 9 km, from the historic district of Rattanakosin, home to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, to the intersection with Rama III at Bang Kho Laem, via Little India, Chinatown, the European residences of Silom and the Sathorn business district.

A DISTRICT OF MANY INFLUENCES

Following the fall of Ayutthaya, the court retreated to Thonburi, where it founded the kingdom’s new capital in 1768, before moving across the river in 1782, the

official date of Bangkok’s foundation by Rama I, first king of the Chakri dynasty.

At the time, the Chinese community was already well established, helping to build the capital in Thonburi before moving to Present-day Chinatown. Trade had flourished in the area since the 15th century, and was further facilitated after the signing of the Treaty of Bowring in 1855. More and more Westerners settled here, alongside the diplomatic missions and embassies of Portugal and France, which are still located here today. Tired of not being able to get around easily on horseback, they asked King Mongkut (Rama IV) to build a proper road. Until then, paved roads had been limited to the Palace. Work on the future “Charoen Krung” began in 1862 and was completed in 1864. This road, which can be translated as “Prosperous City Street,” became the capital’s first modern thoroughfare. The first streetcar line was built here in 1888. Initially horse-drawn, the tram was electrified in 1894, before disappearing in 1963.

©

C. Laleta Ballini

©

C. Laleta Ballini

© Daan Botlek

As the capital continued to expand, moving its business center with it, Charoen Krung went into decline.

The introduction of the Skytrain metro system in the 1990s, with a stop at Saphan Taksin, encouraged investors to build again, but the economic crisis of 1997 postponed the opening of the BTS until 1999.

Witness to the optimism of the time, the Sathorn Unique Tower, or “Ghost Tower”, still overlooks the Taksin Bridge, having been abandoned for 15 years, too fragile to restore and too costly to demolish.

A little further on, at the corner of Narathiwat, the Mahanakorn Tower, inaugurated in 2016, with its pixelated architecture, symbolizes both the luxury and vertical expansion of the city with its 314 meters, but also this arty approach to architecture already present in many Bangkok towers like the famous Chang building in the shape of an elephant...

© C. Laleta Ballini

© Kyle Hasegawa

/ FoP-Thailand /CC-BY-2.0

New Road, the main artery of Bangkok, 1908 (Twentieth Century Impressions of Siam)

La Chang Tower ou l'immeuble éléphant : 102 mètres, 32 étages

The Ghost Tower, 2015

The Ghost Tower, 2015

HIP & COOL

Today, the district is considered one of the city’s artistic and creative centers, and has become a mecca for cultural tourism.

“Look at how well cultural tourism works in Europe! When you visit Paris, contemporary art is as important as historical monuments. If you come here, along the river, you discover all these communities, the old Chinese town, the Noi market, Kudee Jin, with art on every street corner, in the public space with, for example, what the Bukruk festival has achieved, as well as the countless galleries...” comments David Robinson of Bangkok River, an organization that played a major role in organizing the Bukruk festival and federates initiatives around the Creative District.

The TCDC (Thailand Creative and Design Center) moved into the imposing former post office, the Grand Postal Building, in May 2017, and has long been a much-visited historic monument. Built in 1940 by architects Miw Jitrasen Aphaiwong and Phrasarot Ratnanimman with perfect proportions, it blends art deco and Italo-Germanic, even almost Soviet, architecture. Now the world’s largest

art and design resource center, with over 7,000 books, it regularly hosts exhibitions, conferences and events. The terrace on the fifth floor offers a superb view of the city.  www.tcdc.or.th

A little to the north of the TCDC, between Charoen Krung soi 32 and 30, architect, entrepreneur, urban activist and founder of The Jam Factory, Duangrit Bunnag, has metamorphosed a derelict World War II munitions store into a new creative complex:Warehouse 30, which federates restaurant, café, vintage boutique and exhibition spaces, in particular the Aurum and 333 galleries.

Conceived and managed by Clifford Price aka Goldie, an internationally renowned British DJ, musician, actor and artist, Aurum is a contemporary and urban art gallery. For the past 3 years, it has been exhibiting a wide range of artists, including Goldie himself, as well as big names such as Vhils, creator of the fresco adorning the wall of the Portuguese Embassy, a stone’s throw away, which was the subject of an article in Latitudes #2, featuring the Lisbon artist on the cover.

 https://aurum.gallery

As for 333Gallery, it is the latest creation of Mr. Tira Vanichtheeranont, a passionate collector of ancient Vietnamese art who became a gallery owner before creating the 333Gallery Group, a center for the “development of contemporary art in emerging Asia”.

 https://333gallery.com

Just across the street is Galerie P. Tendercool, artisans renowned for their exquisite wooden tables and furniture. Belgian couple Peter Compernol and Stephanie Grusenmeyer were the first to open a gallery in the Creative District. “We opened the first gallery in 2006, where Speedy Grandma now stands. At the time, it was three abandoned shop houses that we converted before moving in 2011, soi 30,” explains Stephanie.

 https://ptendercool.com

In 2016, the Bukruk urban arts festival bequeathed the neighborhood with a series of painted walls that form a journey in themselves. From Dutch artist Daan Botlek’s monumental work at the foot of the Saphan Taksin BTS station to frescoes by Thai graffiti artists Alex Face, Lolay, BonusTMC and French artist Thibaud Tchertchian Soi 32, from Italian duo Sten & Lex’s monochrome Soi 30 to Charoen Krung Soi 28, where the walls have been taken over by Thai artist MueBon, Romanian Saddo and Korean Daehyun Kim.

 https://www.instagram.com/bukrukfestival

A stone’s throw away, River City has established itself since 1985 as one of Southeast Asia’s leading centers for antiques. On the second floor, a more recent addition is a space devoted entirely to contemporary art and photography.

 https://rivercitybangkok.com

After crossing the Phadung Kasem canal, Talad Noi invites visitors to discover a veritable open-air museum, where rusting mechanical parts pile up in front of old wooden houses, where carcasses have been waiting since time immemorial to disintegrate alongside traditional Hokkien houses. To access this little piece of history, and before getting lost in the countless alleyways, take Wanit 2 and San Chao Rong Kueak to discover Talad Noi Wall Art, get lost and you’re sure to find hidden gems like the former Sol Heng Tai mansion, the famous duck noodle house (Ped Toon Chao Tha) for your poultry delicacies, the unmissable Vegetarian Festival food fair held every October, and much more.

Not to be missed: Baan Rim Naam, a magnificent achievement by Florian Gypser and Goy Siwaporn, a duo famous for creating Nang Gin Kui, one of Bangkok’s finest private kitchens. Years after setting up their restaurant in their living room, they converted one of the last warehouses built on the banks of the Chao Phraya during the reign of Rama II in the early 1800s.

© Dudva Dudva

CC-BY-SA-3.0

Phoebus

© Baan Rim Naam

©

Baan Rim Naam

333Gallery

©

C. Laleta Ballini

The place is decorated with thousands of vintage objects, Gramophone, vinyl turntables (of which Florian is an avid collector), rickshaws, statues, hi-fi from the ’70s and ’80s and a Prévert-like inventory that lends an inimitable charm to the riverside dinners and sporadic events organized here, for the Talat Noi community or on the occasion of Bangkok Design Week.

 www.facebook.com/thehouseattheriver

Throughout what can be considered the non-touristy Chinatown, far from the hustle and bustle of Yaowarat, numerous frescoes are painted on the walls, some with a more childlike side, others to recall Chinese heritage or scenes from everyday life. To visit a traditional Hokkien house, sip an iced coffee at So Heng Tai. Over 200 years old, the building is one of the last of its kind in Bangkok. Constructed of teak, it comprises four buildings encircling a courtyard, where you’ll find a pool for diving lessons!

Leaving Chinatown, take Song Wat Street. In contrast to the smaller frescoes on Soi Wanit, two of the largest works of street art created during the Bukruk festival face the river here: the bicycles by Spanish artist Aryz and the elephants by Belgian artist Roa.

Finally, a visit to Soi Nana is a must. Over the past few years, this street has become one of Bangkok’s major hipster hangouts, thanks to trendy bars Teens Of Thailand and Tep Bar, as well as exhibition venues

such as 23 bar & gallery, with its two floors covered in artworks and merchandizing, and Pattani Studio, which specializes in photography.

Don’t miss the chance to get lost in the narrow streets, which can be a little creepy in the evening, but sit down for a coffee during the day and appreciate the delightfully old-fashioned charm that gives the area its character.

 www.facebook.com/23barandgallery

 www.instagram.com/patanistudio

To find out more about Street Art in Bangkok, check out Rupert Mann’s book in our books section!

© C. Laleta Ballini

© C. Laleta Ballini

©

C.

Laleta Ballini

Christophe Chommeloux

Launched in Thailand in 2013 and inspired by ‘La Nuit Blanche’ in Paris, Galleries’ Nights has become a highlight of the cultural season, attracting more and more exhibition venues for an ever-growing audience.

