Flickering Life of Controversy

Abstract

‘Flickering Life of Controversy’ chronicles the contradictions ‘Bangkokian' have. Through the lens of a Bangkokian the project aims to portray one of the experiences an individual has living in the city that never sleeps and how one can find peace in it by a set of documentary photographs.

The Idea

The idea of this project came from my own experience living in Bangkok but studying in Nakhon Pathom needing to go back and forth every week. It was when I truly experienced what it is like to be stuck in heavy traffic. Driving from destination to destination is already a waste of time that you are unable to do anything. What’s worse is when there is heavy traffic. It feels like you are in a private prison. There you can do anything you want. However, it’s not that you can do anything. You need to have eyes on the road at all times which basically means that you can do anything that doesn’t require you to look away.

The Inspiration

On one of the weekends that I would spend time with myself, I realised that not only me but everyone who is living in Bangkok are living two contradictory lives. The two lives we live vary but for me, one of them is on the work days that requires me to drive from places to places plus the work from college and family. Another one is on the weekends that I can really spend time with myself.

The project is a documentary of my experience as a Bangkokian who has truly experienced what it’s like to live in a city that never sleeps.

The Story

Bangkok, as we know, is the capital city of Thailand. Bangkok is the leading and said to be the most developed city in Thailand. With high-rise buildings and temples, Bangkok is the dream destination for working and relaxing for Thai people and also foreigners. Visitors view Bangkok as the place for an incredible experience of traditional culture along with modernity. A two very contradicting experiences in one place. However, not only that farangs(slang we used to refer to foreigners) encountered those contradictions, we ‘Bangkokians’ are living in those controversies that aren’t told on the internet.

Traffics

Bangkok was once the world’s worst traffic in 2016. Bangkokians have always encountered such issues for a long time with public transportation that cannot satisfy the use of citizens, causing Bangkokians to depend on their private vehicle to travel from place to place. I’m also one of those who need to rely on my own car to travel from home to college since public transportation isn’t available in my area. That said, it resulted in everyone using their private cars to transport, creating heavy traffic.

Growth & Pressure

With growth and development, Bangkok comes with a very competitive environment, work hours are extended to the level that is tiring. Employees work OT or over-time to add a tiny bit more to their wages. Heavy traffic can be seen despite being 10 in the evening on work days. People work to compete with high the living expenses of the capital city with such low income. It is normal that the capital city of a country would have the most stress level and it is not that Bangkokian don’t have ways to enjoy themselves.

Growth & Pleasure

Spending money is one of the ways that us Bangkokians do on weekends to relieve our stress from the past week. Some spend it on materials, some spend it on relationships, some spend it on treatments; so it is common that on weekends, there are no empty parking slots in shopping malls, no seats in bars and restaurants, and no beds in massages and spas. Although weekends don’t last forever, we Bangkokians find ways to soothe their worries. I also have ways that keep me away from those stresses.

Spending Time

Going to parks is a go-to get-away for some of us including myself. One of the principles I lived by is that going to nature is like going back home. It is where humans all started and it can be difficult to find that living in a metropolitan city area, so parks resemble the most. There are trees here and there; some are big, some are small and they sing as the wind wafts through them. Happiness can be easily found as I observe parks every time I visit. Many activities took place in the park. From reading, sleeping, exercising, to dancing, although these activities have nothing in common, one thing that is common among these activists is that they are all spending a great time with their loved ones.