Northern Exposure

I finally made the long overdue trip to Chiangmai - our northern kingdom famous for art, culture and yummy food . . . it was a short little trip but well worth it and definitely varied.  A friend recently bought a house up there and had to deal with some domestic issues so I went along - stayed at the cutest little boutique hotel called At Niman - and indulged in a weekend of Chiangmai-ness, it felt like my first time, it has been a decade after all . . . 

It felt a bit like Florence especially being by the river with all those students and all that art.  Chiangmai the Florence of Thailand, that makes sense though, it's north after all.  

on the river, big fig tree

Awesome little jazz spot, hole in the wall . . .

The Northgate - a jazz co-op

wall

the co-op's little pets

Ananda, P'Tuy and a Harley

I do wonder if there is a touch of fate in the fact that I bumped into my manucurist from years back who had moved there and well, she took care of my nails and then took me around on her scooter all day, shopping, tea at the Chedi then to join my friend Ananda (the owner of the house I refer to above) and his cousin at a wonderful antiques place called Crossroads.  

fairies shop

This is Art gallery

The Chedi and I

my favourite mask at Crossroads

our lovely host opens a bottle of pauillac from '99 - not so shabby

Maybe it is a sign, there is no coincidence after all, then again, there were plenty of Bangkokians up north this weekend, what with P'Tuy's Seed concert and Fat Festival and fine weather - a sign that beckons me to the north or perhaps it is just a mass exodus. 

Such a charming place - people are NICE and it was way too short thus a major incentive to go back. . . 

IMPROMPTU

On a violently rainy Saturday night I went to the opening of Impromptu, P'Oh's new series of work.

"In Impromptu, the story which Piyatat is telling is that of Jazz music, specifically Jazz music in Thailand . . . To me, his work is about duality and contrast, in the sense that his photos transcend the difference between lightness and darkness, using the two opposites to his advantage, thus straddling between the two extremes, where the shadows and reflects are most prominent and the greys come to life . . .

There is synchronicity in this story, movement, as well as collaboration between the artists and the instruments . . .

 . . .the vibrations of the double bass resounds out of the image .. .

. . .  the steady beat of the drums . . .

 . . . There is soul in Jazz, as to me these pictures enables the viewer to admire the seamless , almost perfect form of the inanimate instruments that come to life so effortlessly  in the hands of a maestro. . . 

Piyatat and I - my favourite lithographs in the back

 . . .Jazz is about life, and life is about improvisation, and here in Impromptu, life and music become one through Piyatat Hemmatat's lens."

- extracted from my introduction to the book which accompanies the exhibition, Impromptu is on at the Jazz Gallery, Bangkok until September 30th, 2009

Let's Get Lost

I might be a little late on the bandwagon on this one - seeing as Bruce Weber shot it in 1987 and it came out again for the second time late last year . . .  Piyatat lent the dvd to me for inspiration and background as I was writing an introduction to his book for his show, Impromptu, about jazz.

Let's Get Lost is a sumblime, beautiful, and sincere homage to the late Chet Baker if there ever was one.

Bruce Weber is a master at capturing freedom in its purest form, soft, yet tainted with a raw edge . . .  I was so inspired.  I love also that his vision is so holistic. . .you can tell it is him through and through.

Chet Baker was a a rare talent, a cool dude and an amazing musician- for me he epitomised a certain time, jazz, freedom, spontaiety - and beauty.