GALLERIES’ NIGHTS 10 YEARS!

Hopping for the best

During 2012, in search of a new event concept to embody French-style cultural soft power in the Siamese capital, Jérémy Opritesco, the Embassy’s Cooperation and Cultural Action Counsellor - COCAC for those familiar with rue de Brest - decided to take up the idea of the Parisian “Nuit Blanche”: galleries staying open late into the

night and welcoming an unusual public on the move, adapting it to the local style with a free tuk-tuk service to the multiple exhibition venues.

“We spent a few days together criss-crossing Bangkok from gallery to gallery, convincing them of the project,” recalls Arnaud Nazare Aga, a pillar of Bangkok’s cultural community

© Arnaud Nazare Aga

“It wasn’t so easy... But once everyone was finally together at the ambassador’s residence in mid-May 2013, things lightened up and Gallery’s Night really began to take shape.”

And so it was that on June 1, 2013, the Nuit des Galeries was born, later becoming plural by spreading out over two days, then spreading out into the provinces over the years and new teams who all brought particular care and a constantly renewed stylistic imprint to it. Since 2021, the event is for instance also held in Bangsaen.

A BEACON IN THE NIGHT

“We’re clearly following in the footsteps of our predecessors, and I can’t thank them enough for this fine legacy. I happen to be friends with many of them, and I’m keen to pass on their legacies,” explained Thierry Bayle, the current cultural attaché, in an interview with Latitudes in our 2021 special edition about Galleries’ Nights.

Galleries’ Nights quickly became a highlight of the cultural season at Big Mango, transforming the Thai capital into a vast playful, artistic and festive journey, in a word: Sanuk!

“I’d like visitors to take a close look at the gallery proposals,” continued Thierry Bayle, “because it’s good to lose oneself during these nights and discover artists who are perhaps less well known, but just as exciting, in the many galleries accompanying us.”

Indeed, some 80 galleries and exhibitions now take part in the great art rave every year, vying with each other with festive vernissages and visual and musical performances.

“What I enjoy so much about this event,” commented Fabian Forni, COCAC at the helm of the project in 2018, “is the incredible diversity of galleries styles we visit on this kind of journey, where exhibition venues with few resources manage to compete creatively with the most established and attract top-notch artists.”

The New Frontier 2021 © Dansoung fotodokkma

Chatchai Puipia © Numthong Gallery

Thamarong Wanarithikul,

8 AM ©kathmandu Photo Gallery

Surapong Sudasna

Na Ayadhya© Subbhashock Art Center

The embassy’s stated aim is indeed to create a new dynamic by supporting the local art scene and promoting contemporary art to a wider public, convinced that it has strong development potential in Bangkok.

“La Nuit des Galeries is a network,” Fabian Forni detailed in our columns, “a network that needs to be nurtured and enriched. France’s main contribution lies in cultural engineering: we support these galleries, which retain control over their own programming, by encouraging them to work together and engage in dialogue.We are currently working with Dr. Apinan to integrate the next edition into the Bangkok Art Biennale, of which he is artistic director.What he’s most interested in, in fact, is all the networking we’ve managed to build in Bangkok and the way audiences mix during the Nuits des Galeries.”

In 2023, to celebrate its 10 th anniversary in style, Galleries’ Nights is fully part of the Year of Franco-Thai Innovation program, through a partnership with the Thai company MuvMi, which will provide free electric tuktuks to serve the open access routes in 6 districts of Bangkok.

Galleries’ Nights will also remain true to its format, with an invitation-only opening at Jim Thompson Art Center on November 9, followed by the event itself, totally open to the public, in the districts of Silom, Sathorn and Riverside on the 10th, and Ari, Pathumwan and Sukhumvit on the 11th

An afterparty organized by Latitudes Media & Events at 12 × 12 will close the event with the opening of an exhibition by our cover artist, Stephff.

 www.sawasdeefrance.com

©Sawasdee France © Benzilla

© Chatsayarot Inkupchan

Chamnan Chongpaiboon © La Lanta Fine Art

© 95 Studio & Rebel Art Space

© C. Laleta Ballini © IsoPixel

© IsoPixel

© IsoPixel

© C. Laleta Ballini

Keeyapat Katesawai © Joyman Gallery © IsoPixel © Arts Gallery at Ban Chao Prhaya © IsoPixel Monster @ SAC Gallery © C. Laleta Ballini

Jules Viera

© 6060 Arts Space

©Sawasdee France

©

C. Laleta Ballini

Francisco Cammacho and Mammon

© Jim Thompson Art Center

Tommy Mojitoi

© BKK Screening Room

Inverso Mundus by AES+F

© BAB Box

Animal Instrinct

© Loveletters

Galerie Adler

© Art Space by MOCA Bangkok

© Nakrob Moonmanas

Vhils

© Aurum Gallery

©

C.Laleta Ballini Cameron Platter © Warin lab Contemporary

© C.Laleta Ballini

©bangkok Art and Culture Centre

©

C. Laleta Ballini

Kelley O’Brien, Lucy Walks © Bridge Art Space

© Radoslaw Maciejewski/IStock by Getty Images

Christophe Chommeloux

“It’s 2023 AD. All music is listened to on Spotify... All of it? No! A global village of die-hard music lovers still holds out against the invaders. Their magic potion? The vinyl record!”

RECORDS in THAILAND Stylus

& Style

Total revenues for the music industry amount to some $16 billion a year. Of course, almost 85% of this revenue is now generated by streaming, with subscriptions reaching a record level of over 500 million subscribers worldwide by 2022, or almost a billion listeners, of whom almost a quarter listen to music on Spotify.

But according to studies by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), over 41 million vinyl records were sold that same year, compared with just 33 million CDs. And there’s no end in sight. The Global Record Sales Market report 2021-2026 forecasts that the vinyl industry will be worth almost half a billion dollars by 2026, 3 times more than in 2019.

You might think that this craze would mainly affect nostalgic people with graying hair. Not so. A recent study shows that 15% of Generation Z (16/25 yearolds) claim to have bought a vinyl record in the last 12 months, even more than the 11% of Millennials who claim the same.

However, buyer expectations have evolved, sometimes in surprising ways. A 2016 ICM survey revealed that 48% of buyers never put their records on a turntable. The British Phonographic Industry Union even revealed in its 2020 edition of All About Music that one in five vinyl owners don’t even own a record player!

VINYL STRIKES BACK

Whatever the case, vinyl records now account for almost 3/4 of revenues from physical music formats, and therefore around 10% of the overall market. In 2020, for the first time since 1987, sales of vinyl records exceeded those of CDs in most industrialized countries, led by the United States. Quite a symbol for a vintage format

that was long thought to have been buried by the small iridescent wafers that are now disappearing...

In Bangkok, record shops are few and far between compared to cities such as London or Tokyo, but they are undoubtedly much more present than most of us might imagine at first glance. Indeed, there are many collectors, DJs and other passionate music lovers.

A niche, no doubt, but one that is thriving and carving out a privileged place in Big Mango’s arty circles. More Rice, a record shop specializing in electro, confesses to selling over 1,000 LPs a year to DJs eager for the freshest wax, and you only have to leaf through one of the three issues of the magnificent local magazine Vinyl Republic to see that many enthusiasts own sumptuous collections, which they proudly enjoy on particularly sophisticated hi-fi systems...

Maarten Goetheer, musical director of Lennon’s, the exceptional “vinyl bar” nestled in the heart of Rosewood Bangkok, and ambassador for the prestigious Void sound brand, is one of them.

© Suteishi / Istock by Getty Images

“Vinyl is very special and dear to me,” he says, “as my father collected the medium in the ’60s and was heavily into Jazz. So I grew up playing his old records by artists such as Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Mccoy Tyner... The Vinyl market in Thailand is SUPER alive. Its amazing! With the Molam and Luk Thung genres heavily represented on 7-inch and album formats, I think a lot of the Thais were brought up with vinyl similar to myself. So it must be a bit of nostalgia mixed with passion and maybe some hip element too. The Thais are very cultured and love Music so its not a surprise to me. There are fantastic shops in Bangkok and they have to be visited! Zudrangma for Thai rare grooves, More Rice Records for the newer genres or Have You Heard in Charoen Krung...”

RETRO MODERN

For Kawin Mutu, Head of product development at Gadhouse, a Bangkok-based music and lifestyle brand designing retro-modern audio equipment and accessories, wax records evoke irresistibly some “feelings of nostalgia, not only related to the music itself but also to

the precise location where I acquired or received the record. It serves as a tangible connection to the past and a unique way to experience and appreciate music.”

For him, listening to music on this vintage technology “initially may appear fashionable or trendy, especially from the viewpoint of newcomers. However, once they experience listening to records with a good quality sound system, they will quickly discover the superior analog sound quality.”

The debate between analog and digital music will never end. Even if today’s technology makes enjoying music effortless, many believe it will never replicate the concert-like experience of vinyl.

