Gabriel Camelin - Video and Photography (2025)

23/01/2025

My video “Re.minisce” is now on display at Mueng Thong Rama, an abandoned cinema in Phayao, as part of the Phayao Photography Biennale 2025. This video collage explores the juxtaposition of the sacred and the mundane in Bangkok’s landscape and culture.

I’d like to express my gratitude to Ajarn Pawin Ramingwong for preparing the venue for my installation, and to Sophirat Muangkum (โศิภิรัตน์ ม่วงคำ), the festival’s curator, for inviting me to participate.

You can view “Re.minisce” from January 17, 2024 through April 20, 2025.

17/01/2025

On my last day in Chiang Mai, I had the pleasure of meeting Air Rakhang (Teerasak Bua-on), who was introduced to me by Sophirat (). Air lives near Wat Ton Kwen in Hang D**g and is a self-taught photographer with a profound passion for traditional analogue photography. His dedication to the craft is remarkable—he even builds his own cameras from scratch, mastering techniques like wet plate photography and other analogue processes.
That day, he brought his own "Afghan camera" that he had handmade. This device uses photo paper as the base for photography, capturing a negative in the first shot and then creating a positive in a second exposure. The camera is equipped with built-in trays for the developer and fixer, allowing him to shoot and develop photographs entirely on location.
After his shoot, Air invited me to his nearby studio, where he shared some of his cameras and prints. He will be exhibiting his work alongside other photographers, including myself, at the Phayao Photography Biennale 2024.

14/01/2025

Lost in a quiet residential area between the tranquil Wat Umong and the bustling Chiang Mai University is a bar-gallery unlike any other, run by Metha (Thepmetha Thepboonta), an artist from Ubon Ratchathani. After completing his studies in printmaking at Chiang Mai University, he decided to settle in this neighbourhood. Students often gather here for bingsu, games, and chit-chat, while Metha stands behind the bar, mixing cocktails.
It was a busy evening when I visited, but we managed to talk at the end of the night. As an artist, he goes by Methagod (Methagod), creating art toys, prints, sculptures, and even clothing and jewellery that unpack personal narratives and societal taboos. His work notably explores gender, sexuality, and personal identity, challenging conventional norms and sparking dialogue.
During our conversation, I realised I had seen his art years before—at Bridge Art Space, about eight years ago—one of his early solo shows. A few years back, Metha opened this bar, a space reflecting his unique universe: every corner, every cocktail, is a piece of Methagod.

14/01/2025

I am excited to share that my work, "Re.minisce," will be screened at the Phayao Photography Biennale 2025 at Muang Thong Rama, a beautifully derelict old cinema.
I am grateful to Ajarn Pawin Ramingwong and โศิภิรัตน์ ม่วงคำ Sophirat Muangkun for the invitation and their generous support during my last visit.
I'll be in town from Sunday to Tuesday to explore fellow artists' works and lead a workshop on montage and storytelling at Phayao University.
I look forward to meeting more creative minds and experiencing my work in this new context!

13/01/2025

Several artist friends encouraged me to meet Reinhard Kressner, a noted art collector in Chiang Mai. I’d spotted him online a few times—he’s often at gallery openings—but when we finally met by chance at a local coffee shop, I had no idea I was about to embark on a journey back into my own past.

A retired pediatrician from Germany, Reinhard was part of Berlin’s flourishing LGBT community. In 1987—when I was just a kindergartener in West Berlin—he was living in East Germany, dreaming of freedom on the other side of the wall. After a failed attempt, he finally risked his life again to escape through Hungary and into Austria, arriving with only a few Deutsche Marks in his pocket. From there, he reached West Berlin, where he stayed until 2020. Remarkably, at one point, we both lived in the same city—just kilometers apart—yet existed in completely different worlds, unaware of each other’s presence.

Raised in a strict household, Reinhard had always wanted to cover his walls with art—a dream he began fulfilling the moment he arrived in Berlin. Over time, he built a wide-ranging collection of photographs, paintings, and sculptures. For him, collecting isn’t about profit but about loving what you buy and supporting the artist that created it. When he retired and moved to Chiang Mai—his true home, as he calls it—he continued his passion by establishing “Head High Second Floor” in 2021, a space in his home dedicated to showcasing emerging Asian and international artists.

After a few beers and visiting his space, Reinhard asked me to take his portrait in front of a piece by Eva & Adele, the famous “hermaphrodite” artist duo who serve as muses for his enduring love of art and hedonism.

08/01/2025

I first met Jiratchaya Pripwai during my most recent visit to Jing Jai Gallery, where I was introduced to her by Chol, someone I had photographed after christmas. She welcomed me to her home and studio on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Although she was born in Isan, Jiratchaya and her family moved to Chiang Mai when she was just four years old—so, in many ways, this city has always felt like her true home.
What began as a meditative, therapeutic drawing practice to calm her mind and improve her focus quickly became her lifelong passion. Determined to pursue art professionally, she first studied at Chiang Mai University and later earned her master’s degree in Painting at Silpakorn University. Despite working predominantly with paint in her current pieces, Jiratchaya says her approach is closer to drawing: repetitive yet distinctive patterns that explore her mental states and reflect her personal experiences.
As we sat together in her garden, watching butterflies drift by, she shared how the tranquillity of her surroundings inspires her work. For her, creating is about peace and silence; she hears no melody in her mind while painting or drawing. For me, though, her art felt quite the opposite—like a vivid symphonic orchestra of colours and shapes unfolding before my eyes.

