Photo Exhibition of Siam in 1864/5

[fountainhall]

Some of the earliest photos of Thailand were made by Scottish photographer John Thomson when he travelled to Asia in 1862. He was soon to become known as one of the first photo journalists. His trip took ten years, starting in Singapore, moving up to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Taiwan until he eventually settled in Hong Kong for several years, using it as a base to travel to mainland China.

60 photos from his year's sojourn in Thailand are being shown at an Exhibition in the National Gallery in Bangkok between January 10 and February 28. The National Gallery is located on the opposite end of Sanam Luang from the Grand Palace complex. The address is 4 Chao Fa Road, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon. The most convenient way to get there is by river boat to the Tha Phra Arthit pier and walk back 300 meters or so.

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l597/fountainhall/JohnThomsonBangkok.jpg (http://s1125.photobucket.com/user/fountainhall/media/JohnThomsonBangkok.jpg.html)

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l597/fountainhall/JohnThomsonChaoPhrayaScene.jpg (http://s1125.photobucket.com/user/fountainhall/media/JohnThomsonChaoPhrayaScene.jpg.html)

Photo credit Wellcome Library

[latintopxxx]

...am so glad Siam was not totally colonised by the West...just about the only place in Asia that has avoided our Judeo/Christian guilt trips....although i read that there r a whole bunch of &*%$ pseudo Christian missionaries trying to do their best ....

[thaiguest]

...am so glad Siam was not totally colonised by the West...just about the only place in Asia that has avoided our Judeo/Christian guilt trips....although i read that there r a whole bunch of &*%$ pseudo Christian missionaries trying to do their best ....
I'm grateful for the post as I would hate to miss this exhibition. That's way back when Bangkok was the languid Venice of the east.
Re the f--cking evangelical scammers- I went to sign up for a Thai language class in AUA Chiangmai some years ago. I pulled out when I found out that EVERYONE (except me) in the class were evangelical f-ckwits from the USA. I told the director that it was either pull out or have blood on the classroom floor-their's or mine.
The guy who owns Cabbages and Condoms (forget name sorry) is trying to counter these aggressive leeches because of the way they seek to destroy hill-tribe culture in particular.
We should support him.

[Rogie]

There are a handful more photos in this Bangkok Post article.

Siam through the lens of John Thomson

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/so ... hn-thomson (http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/454637/siam-through-the-lens-of-john-thomson)

[christianpfc]

Thank you for sharing. It fitted well into my plan for today (Government House first, then this exhibition which is in walking distance by my standards). Recommended!

Free entry, open 8:30 to 16:30, closed Mon and Tue. Photography allowed.

I arrived 15:55 and was told it would close in 5 minutes, and by 16:15 all visitors left and doors were closed.

[Phred]

Thanks to fountainhall for posting this.

christianpfc wrote,


I arrived 15:55 and was told it would close in 5 minutes, and by 16:15 all visitors left and doors were closed.

Hi christianpfc,

Does that mean the whole exhibition is so small it can be seen in just 20 minutes? Is it worth the trip out there? It looks interesting.

[christianpfc]

There are about 60 pictures with a small text (too small, difficult to read) explaining them in English and Thai. If you take a close look at all pictures and read all descriptions, you would need 1 hour; but for me the remaining time was sufficient to look and read selected pictures that I find interesting.

It's in walking distance to Khao San, Royal Palace, Sanam Luang, Ratchadamnoen..., can be easily combined with other sightseeing or food or culture in that area.

[Phred]

Thanks for the update christianpfc. It just happens that I will fly into Bangkok during the time of this exhibition and it looks interesting enough to make a tour of it before heading out of town.

Can anyone tell me the best way to get to the National Gallery from the Luphini Park area? (My hotel is near there). IтАЩm not that familiar with BKK public transportation, especially new additions as in recent years I fly in late at night and leave the next day. Prefer bus or the metro over taxis if possible. Thanks in advance to any replies.

[christianpfc]

There is no MRT or BTS or railway nearby, but you can take bus 47 from Rama 4 road which is frequent and get off at the northern end of Sanam Luang (about 200 m walk), or river boat to Phra Arthit and about 500 m walk.

[thaiguest]

Or given your straitened time limits you could take a TAXI.

[Nirish guy]

Just as an aside and for those interested in old Thailand pics etc Richard Barrow has been posting some nice aerial shots via his remote drone cam thing on his Twitter account where he's gone out and taken some ( of this collections?) old pics, then found the likely location of where that shot was taken and has retaken the modern pic ( oh his drone ) is posting the old and new shots side by side which is very interesting when comparing the difference.