The vinyl market shows a resurgence in interest, as new, younger participants are getting involved. An overall growing analog music appreciation in Bangkok. From old-school record shops to swanky vinyl bars, here are places to help build a collection, upgrade your gear and join the vinyl brotherhood.

© Zudrangma

RE-PRESSING

These days demand for records pressing is so high than plants capacity can't keep up. Worldwide, there are only 100 pressing plants, altogether roughly able to manufacture about 160 million records a year, far from current demand estimated at around the double. Only 10 of them can produce large amounts of records, the majority of which are either owned by labels themselves, have specific links to industry leaders or cannot take on smaller orders.

For independent labels, the only option is to hunt down lesser-known plants, but with larger plants unable to cope with the massive influx of orders, even smaller outfits are having to take on orders from major labels, pushing others to the back of the queue...

In Thailand, last record pressing plants had all disappeared since the late ‘80s. But Kidnappers band member Traithep “U” Wongpaiboon and Phuket businessman Sarit “Puay” Narukatpichai have stoke the flames and revived the industry by building a record pressing plant called ResuRec.

Puay says domestic demand for vinyl is growing and feels their business can satisfy the needs of the local and southeast Asian market.

If you want to press your own wax in the land of Smile, that's the place to go!

 www.resurrec.com

Bungkumhouse Records

Specialized on psychedelic rock sounds, from Hendrix to Spiritualized, the shop’s selection ranges from ’90s Britpop and Alternative Rock to Soul, Funk, and Electronica. The tiny balcony occasionally hosts gig goers and up-and-coming indie rockers or Converse-clad music nerds...

Sukhumvit/Tong Lor

VINYL SHOPS

Hall of Fame Records

Accurately named, this shop located in the vast complex of Fortune Town stocks an incredible amount of both brand new and secondhand albums covering a wide range of styles, from classic Rock to Progressive Rock, Krautrock, and everything Rock, but also from Country to synthetic European Ambient...



https://www.instagram.com/ bungkumhouserecords

Garage Records

Mostly focused on ’80s and ’90s Rock, Jazz, and Soul records, but also contemporary indie acts, Garage Records center their efforts on restocking rare finds, with a particular penchant for ’80s and ’90s alternative rock as well as unusual gems of lesser know genres such as Japanese City Pop...

Lad Prao

 www.instagram.com/garagerecords

Mister Tanakorn Records

A stone’s throw from MRT Wat Mangkon, near Klang Hospital, lies a hidden gem for vinyl enthusiasts searching for Thai funk and rare grooves at reasonable price and good condition. As in most shops, they provide turntables for diggers to listen before purchasing. The staff is very helpful and the vibe is super friendly.

Chinatown

 www.instagram.com/ mtanakornrecords

Fortune Town

 www.facebook.com/hofrecords.Thai

Entertainment Project/ Have you heard

Both a record shop and a bar where DJs come to spin on a regular basis, Entertainment Project now also hosts the brand new studio facility of Bangkok Community Radio on its second floor. A perfect place to mingle with some of the most in demand record spinners and passionate Electro diggers in town.

Riverside  www.facebook.com/ Entertainmentprojectbkk

More Rice Records

This is the shop of choice for DJs looking for fresh and classic House, Techno, Breakbeat and everything underground dance music from around the world, with a focus on Asian artists. No wonder, as it is the den of DJs Sarayu, Dott and Elaheh. Thousands of records wait for you as well as a wide range of accessories and goodies.

Sukhumvit/Phrom Phong

 www.instagram.com/morerice. recordstore

Nong Taprachan

A landmark for Thammasat University students that’s been in business for more than 40 years, providing vinyls as well as CDs and cassettes. Western classics mingle here with rare mint-condition Thai records, from ’70s icons like Caravan to ’90s Thai alternative rare grooves and pop.

Université de Thammasat

 www.facebook.com/ nongtaprachan

Tang Siang Thai

Spanning over seven decades, Tang Siang Thai is one of the oldest record shops of the city, with treasures from all eras on the walls and in the shelves: classics from the ’60s and ’70s as well as Thai and Chinese relics. They also sell a wide range of second-hand turntables and even cassettes!

Riverside

 Charoenkrung Soi 11,  02-221-8732.

Sex Record Shop

Hidden on the second floor of Seenspace community mall, the trendy store offers an impressive range of new and used LPs from ’70s and ’80s heavyweights to ’90s alternative Rock. There’s also an exclusive corner dedicated to movie soundtracks, such as West Side Story, Saturday Night Fever or Trainspotting.

Sukhumvit/Tong Lor

 www.instagram.com/sexrecord_ shop

Vinyls & Toys

Every genre is represented in this always open shop located on Praditmanutham Road. Lots of Japanese imports, including a wide selection of singles, CDs, and LPs are available at reasonable prices and besides the records, they sell vintage toys, collectibles and professional DJ equipment including good old Technics 1200s decks.

Lad Prao

 www.instagram.com/vinylandtoys

Vinyllica

Owned by a Metallica fan, this is the place for Rock and Heavy Metal records. The shelves are full of new and used records, along with a small collection of reissues. This is also where one will find iconics new Swiss-made Thorens turntables to listen to their records in quality and style.

Asoke

 www.instagram.com/vinyllica_ record_fortunetown

Zudrangma Records

Den of iconic DJ Maft Sai, Zudrangma Records is considered as the epicenter of Thailand’s Molam resurgence. Besides reissues of the genre’s gems, it also offers World music discoveries, from Ethiopian Pop to Southeast Asian Funk, as well as special compilations from their own label with old-school Molam, Luk Thung or’70s Thai Funk... Sukhumvit

 www.instagram.com/ zudrangmarecords

© Vinyl Republic Magazine

VINYLS BARS

Studio Lam

A stone’s throw from Zugrangma records and named after one of his mastermind DJ Maft Sai’s radio podcasts, Studio Lam is a true musical den where vinyl records and live performances lead the game. This is a place where DJs proudly come with a particular selection of records from around the world that they rarely have the opportunity to play anywhere else.

Thong Lo

 www.instagram.com/ studiolambangkok

Lennon’s

As one can expect from a Rosewood Hotel, at the heart of which Lennon’s is located, everything here is impressive,

from the audiophile sound system to the entrance hall decked out with no less 6,000 records that you can browse, play, and even buy. Among the resident DJs stands Roberto Lazzaro, an impressive vinyl selector who has been playing records for over 60 years.

Phloen Chit

 www.instagram.com/lennons.bkk

Bar Marco

A new Thonglor bar designed by the Rabbit Hole team, Marco is set up around a two-story display shelf filled with a wide and exquisite collection of vinyl albums. DJs come to spin four nights a week and the atmosphere is quite relaxed, with a music selection focused on last cen-

tury California vibes. Expect to hear the Beach Boys!

Thonglor

 www.instagram.com/barmarcobkk/

Playroom

On top of fancy French restaurant Stage, former Robuchon chef Jay Sangsingkaew welcomes you to Playroom, a cozy speakeasy dedicated to upbeat and smooth Jazz, spun on vinyl records by selector DJs from Monday to Wednesday or played live by bands from Thursday to Saturday and bringing in together true Jazz fans, traveling Instagrammers, and loaded hipsters on luxury dates..

Ekkamai

 www.instagram.com/playroom.bkk

Biscuit Bar and Restaurant

Bar - dining - HiFi, here is the official program of Biscuit bar, nestled in hipsters’ den Soi Nana, in Chinatown. With a musical direction given by Ronny, a DJ with over 25 years of experience of the French house scene and a Soul & Funk lover, the ’90s atmosphere fits quite well with the Mediterranean cuisine of his partner Jorge.

Chinatown

 www.instagram.com/biscuitbkk

Freaking out the Neighborhood

Recently opened on Sukhumvit Soi

36 (Napasap 1), Freaking out the Neighborhood is an “alternative listening bar” with a homey feeling, led by Ki from Have You Heard? Records. Hence the corner selling records from the shop as well as music merch, close to the long wooden bar filling more than half the space and where you can take the time to just sip and listen.

Sukhumvit

 www.facebook.com/freakingout.bkk

Siwilai Sound Club

SSC has been designed as a mix between a New York City Jazz club and a Tokyo-style vinyl bar, with a Thai twist. Live bands play classic and contemporary Jazz at the “Live Room” while DJs like Nanziee and Toru spin vinyl at the “Audiophile Bar”. There you may ask to dig into the wide vinyl collection and even play them yourself while waiting for the DJ sets.

Riverside

 www.instagram.com/ siwilaisoundclub

Modern-Day Culture

Located in the middle of Soi Ekamai and self-defined as a “Micro-Listening Bar” with a Strictly Vinyl policy, Modern-Day Culture has been designed by Pan-Chawika Srisuan and Joy-Nattawut Nilkham, well-known record collectors, and DJ Nanziee, who has been collecting records for 20 years and has always only played music with vinyl records.