07/01/2025

Syyeww (Setthasiri Chanjaradpong)was born in Thonburi and studied at ICT, Silpakorn University. Initially interested in filmmaking and video art, he began his career as an intern at Eyedropper Fill before transitioning into freelance work as a creative and video artist. Nearly 2 years ago, he decided to move to Chiang Mai, feeling that Bangkok had become a dead end and drawn by both the lower cost of living and the city’s vibrant artistic community. With a focus on documentary projects that kept him on the move, Syyeww realised he no longer needed to remain in the metropolis.
A true one-man army, Syyeww tackles everything from documentary filmmaking and producing to creating content for concerts, performances, and video installations. He’s heavily involved in the Chiang Mai art scene, where he’s part of tomorrow.lab (.lab), an experimental collective merging art and technology. One of his latest installations, “Walking Home,” as a part of Limbo art collective featured at Chiang Mai Design week 2024 and Awakening Chiang Mai 2024, explores the ideas of roots, home, and displacement. Inspired by his own move to Chiang Mai—and encounters with Burmese refugees, tourists, and Bangkokians who’ve chosen Chiang Mai for various reasons—the piece invites participants to fill out a lighthearted “immigration form” and draw their personal notion of “Walking Home,” which then gets projected as part of the installation.
For our photo shoot, Syyeww welcomed me into the house/studio he shares with another artist. He showed me the food cart he designed for “Walking Home,” an integral component of the exhibition. I connected with him right away—we’re both jack-of-all-trades, collaborating with artists while still pursuing our individual practices. As I left, I couldn’t help but think this path might have suited me too. It may not be the easiest route financially, but I’m certain Syyeww has no regrets about trading Bangkok’s commercial grind for the creative freedom he’s found in Chiang Mai.

05/01/2025

A year ago, while I was in Chiang Mai and wondering how to spend New Year’s Eve, a friend suggested I visit a small temple (Wat Chompoo) in the Chang Moi sub-district. Locals and a group of young Chinese tech enthusiasts (wamotopia) had organised a street party there, and that’s where I first met Phuwa (Phuwa Kitika). He immediately stood out in the crowd, and I soon discovered he was the one facilitating the event.

A professor of architecture, Phuwa completed his Master’s and PhD in Kyoto, where he learned the value of involving communities in city design and development. When he returned to Chiang Mai, he forged strong relationships in Chang Moi—from elderly vendors who’ve been there for generations to the lone monk at Wat Chomphoo. As an educator, he takes his students onsite to engage directly with locals, believing that projects conceived in isolation can end up being useless or even harmful.

Phuwa is also known for his flamboyant style—he often wears outfits that some might find eccentric, but he fully owns it, proving you don’t need to “look like a teacher” to be one. His genuine warmth was obvious as we walked through the neighbourhood; there was mutual respect between him and the locals, as though he was one of their own.

As a teacher myself, I find people like Phuwa inspiring. He understands that empathy is vital in art and design—and that truly listening can be just as powerful as teaching.

04/01/2025

During my short visit to Phayao, my friends Sophirat and Ajarn Pawin introduced me to Alex Wang, an artist and art academic based in the area. He lives with his partner Louise and their child in a “moobaan” near Phayao University’s campus.

Originally from the United States, Alex first came to Thailand 17 years ago for an art project. A few years later, he returned for a residency in Doi Saket, where he met his future partner Louise and his future employer, Ajarn Pawin.

It’s fascinating to meet someone who, like me, navigates both the academic and art worlds, especially in a place with relatively few foreigners. Alex seems to enjoy a sense of freedom here, along with a quality of life that would be hard to afford in San Francisco. For our shoot, he chose a rice field near his home—a favourite hangout spot, as long as it’s not during the burning season, he added with a laugh.

03/01/2025

Near Phayao, on the way to Lampang, there’s a small film museum run by the passionate Mr. Manit Worachat. Back in the 1970s, he worked as a voice actor and live dubber for traveling cinemas—when films were shown in remote areas and often sponsored by pharmaceutical brands. The 2023 movie “Once Upon a Start” is actually based on Manit’s life and the experiences of his troupe.

His collection of vintage posters and projectors is truly impressive. If you ever drop by, he’ll likely perform a live dubbing session for you and share stories about his life and the challenges he’s faced.

Near Phayao, on the way to Lampang, there’s a small film museum run by the passionate Mr. Manit Worachat. Back in the 1970s, he worked as a voice actor and live dubber for travelling cinemas—when films were shown in remote areas and often sponsored by pharmaceutical brands. The 2023 movie “Once Upon a Start” is actually based on Manit’s life and the experiences of his troupe.