“ The term ‘Modern-Day Culture’ is a name we came up with by chance.” Pan began to explain to our colleagues at The Standard, “It stems from the perspective we have on vinyl records. Many people may have seen their parents play vinyl records and think of them as an old-school format, but nowadays there are many reasons why people choose to collect these records. We want to make people think that vinyl records are not something far away or difficult to access.

It has its own charm. And we want to push it to be a part of the current music listening culture!”

A large record shelf and a long counter with a record player are on the same level as the area for preparing drinks. The place is intimate, with a sense of community, where you can easily talk with the DJ or with the bartender. You can buy a few records, and on some days there will be guest DJs or other record collectors bringing their own collections to exchange songs to listen to as well.

On the drink side, Tuay took the word Modern-Day Culture and continued to interpret it through drinks, bringing in cocktails some herbal liquors that are actually usually considered as medicine. From music to drinks, they have it all for body & soul!

Ekkamai

 www.instagram.com/ moderndayculture

John Roots

Bangkok-based lifestyle brand Gadhouse has a unique vision: amping up the retro-modern vibes in combining fashion and audio in a stylish way, creating products at the same time very easy on the eye with their vintage look, perfectly up to date when it comes to functions or technical characteristics, and surprisingly affordable.

PLAYING RECORDS

Turn the tables

So is their promotion package which sounds perfect for a nowadays starter kit, pairing the Miles bookshelf speakers up with the Mathis Turntable. They come with matching classy matte-black exteriors and are easily set up with a standard cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth... On top, priced at 21,990 bahts they really are good value for money.

Inspired by music legends such as David Bowie and Miles Davis, elegantly designed, Miles speakers are compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around or bring with you on the move.The set-up is simple, with the speakers allowing for a range of inputs that are easily accessible by clicking through the function button for: Bluetooth, USB, RCA1, RCA2.

Computer, phone, CD player, it will warmly welcome any of your sound sources.

Miles speakers are pretty powerful, promoting a true-stereo system with 25 watts per channel amplification and multiple drivers that deliver full range 20Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, which create a warm and fulfilling sound. They also feature Bluetooth V5.2, allowing lossless audio streaming capabilities. Miles sounds just as good as it looks, delivering a rich, balanced and clear sound with deep bass and crisp highs.

The Matthis turntable is another good surprise. Perfect to begin in the vinyl world, it is fitted with an excellent Audio-Technica cartridge and behind its retro look

hides very up-to-date functionalities. On the rear is a rocker power switch and RCA sockets to connect to your HiFi, complete with a built-in phono amplifier, so you get the option to work with that or an external model. But it also offers a built-in USB port if you want to connect it to a computer and “rip” your vinyl to a digital file. Last but not least, it features a built-in

Bluetooth module so you can send your vinyl sound wirelessly to your Miles system...

 https://gadhouse.com

Great tutorials to enter the vinyl world and set-up your gear:

 https://gadhouse.com/th/tut

© Gadhouse

Latitudes EVENTS

Chom's

Emerging at light speed from his musical childhood to turn 22 in a Balinese DJ booth as a conclusion of his upcoming first ever Asian tour, Theos represents a new generation of Parisian House music at its best. No doubt his hybrid sets, where he improvises on keyboards on top of his DJ mix, will seduce true music lovers among party animals Thailand!

THEOS

Young at Art

From an early age, Theos was immersed in the world of music. At home, both his parents were musicians and his older brother a singer. With the full support of this swinging family, he started in 2019 a career of DJ, producer and musician, and moved to London to study sound engineering and devote himself fully to his art, inspired by a multitude of musical genres that have rocked him throughout his childhood to arrive to House music.

Theos used to listen to Michael Jackson a lot when he was 8/9 years old, and he grew up with this funky vibe, then matured with Jazz and Hip-Hop, untilthe point he was dragged into electronic music, House in particular...

“I discovered House music when I got to high school and simply started partying. I was first attracted to Techno and its more primitive aspect, then over time I turned to House and its subtlety. I also think that these aesthetics were familiar to me thanks to my musical upbringing filled with Jazz, Funk and HipHop, genres that have greatly influenced this music.”

Among his influences, he mentions British DJ Josh Butler, “pretty much the artist who convinced me to get into DJing

and production!” but refers, of course, to Kerri Chandler, the legendary New York DJ and musician who pioneered hybrid DJ + keyboard sets. Theos recently found himself on stage jamming with him: “I took my courage in both hands and went to talk to him backstage at a festival in Amsterdam. After a few minutes of chatting, he kindly asked me to come on stage with him for a track or two. It was with tears in my eyes that I went right afterwards...

It’s a dream come true for me, at just 21 years of age. It’s an event that will remain engraved in my memory, and it’s particularly motivating for me to keep on working.”

ATTACK, DELAY, SUSTAIN, RELEASES...

As studio work is concerned,Theos is considered by its peers as one of the French producers to keep an eye on. Sure!, at just 19 THEOS had already signed his first 7-track release, We Miss The Crowd, to the prestigious UK label Shall Not Fade, in June 2021.

This famous London label, founded by Kieran Williams in 2015, has already signed artists such as Felipe Gordon, Tour-Maubourg, Cinthie,Vitess or Black Loops, a guarantee of its influence on the international House scene that no longer needs to be proven. “Generally speaking, I’m pleasantly surprised by the place of music for the English, which I consider more sacralized than in France, for example,” Theos concedes.

Six months later, after a resounding success, it was Turn Up Marty EP’s turn with 4 new tracks. Hardly a surprise from a guy born with a home studio at hand... “Since I was very young, I’ve always played with music software. When I was 12, I was superimposing loops on my father’s computer on GarageBand,” Theos recalls. “I produced my first track at 15, an assembly of loops and pretty basic drums in MIDI. I never published it, of course (laughs)”

With a rhythm as high as his average BPM on stage, original compositions, collaborations and remixes have mushroomed on several other European labels such as Happiness Therapy (Fr), Airtime (NL) or Pont Neuf Records (Fr), often supported and playlisted by seasoned artists such as Techno pillar Kolter or House legend Kerri Chandler.

For Theos, one project then followed another, including an EP in collaboration with French trio Oden & Fatzo (who will be in Bangkok for the first time at Kolour for Halloween) an EP in collaboration with his brother and singer El Rod, NMW (with a remix by Oden & Fatzo) and even an album in the making by his duo with Noa Milee: Astels

ASTELS

Astels is an electronic Funk, Jazz and R&B duo. Drawing on their childhood influences from the vibrant music scene of the 80s and 90s, the two protagonists revitalize and reimagine those sounds while giving them a modern touch. Their debut single Drive To You was released on June 16, 2023, composed in collaboration with jazz pianist Renaud Palisseaux.

 https://linktr.ee/astels

BLUE NOTES IN THE MIX

Behind the booth,THEOS mixes turntables and machines to create rich, hybrid sets. “I mix my favorite compositions into a DJ set, and add my own live touch by improvising on the keyboard,” he explains. “It allows me to express my inspiration on the spot and makes my performances unique.”

Rex club, Badaboum, Djoon, Machine du Moulin rouge, Cabaret Sauvage, Sacré, Theos has already be booked in the most revered clubs at home in Paris, as well as festivals like Insula Festival or Braises Sonores, alongside House heroes like Franck Roger...

His growing notoriety quickly led him to play over Europe his Hybrid set and his improvisation lines have surprised and uplifted crowds at famous music venues like Village Underground in London and Lisbon, Mondo Disko in Madrid, Atlantic in Barcelona or Audio Club in Geneva, to name just a few.

So where does he go from here? As he has already achieved so much before even turning 22, we may wonder what Theos can now dream about... “I’d love to play in Ibiza”, he modestly elaborates, “at the Defected Festivals or at UK festivals like Parklife

or Hide&Seek... But for now I am super excited about this first Asian tour, it’s a real honor for me to be doing what I do best on another continent. It’s like opening a whole new chapter and I feel a bit like a child, with this image in my head of a palm tree on a paradise island.”

That’s gonna happen on October 18 in Koh Tao, where Theos will play at famous Secret Party alongside Le Godfather.

ASIA IS CALLING

Now is indeed time for him to conquer other continents with his musical and dynamic House music, starting with a tour in Asia produced by Latitudes Media & Events, who managed 2022 Back 2 The Groove festival #3, with the support of Sawasdee France, cultural entity of the French Embassy in Thailand.

Theos will make his first-ever Asian appearance on October 14 at Paradise Lost rooftop, in Bangkok, supported by 2 of the most respected artists on the Big Mango scene: Koish, who will handle the mood around sunset with a 5h mix (!) and

 https://linktr.ee/theos.music

Thai DJ Skinny Mark, a pillar of Tao’s electronic scene, who will open the ball for him.

CHEVRY AGENCY WE ARE FAMILY

Considered by many as the new benchmark in the House & Minimal genre, Chevry Agency is an artist home, production, booking and management agency based in Paris that has proven its exponential growth over the years. Through a roster of top-quality artists that Theos has joined in April 2021 (Vitess, Baccus, Deborah Aime La Bagarre, DJ Steaw, Occibel, Herr Krank, Emma B...), Chevry produces and represents a rich and varied artistic catalog, from Minimal to Breakbeat and from House to Techno. Heterogeneity is their watchword.

To confirm this extension, Arnaud Clerel and his team have delivered a superb program in 2023 and in addition to the Parisian dates that have made Chevry’s reputation, they have also expanded across France and Europe. For those in the Paris region, you can find the team throughout the year at Kilomètre25, Rex Club, Trabendo and La Belleviloise and with appearances at festivals such as Elektric Park and Madame Loyal.

The agency accompanies its artists (strategy, communication, co-production) during their development in France and Europe and ensures the production of their tours worldwide. During the Covid crisis, the agency reinvented itself to create an exceptional and unique online meeting with its supporters: “The Chevry Show” by proposing music

production coaching sessions, talk shows on various themes related to electronic music, blind tests and Live Music show from Chevry Agency artists. Now looking to the future, the agency will keep on enabling the development of its artists and make the crowds dance across the globe.  chevry-agency.com

In the course of ten years, thanks to their energy, talent and sincerity, the Franco-Transalpine duo has gone from the anonymity of underground raves to the spotlight of major festivals and prestigious clubs, even garnering the honor of an all-night gig at Paris’ most revered Rex Club in 2022. After a noteworthy appearance at Wonderfruit in 2019, the Festive Truck’s route brings them back, at last, to the land of Siam.

CAMION BAZAR A Truck on Track

In May 2023, just as the duo were about to take part in the famous Nuit Sonores, whose 20th anniversary they were celebrating with Alteration, an ambitious live audio/ video show, Camion Bazar found themselves featured in Libération by Brice Miclet, a recognized specialist in radical music who also works for no less than Trax,Tsugi and Les Inrockuptibles.

The article begins as follows:

« In 2015, a pair of hardcore partygoers took over the French capital’s techno nights. A revival of electronic music and its audience was taking place in a mix of frenzy and cold seriousness, cut from the dark, frankly plan-plan. “It wasn’t so much the music that was problematic as the state of mind,” recalls Benedetta.

“Paris was pretty uptight, we weren’t having too much fun. The night was cold.” In the face of boredom, they created Camion Bazar (Bazaar Truck). A kind of lighthouse in the middle of the darkness, an oasis, a real truck, completely crazy, planted outside the hangars, out of reach of the boom-boom. Romain Play started mixing there alone, before being joined by his partner. “I played every genre, every aesthetic,” he adds. “Some clubs didn’t want me because I was too crazy.” For partygoers, seeing this mix of red, pink and yellow, this noisy fry shack, was like breathing. It was not uncommon to see them dancing on the roof of the vehicle. “It was, above all, a place for the expression of more cheerful music, from house to French Top 40, from Caribbean to Funk. It was great.”»

At Nuits sonores, with its demanding program, Camion Bazar has been able to do it all. Since 2016, Romain and Benedetta have performed there, first in their famous truck for the Days, then in the heart of the Fagor-Brandt factories for the Night, in the middle of Lyon for the Extra! format, and again at a now-legendary Boiler Room, which has contributed greatly to the combo’s growing success. With a hybrid set, mixing digital turntables and vinyl, the electronic percussion Romain carries around with him and the intervention of an unbridled

saxophonist, they showed the extent of their talent and their repertoire, moving unabashedly from Funk to Techno and even daring to drop an unexpected Pink Floyd’s Sheep, well felt and blending cheekily into Drum & Bass. Back on the Lyon program in 2023, on the main stage of La Sucrière, Camion Bazar have come a long way, from their first raves to the prestigious Monnaie de Paris, where they presented a 360° version of their show in June, in collaboration with Fip and Dure Vie.

“In fact, Camion Bazar is a real disco ball,” says Benedetta, “It’s a project that was born by chance 10 years ago, from a love affair between us, Romain and Benedetta, then from a love of partying and music, and which has evolved with the same guiding principle: the desire to spread the good values of the night and to share our passion with generosity. Originally, we bought a truck to tour festivals and have our own stage, then it became a kind of traveling mess with an ever-growing community.

Then we put the truck aside for a while and decided to concentrate on our duo: we produced EPs, set up a label, toured more clubs offering our DJ sets, then our live project was born... It’s quite a story! We get bored pretty quickly, and like it when things change. We need to feel evolution in the way we approach music, even if we retain the same values of respect, sharing, fun, openness to others and benevolence.”

FRUITS OF THE BOOM

In 2019, Camion Bazar attracted particular attention in Thailand at the Wonderfruit festival, with two highlights that left a lasting impression on the event’s international audience: as a duo on the Omelette stage and, above all, at the now-mythical finale on the iconic Solar Stage with their accomplices from La Mamie’s.

Camion Bazar returns to Thailand for the first time after the Covid hiatus, with a one-off DJ set on Friday October 27 at Never Normal, Bangkok. That same weekend, the two travellers will play the Retreat festival in Hanoi on Saturday, then join their La Mamie’s pals at the Shi Fu Miz festival in Hong Kong on Sunday! A short but intense tour, which will also take in Bali and Ho Chi Minh City, where the Café des Stagiaires Saïgon will welcome them on October 20.

Amid the luggage, cables and crates of records, and under the watchful eye of their cute dogs, Latitudes asked them a few questions about this new adventure.

© Fotocom Agency

© Fotocom Agency ©

Fotocom Agency

© Fotocom Agency

CAMION BAZAR

You recently worked on a 360° sound format. Did you propose it to Wonderfruit for the Polygon stage? Was it a one-shot deal or something you wanted to explore?

Ah no, we didn’t propose it to Wonderfruit, it’s a great idea, you should be a manager! So yes, Wonderfruit, if you’re reading this, could be quite an experience. Generally speaking, coming back to Wonderfruit as a dj set or with the live show would be great. And we’re interested in the 360° format, yes, we’re interested in any kind of sonic and sensory experience.

What does Thailand mean to you?

A bit like for many of us Europeans,Thailand is synonymous with vacations, excellent cuisine and lovely people.We know it from Wonderfruit, but also from previous trips to the islands. But our favorite is Bangkok, with its history, its monuments, its markets, its grandeur, its hustle and bustle, its lights and its corridors where you get lost. We can’t wait to go back.

After a few months on the road with your live show, how does it feel to be back in DJ format?

Actually, we never stopped djing with the Alteration tour.We alternate between live performances and dj sets. In general, we do one or the other every other weekend, so we’re ready for any situation, armed to the teeth with sound, on fire and full of energy, with the desire to get people dancing and share our soul!

We met in the enthusiastic madness of Wonderfruit 2019, what memories do you keep of those moments?

It’s been an incredible experience. Being in Asia, in 30-degree heat in the middle of December, is a real change of scenery and makes you happy. Add to that the great welcome, the reunion with La Mamie’s in Pattaya and the arrival at the festival, where you go from the city to the desert, and it’s a real slap in the face to discover so many stages, each with its own unique, meticulously crafted scenography. I particularly liked the Thai pop scene, where the atmosphere was one of fun and good humor, and the Thai rock scene, where bands played on a bus.There were also conscious talks, great international and local artists (a little thought for Craig Richards’ Quarry scene, our spirit stayed there) and then everywhere a crazy, costumed world, like in a movie. Special mention must also go to the Rainbow disco club takeover on the Forbidden Fruit stage (from memory), which set the mood. Add to that the fact that we mixed there twice, and we were ecstatic. We had done a great performance at Omelette, which Resident Advisor had mentioned, and then there was the festival closing: a 5-hour set with La Mamie’s to accompany the sunrise, with the sun’s rays bringing out of the shade a huge pyramid-shaped structure in front of the booth, where people climbed, hung on and danced. It was a unique Monday morning after-party, the whole festival was there, it’s unforgettable. Thanks again to Wonderfruit!

You always have the Bazar, but don’t you miss the Camion (truck, in French)?

Ahah, our little baby. No, it’s okay, it’s still there, but in other forms.Well, we say that, but he’s going to be 10 in 2024, so we’re going to throw him a big party that’s going to last for months...

What do the dogs do when you’re away?

They listen to the radio, France Culture to be exact (it’s true, it keeps them company 24 hours a day), and I imagine they watch our stories too. And they stay with a lovely couple who take good care of them, along with other dogs. It’s a bit of a party for them too. But we miss them every day. Between the carbon footprint and the dogs, we avoid going too often far away. We do make a few well-chosen exceptions, but we give it a lot of thought beforehand and decide whether it’s really necessary and important.

In Bangkok on 27/10, you’ll be playing Never Normal. Have you heard of the club? Does the club’s name inspire you?