02/01/2025

A few weeks ago, a mutual contact recommended I meet Chol Janepraphaphan once I arrived in Chiang Mai. A writer and curator at Jing Jai Gallery, he welcomed me warmly, and we struck up a relaxed conversation over coffee. We soon discovered we have a surprising number of connections—he was especially intrigued to learn I had worked with one of his favorite bands, Srirajah Rockers. Chol also opened up about his personal journey, from moving to Chiang Mai a couple of years ago to becoming a father.

When I returned a few days later for a photo shoot, we used his workplace as the backdrop, making the most of the day’s last rays of sunlight. Although Chol’s modelling expression was quite serious, our conversation was anything but intimidating.

01/01/2025

After photographing Pawin at Artcade Phayao, I visited Jakkapan Mantapan
(JKPAN) at Pye Space, an old wooden house where he both lives and works. I was immediately taken by the building’s minimalist charm. Jakkapan changed into the kimono he usually wears while painting, and on the walls, I saw several of his artworks. Inspired by surrealism and his personal experiences creating art in a provincial environment, they highlight societal challenges in a community where acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals remains limited.

In 2024, Jakkapan shifted his focus toward realistic painting, using photographs as references. He also co-founded a young artist group called Kwanner and established Kwanner Art Space to invigorate Phayao’s local art scene and encourage wider public engagement with art.

A special thanks to Sophirat Muangkum for assisting me during the shoot!

31/12/2024

2024 was a good year for me, creatively speaking, for someone who always felt uncomfortable with portraiture, I could say that I faced my fears! To everyone who supported me and to all my patient models this year, thank you so much! I hope to continue this project in 2025

31/12/2024

During the last days of 2024, I had the chance to visit Phayao, a small town in northern Thailand. There, I met Pawin “Pong” Ramingwong (Pawin Ramingwong), a lecturer at Phayao University by day and a driving force in the local art scene—organizing film festivals, fostering art spaces, and currently preparing the Phayao Photography Biennale this January with Sophirat Muangkum.
For this shoot, Pong took me to one of Phayao’s oldest markets, called “Arcade.” His goal is to bring art directly into the market by renting an abandoned unit on the second floor and transforming it into an art space called “Artcade.” He mentioned that the market has been struggling due to online shopping, but as we walked among the stalls, I noticed how warmly people greeted Pong—offering us food and stopping to chat. It was clear they appreciated his vision for a new kind of “art market.”
Pong and Sophirat will be showcasing their photography at Artcade starting January 17. If you find yourself in Phayao, be sure to check it out!

27/12/2024

Chalandala (IG: chalandala) arrived in a hurry that day—I hadn’t realized there was a “third musketeer” in the Moving Weird-Nest collective! We ended up doing most of our shoot upstairs at Arai-Arai, catching the last rays of sunlight. During our brief time together, she shared more about her work.

Chalandala holds a full-time project management position at an international company and uses her flexible schedule to create art and attend art events. Her zines delve into niche topics—queer identity, sexuality, and trauma—through alternative comics that blend poetry and personal journaling. By exploring these themes, she hopes to connect with like-minded readers who share similar interests.

26/12/2024

Cinema (.skag) is another member of the Moving Weird-Nest collective. During our shoot, she shared that her nickname comes from Cinema Paradiso, her parents’ favorite film. Her first name, “Theeprachan,” means “by the moon,” a nod to her birth on a full moon night. Growing up in an artistic family, doodling became her way of working through complex emotions.

One of her zines features doodles she sketched during workplace meetings at the political NGO where she’s employed. She often works on her iPad at Arai Arai café—a spot many political activists and artists like. While we explored the neighborhood, she mentioned her passion for photography, capturing nudes and portraits from both sides of the camera. In one of her collaborative zines with Andy, she pairs her photographs with his writing. Through these projects, she confronts themes of freedom, sexual exploration, and surviving oppression in Thailand—always with an unfiltered, honest perspective.

25/12/2024

Zua (Andy).zua is a rapper, musician, and poet best known for his role in the Thai political hip-hop group Rap Against Dictatorship (RAD). Although we've crossed paths at various art and music events, I’ve been seeing him more often at artbook fairs, where he recently started making zines. In 2024, he teamed up with Cine () and Chalan () to launch .weirdnest , a collective aimed at supporting fellow artists and sharing their work with a global audience. A few weeks ago, Moving Weird-Nest showcased 15 artists from an open call at the Tokyo Artbook Fair.
Andy’s zine-making style revolves around capturing small yet magical moments and expressing them with a blend of poetic text and minimal visuals.

24/12/2024

Last Saturday, I met Zua (.zua) , Cine () , and Chalandala () at Arai Arai coffeeshop—a favourite hangout where Zua often performs. From there, I took their portraits individually, exploring the labyrinth of sois and vibrant streets around Wongwian 22, near Hua Lamphong station. I’ll be posting more pictures this week, along with the stories behind each person.

Earlier this year, they formed a collective called .weirdnest to support each other and other artists looking to share their work with a global audience. Just a few weeks ago, Moving Weird-Nest participated in the Tokyo Artbook Fair, showcasing works by 15 artists selected from their open call.

Gabriel Camelin - Video and Photography

23/01/2025

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