We’re proud and honored to be playing there, it sounds incredible, super beautiful and it’s the kind of club we appreciate, because it gets things moving and raises people’s awareness, with sound workshop initiatives, talks and so on. It’s beyond clubbing, and that’s very important.

 https://linktr.ee/camionbazar

© Raphael Lugassy

Alexander Batman

The sexyest jungle party on Koh Tao since 2015...

BEST KEPT SECRET

House & Techno

Nestled at the heart of the jungle, on a lush cliff overlooking the ocean, Karma bar is a gem well hidden in Koh Tao and that’s where Secret Party has chosen to settle down and make happen the most beautifully curated parties on the island.

After 8 years of operation, Secret Party is now well established in “Turtle Island”, where this now international brand, ever-expanding its magic to diverse locations such as Koh Phangan, Bangkok, Madrid and even Tulum in Mexico, has its permanent headquarters.

Every one or two weeks, hundreds of ravers gather in the middle of the jungle to celebrate music, dance and nature

under the stars with DJs from all over the world spinning the best of House to Techno. Local well-know talents such as Skinny Mark, Mendy Indigo, Feed the Lizard, Mizuyo or resident Javi Bala rub shoulders in the booth with international names like Bastian Bux, Nakadia, Juany Bravo, D-unity, Javier Gonzalez or Theos.

Thanks to the hard work of its passionate Spanish founder Pablo Isla, Secret Party has really become a one-of-its-kind event in the Gulf of Thailand and with no doubt the most genuine electronic party in Tao.

 www.instagram.com/secretpartykohtao

Alexander Batman

For its many loyal followers, Fly to the Moon is the best possible spaceship to ensure the transition from one year to the next, the most family-friendly of festivals, the most wonderful of parties, the gathering not to be missed, under the Milky Way...

FLY TO THE MOON 10 years after...

Fly to the Moon story is one of friendship and dreams.10 years ago, Akarapon aka DJ Superstar Panda was invited by his friend P’Pak, the owner of Little Moon resort, where the main stage of the festival is set every year since then, to come celebrate New Year’s Eve on Koh Mak with him and a few mates.There, under the stars, with the music of a small sound system in the background, they decided to create a magical gathering. And that’s how it all started...

As time embraced its essence, this humble gathering blossomed into a splendid boutique-style festival, captivating the hearts of wanderers from all corners of the world.

Nestled in the tranquil island, Fly to the Moon thrives on the intimacy that binds its guests, party animals and artists alike, in a tapestry of friendship and camaraderie. Here, the festival transcends into a harmonious community, where strangers become friends, and friends become family, weaving memories together as they embark on adventurous island explorations, diving escapades, blissful moments basking under Koh Mak’s golden sun or dancing under the stars to celebrate music and life.

“The most special thing about FTTM is the diversity of people that come from all parts of the world to celebrate together on this tiny island,” Sebastian Koish elaborated for Latitudes, “during

those days, you find new friends, maybe new business partners or even your future partner! A friend of mine indeed got to know his future wife at FTTM. They moved back to France and now they are coming back to the festival with their friends most of the time...”

In 2020, the organizer Kandoo had to cancel the festival for the first time, just one week before the event because, of course, of the Covid situation. “Everyone who booked came anyway and we just had an absolutely heartwarming vibe at Sabai bar,” recalls Koish, “Panda refers to it as happy hours...” This also is the Fly to the Moon spirit.

As usual, the game is to guess who is going to play among a few international surprises and your own favorite usual suspect. Is Naka coming this year? Having enjoyed his epic final last year on the spot, we bet he will! Who from More Rice is gonna play? Panda wants the public to come for the festival itself, not just for some names, but, of course, we insited to know a bit. Acid Sisters have already announced their participation and they will be joined in the line-up by Jordanian DJ Etchar, who rocked the boat last year, Moroccan producer Kosh, known for his captivating live electronic performances with a signature blend of breakbeats and, among surprises, Mongolian underground techno DJ Biliguudei.

 www.flytothemoonfestival.com

Christophe Chommeloux

Warm, positive, authentic, colorful, cheerful and sophisticated, this new art space in the Suan Phlu District is a reflection of its creator and his works: joyfully original. L’Envol Art Space is in fact threefold, with its showroom dedicated to Arnaud Nazare Aga’s sculptures, its Petit Prince café and its musical bar, Vol de Nuit.

L’ENVOL ART SPACE

A prince takes off

Exhilarating and vibrant, Arnaud Nazare Aga’s sculptures reflect his positive philosophy of life and artistic approach. Some of his pieces are permanently installed in Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong and as far afield as Italy, where one of his totems, 4,50 m high, was exhibited at the Venice Biennale. His inspiration comes essentially from the desire to create forms that arouse surprise, amusement, attraction and, above all, joy, through sight and touch. Round shapes, bright colors, with an intense varnish that diffuses light in such a way as to create a “vibration” on the surface, nuancing the hues according to the observer’s position.

But his latest work is no sculpture. The artist has designed an artistic space in the heart of his Suan Phlu stronghold, in the Sathorn District. L’Envol is both a showcase for Arnaud’s work and an ideal place to meet

and exchange ideas. Arnaud’s attention to detail has gone so far as to design the curves of the bar in such a way as to naturally facilitate contact between people - and it works! But let’s take a step back, because l’Envol is the fruit of a long maturation...

WORKSHOP

Some 35 minutes by urban highway from l’Envol, the Nawa Min District reveals a well-kept secret, unknown to the vast majority of expatriates. Here, near film studios and not far from the excellent Humming Birds Kitchen and Garden restaurant and nursery, Arnaud set up his studio in 2011.

With its 1,000 m2 on four floors, it is one of the largest in Southeast Asia in its field: the creation of resin and fiberglass sculptures finished with acrylic paint.

Arnaud began his activity here by producing pieces for others, but as the business proved insufficiently profitable, he soon decided to occupy his workers with his own creations, which now make up the bulk of his business, even if he still sometimes works in collaboration with a few customers.

A good twenty people work at PAJ’Art Studio, half of them Thai and half Burmese. Previously, most of them had no profession.They were mainly street people who came to the studio, which was wide open to the outside world.Today, they have become experts, thanks to years of training and experience.

Now everyday they can admire the pieces on display in the showroom next door, and feel a legitimate pride in working on these creations, which are among the finest in the world in this technique.

Then came the Covid crisis, and Arnaud found himself faced with the same headache as most entrepreneurs: how to keep his workshop afloat and continue to pay

his employees, with business virtually at a standstill, travel impossible and no events to prepare?

With a beautiful optimism and an unshakeable composure inherited from his long youthful training in Tibetan Buddhism, Arnaud saw in these trials the opportunity to finally invest in the project he had been maturing for some time: an artistic space to exhibit his work.

THE PRINCE OF SUAN PHLU

In 2013, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry for youth Fondation entrusted this descendant of an ambassador of the Shah of Persia, whose grandfather flew with “Saint-Ex” on Breguet 14, with the creation and realization of sculptures for the blind inspired by The Little Prince.The result was 32 sculptures, half of which were exhibited under black lights for a unique visual and tactile experience, leading to exhibitions in museums and in front of hundreds of thousands of people in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Since then, Arnaud has built up a collection of works inspired by the adventures of the Little Prince, which have become familiar to Bangkokians who have been able to admire variations of them on numerous occasions, for example at the Alliance française or more recently at the ceremony to launch the Year of Innovation organized by the French Embassy. Over the last ten years or so, they have traveled to the four corners of the world to take part in numerous successful exhibitions.

A Little Prince museum on the South Korean island of JeJu now even devotes 1,000 square meters of permanent exhibition space to its finest pieces.

Named in reference to one of the most impressive and emblematic of them all, the highly symbolic sculpture of the Little Prince taking flight that beats at the heart of the building, L’Envol Art Space was, of course, conceived as a showcase for Arnaud’s artistic vision, but the place is also a tribute to his philosophy of life, offering a space for serene reflection, positive exchange and meaningful living.

A former Thai townhouse has been joined by a shophouse opening on Suan Phlu, and the space extends over 350 square meters and two levels, offering numerous nooks and crannies in a whole evoking a kind of artist’s home. The part facing the street, on the ground and first floors, is the showroom, where sculptures of bears, sumo wrestlers and luscious dancers shine brightly. Upstairs, the exhibition leads to a small terrace serving the Petit Prince café.

Then you can descend to the Vol de nuit, the partly outdoor bar housing an impressive colony of “Koi” carp.

Le Petit Prince Café, a tribute to Antoine de SaintExupéry’s timeless tale, celebrates the magic of the “Little Prince” with a natural focus on sculptures. But this coffee shop is also the place to find books and other gadgets dedicated to the character. It’s the place to come in the morning for a fresh croissant dipped in a cappuccino decorated with a Little Prince in chocolate powder, or for an espresso accompanied by a homemade tiramisu on which is drawn ... a sheep!

ARTS ET COCKTAILS

When night falls, Vol de Nuit is the place to be for a drink. Hidden at the back of L’Envol, but accessible directly from the side of the mini soi, this oasis-like bar, where nature reclaims its right to luxuriance around the Koi pond, also bears witness, albeit more discreetly, to Arnaud Nazare-Aga’s artistic vision.

Bathed in warm light and contrasting antique woods with varnished surfaces, it exudes elegance and sophistication, a natural refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, where creativity flourishes, conviviality is established and art and mixology mingle effortlessly.

Finally, an indoor space completes the outdoor area in case of rain, heavy crowds or a desire to dance, with a DJ booth and a sophisticated sound system to make the most of the musical evenings regularly organized.This is where the famous Envol sculpture takes pride of place, with which visitors love to Instagram themselves, in a niche of its own where poetry, art and dreams intermingle.

 www.instagram.com/lenvol_artspace

Christophe Chommeloux

Turtle Island is becoming more and more a hedonistic hiding place where nature is harmonized with a real quality of life. Well known for its beautiful seabed that has made it a Mecca of diving, it is an ideal choice to embark on the Big Blue or even to celebrate the most beautiful of dives, that of the honeymoon…

JAMAHKIRI

Live, Love and Dive

Once arrived docked, that is to say to Mae Haad, main village and nerve center of the island activities, one immediately takes the measure of Tao: two streets climb to a main road, which serves the rest of the island. Isolated and nonchalant, Koh Tao is on a human scale and there one knows how to take his time, like at the speed of rigor, 30 km per hour.

After an impressive course in the heart of the hills, with panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand, including this momentous vertiginous descent on Shark Bay, we discover Jamahkiri, a luxurious hotel harmoniously integrated within the impressive cliffs of Koh Tao, in the Thian Og Bay, south of the island. It has not been conceived as another boutique hotel, but as a true refuge to get away from Bangkok, its frenzy and pollution.

A sanctuary spirit and endless respect for nature which reflects in the participation of Jamahkiri Resort & Spa in the Green Leaf Foundation and in many environmental projects.

Once installed, we gradually discover that there is very little reason to leave the resort: in the heart of a lush tropical garden that houses many sculptures of divine animals, the Jamahkiri offers spacious suites with breathtaking views on the turquoise sea.

With its spa, swimming pool, bars and restaurants, marina and dive center which now has its own pool, it invites travelers to retreat from the outside world for a well (or not) deserved rest.

At Jamahkiri Resort and Spa, guests can choose to stay in the deluxe rooms of the beachfront hotel, surrounded by bougainvilleas down to the turquoise water that reaches out to you.

One can also opt for individual pavilions, furnished and decorated with comfort and elegance or event for the magnificent pool villas.

The resort offers multiple endless views of the sea, all in a comfort where architecture combines space, natural colors and Thai design to create a real harmony with nature. A perfect setting for a diving holiday, but also ideal for a honeymoon...

Jamahkiri offers honeymooners attractive 3 to 7-day packages, including accommodation and numerous benefits, such as transfers to and from the port, free snorkeling equipment rental, in-room breakfasts, late checkout and even a private and romantic boat tour of the island...

 www.jamahkiri.com

A Deeper Love

OuIn addition to the simple happiness of the views and the many impromptu baths, the waters of Koh Tao really reveal their exceptional beauty only under a mask, fins on feet. In Tao, you have to immerse yourself. From simple snorkeling to apnea and all dive levels, the options are endless. In this case, the purpose of the trip is to become a certified diver and to obtain the Open Water Diver, a level of certification that allows you to dive anywhere in the world down to 18 meters deep.

The Jamahkiri Diving Club stands out in the myriad of diving centers on Turtle Island, both for its size and its location within the resort, which allows you to live these three intense days in total immersion.

The team welcomes us warmly and in French, which is obviously an asset for those who do not master the language of Spielberg perfectly. But, of course, everyone at the club speaks perfect English.

The first day is devoted to the essential theoretical training and exercises in the swimming pool which allow to learn or to revise the control of the material and to rehearse the safety instructions, before going to the pool-bar to sip, when night falls on the waters of the Gulf of Thailand with which we finally have a date the next day to get down to serious business and discover the exceptional seabed of Tao.

Waken up at sunrise. From the terrace of the spacious Deluxe Room overlooking the turquoise waters, you can see Koh Pha Ngan in the distance. Below, the anchored boat awaits us, dancing gently to the lazy rhythm of choppy water.

As in a dream, favored by the indolent navigation that led us to Tanote Bay, as well as the professionalism and empathy of our instructor, we find ourselves 12 meters deep to bubble with Nemo and some clown fishes.

The program is divided into 4 dives. If the first 3 have their dose of stress and require concentration to complete exercises as friendly as withdrawing and put back one’s mask 12 meters deep. But with the final dive at Shark Bay, close to 20 meters in the company of the barracudas to marvel with them the astonishing beauty of the fabulous blue coral, we realize that we are now part of the brotherhood of divers.

So, certificates and Divers Log in hand we regretfully leave for Big Mango, with only one thing in mind: to return as soon as possible and pass the Advanced level to dive down to 30 meters.

Jamahkiri offers attractive Open and Advanced diving packages, which include accommodation and diving lessons, as well as transfers to and from the port, free equipment rental and gifts such as cocktails and club T-shirts.

 www.jamahkiridiving.com

Tiphaine Mallégol

While the steady increase in the number of foreign tourists has played a driving role in the country’s economic growth and now accounts for 10 to 15% of its GDP, the mass tourism model is questioned because of the significant damage it causes. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is developing initiatives to promote the local economy and the discovery of the Land of Smile in the respect of people and the environment, offering to travel differently and in a more responsible way.

EVERGREEN THAILAND

According to a joint study by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the global tourism industry is responsible for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 40% are attributable to air transport, 32% to land transport, 3% to other transports, 21% to accommodation and 4% to various tourist activities.

Thus, mass tourism increases fuel consumption by generating new trips but it causes other types of damage to the environment: for example, the construction of not ecofriendly tourist infrastructure, the large amount of waste generated, the over-consumption of water and electricity, the wastewater sent by hotels to the sea destroying the marine plants essential for feeding fish and building coral, all of which are also directly affected by diving and water sports activities.

Photos : Tourism Authority of Thailand

However, the development of global tourism can prove to be an incentive to the protection of the environment, tourist regions have an interest in preserving their natural assets, even developing them. Then, Thai or foreigners, what are the alternatives to travel better in the Kingdom?

BREATHE, YOU ARE TRAVELING...

Appreciating travel while taking care of the environment leads to concrete practices, which the TAT has enshrined in a Declaration of Environmental Protection for Sustainable Tourism with 2 expected results: creating a model of sustainable tourism and reducing the effects of tourism on climate change.

The idea is to highlight another face of Thailand, authentic and preserved, a goldmine for nature lovers. Of course, it’s possible to travel responsibly in common destinations like Phuket with a “community-based tourism”

and the discovery of traditions and the meeting of local communities. Nature reserves, however, remain a smart alternative, rarely visited, offering beautiful landscapes: traveling in Thailand means enjoying a spectacular and wild nature, sometimes uncontrollable as in the primary forests of the center and the coast.

For example, Khao Yai National Park or Phang Nga Bay with its beautiful waterfalls and authentic villages. Only 25 provinces out of 76 are touristic today, so let’s discover new horizons...

Ethics in choosing your activities and the professionals who will accompany you are essential, especially in the context of exchanges with local communities and the discovery of fauna and flora.

Choose tours or places that meet several qualitative criteria to ensure that the region is preserved in a sustainable way: providing biodegradable packaging, choosing hotels that are sensitive to environmental issues, walking, cycling or taking the train rather than other transport.

Bueng Kan

RESPONSIBLE DESTINATIONS LATITUDES' TOP 5

1Khao Sok National Park is one of the best-protected natural habitats. For example, try a trip to Our Jungle Camp and contribute to their efforts to educate children about protecting the environment in local schools. The treehouses, bungalows and huts of the camp are constructed from bamboo and renewable materials.They set the example by reducing their energy consumption, giving up air conditioning and television, reducing plastic waste with purified water available and owning their own organic farm.

The Doi Inthanon National Park, located about 115km from Chiang Mai, is because of its altitude (2565m) a home for a wide variety of plants, birds, myriads of butterflies, black bears as well as different species of monkeys. The two royal pagodas known as Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphonphumisiri, with their magnificent gardens and panoramic views, are a must, as is the cave of Tham Borichinda with its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

3

In the Kanchanaburi area, local farmers offer travelers an interesting concept with rice harvesting, sugarcane and banana cultivation and weaving workshops

4

Think of small, eco-friendly islands such as Koh Talu or Koh Mak. The latter, where the Fly to the Moon festival is held every year and where virtuous initiatives such as beach clean-ups with the Trash Hero association are multiplying, boasts natural resources that are still intact and defends a local way of life that is still very traditional and close to nature. For several years now, it has been making steady and admirable progress towards becoming Thailand’s first “low-carbon destination”.

 www.kohmaklowcarbon.com

5

Durable can be compatible with luxury? On the small island of Koh Yao Noi, between Krabi and Phuket, in a stunning environment, Six Senses offers 55 villas nestled in the vegetation.The focus is on optimizing energy consumption, water and waste treatment, social commitment, nature protection and air quality control. An organic garden is used for meals and the place offers holistic wellness treatments using traditional and natural methods.

“HOW TO BE 7 GREEN”

TAT has developed 7 Green concepts to give an idea of what makes responsible tourism experiences in Thailand including Green Heart, Green Logistics, Green Attractions, Green Activity, Green Community, Green Service, and Green Plus. “Green à la carte” is a responsible tourism guide. The traveler can choose his course as he would enjoy a meal with a different

green destination for an aperitif, main course or dessert. A wide range of “green” ways of traveling are presented: green roads from Sukhothai to circuits in Khmer reserves and to the Kingdom of Lana; green services or green activities, for example 3 workshops that allow to discover the traditional life of northern and southern Thailand in the heart of its villages ( Pa-Ngiam Homestay, Baan Doi Din Daeng Pottery, Varni Southern Wickery).

The curious will also be interested in the efforts made by the authorities to protect the oceans with a waste collection project called “Upclycling the Ocean Project” . In Ko Samet, in just 5 hours, a group of 100 volunteers managed to recover 700 kilograms of waste! Responsible diving courses are also on the program to learn how to avoid damaging the seabed. Other initiatives like the “Trash Hero” initiatives in Koh Chang or Koh Tao are famous. TAT Governor Mr.Yuthasak Supasorn says public authorities are “well aware that several tourist destinations in Thailand are deteriorating due to environmental problems such as rubbish and

Sukhotai, Wat Phra Phai Luang

Sukhota

wastewater pollution due to inefficient management” and they wish to “create a stakeholder collaboration network to give back to society while encouraging environmental sustainability.”

On the website, we find a ranking of the greenest cities in the world and are surprised to see Bangkok become part of it thanks to its “green lung” Bang Kra Chao. We advise to rent a bike to travel around the peninsula and sleep in a hut perched on the edge of the Chao Phraya in Bangkok Tree House which has a “Green Alphabet”: “Air quality control” to “Zero waste goal” through “Energy efficient Lighting” and “Trash free river”, a celebration of nature in the heart of the capital.

Thailand would produce more than 25 million tons of waste per year.To address this problem, the government has published a teaching booklet entitled “Zero Waste Mission” with useful suggestions on how to reduce, reuse, recycle waste.We also learn on the website that the country is developing its fleet of electric taxis: 150 Baht for the first two kilometers and then

16 Baht per kilometer. This fleet of taxis is expected to expand to 1,000 vehicles in 2024.

TAT also seeks to awaken in an original and artistic way the environmental, cultural and social consciousness of the inhabitants and the visitors by placing the responsible tourism at the heart of a brilliant documentary series of voyages: “The Seasons”

Bang Kra Chao

Sukhotai, Ban Na Ton Chan-Rice Field

IN THE SANDSTONE OF THE THREE SEASONS… “WINTER IS NOT COMING.”

These eleven 3-minute episodes were conceived and published just before the health crisis, following the first “Insight Thainess” series. They are nonetheless still perfectly relevant.

Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Communications, believes that the series “continues to promote Thai values (...) while emphasizing the importance of sustainable and responsible tourism, with each episode telling inspiring stories of the Kingdom through three magical moments of the year.”

This sublime series is made up of images of landscapes each more beautiful than the next. Without commentary and simply accompanied by delicate music, it invites to responsible travel by revealing the unique way of life of the Thai people.

At the same time, they display the natural treasures of different regions, often unknown to visitors.The films are divided according to each of the three Siamese seasons: the rainy season, which lasts approximately from March to October, the cool season, from November to February, and the Thai summer, from March to May.

They feature different destinations all around the country: Hala Bala (in Yala and Narathiwat), Hin-SamWan (in Bueng Kan), Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng (in Lampang), Doi Pha Mi (in Chiang Rai), Libong in Trang) the 1000 pagodas of Ko Khao Yai (in Satun), Thale Noi (in Phatthalung), Sam Phan Bok (in Ubon Ratchathani) and Ko Pha Luai (in Surat Thani).

 7greens.tourismthailand.org

 tatnews.org/tag/the-seasons

A magazine that insists on rowing against the digital tide and printing its prose should not cease to offer its readers some good works on paper. Latitudes has selected a few books with a strong ink fragrance.

READINGS Mighty

Impressions

Made By Thai

Enrico Navarra

A reference tool for the diversity, dynamism and uniqueness of the Thai art scene, it lists artists, collectors, galleries, museums and art centers in Thailand. This 400-page encyclopedia is a musthave for art world personalities such as Eric Booth, founder of the Chiang Mai Museum of Contemporary Art and director of the Jim Thompson Art Center, and artists like Kawita Vatanajyankur and Pannaphan Yodmanee.

A must-have in the library of all lovers of contemporary creation, unfortunately almost impossible to find, but available in PDF format.

 https://rb.gy/a6xfx

The Art of Thai Comics

Nicolas Verstappen

From folklore and Buddhist legends to tales of modern-day millennial angst, the book chronicles the fascinating, untold history of Thai comics.

Written by Nicolas Verstappen, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, this ground-breaking book is rich with stories and illustrations, uncovers ’lost’; comics and reveals the back-story of much-loved characters and the artists who created them. Each page opens new windows onto a fast-changing society – its hopes, fears, delights and horrors distilled in comics form.

 www.hardcovershoponline.com/ products/thaicomicseng

Bangkok Street Art

Ruper Manin

Despite the military regime, Bangkok’s street artists express themselves tirelessly on walls, abandoned remnants of the financial crisis, hidden canals and the infamous Hopewell pillars. They tell of corruption, censorship, the fallout from overdevelopment – the tensions between old and new, urban and rural – and the role of street art, graffiti and political dissent in Thailand today. This magnificent book is packed with illustrations and features contributions from a number of stars in the field, including Alex Face and Bonus.

 https://rb.gy/1x5z7

CAHIER JAUNE

de Martial décède brutalement dans un Bretagne. Parmi les affaires de son petit-fils découvre un vieux cahier jaune doté pouvoir : tout ce qu’on y inscrit s’efface, disparition s’accompagne d’une amnésie son rédacteur. donc désormais rayer de sa mémoire des événements, des œuvres, des religions… le met soudain face à une question qu’a-t-il envie d’oublier, mis à part le décliniste qui le mine ? par trouver matière à oublier, mais les bouleversements mémoriels rendus possibles par auront sur lui et son entourage des baroques, heureuses, inattendues, peutdramatiques…

LE CAHIER JAUNE

DUGRISBI POUR LESTONTONSLouisF.Bachelier

Le cahier jaune

Stéphane Guezennec

This corrosive novel with a fantastic twist tackles the theme of forgetting with originality and talent. His disillusioned, politically incorrect character discovers a magic notebook that lets you forget what you write in it... An extraordinary book that evokes Houellebecq inspired by Edgar Poe and remixed by Beigbeder. Against the backdrop of the decay of Western society, it asks a crucial question: what would you like to forget?

So far, only in French...

 www.amazon.com/dp/B09T6YH49N

Moi, je suis né Cigale

Thierry Costes

An odyssey to the farthest reaches of Asia in cicada mode, with a monsoon air of volcano, tsunami and pandemic. Raphael Maltese’s adventures in the sleepless cities of scarlet or in the jungles and forests of the rising sun. An ode to the female gender in this fascinating, bewitching Far East. A beautiful escape and a perfume of Siam... A book as bewitching as it is caustic!

So far, only in French...

 https://amzn.eu/d/0eb1YL7

Vivre et travailler en Thaïlande

Gilles Bernard

In Thailand, day-to-day face management is essential to living in harmony with the local culture. A hybrid of management guide and advice, this book provides you with the keys to understanding the impact of face management on social relations. It also deals with the sometimes confusing cultural aspects for new expatriates..

 Hardcover version in Thailand: conceptfacethailand@gmail.com

 Paperback: www.amazon.com/ dp/2958748219

Louis F. Bachelier

This novel is a true tribute to Michel Audiard’s cinema and particularly French classic Les Tontons flingueurs. Alongside Lino Ventura, Bernard Blier and Francis Blanche, in order of screen appearance, are André Pousse, Maurice Biraud, Alfred Adam, Paul Frankeur and Françoise Rosay. If you close your eyes, you end up hearing and finding them all, which is not the least of the tricks up the sleeve in this unexpected sequel ! So far, only in French...

 https://amzn.eu/d/0GtM70d

Stéphane Guezennec

Stéphane Guezennec

moi, je suis né cigale

Thierry Costes