Soul of the planet, heart of the people
I live in a world between cycles of change. The next generation will not live the same as the last. Perhaps a foreign concept for those raised in the western world, but between worlds as I have been raised, it is most clear. The momentum is unrelenting, at a pace outmatched elsewhere. However, we still have a moment to ponder and reflect that future choices may (if fortunate) not be made clouded by ignorance.
My name is David Roberts, I am 32 years old and dual British-Thai national, Ex British Army and self-taught photographer / artist. I have been photographing for almost a decade now, my milestones being creating this website in 2017 and self-publishing Simple Nothings and From Nippon With Love the following year. A hiatus in my photography followed during the pandemic, however in October of 2022 I returned to Thailand with the express intent of bringing this project, Soul of the Planet, Heart of the People to completion. Alongside this project I am also working on expanding a Zine entitled 2566: Bangkok Now.
I am currently looking for partners to work with me in creating “Soul of the Planet, Heart of the People”.
Isaan is the name of the Northeast of Thailand, with borders meeting Cambodia and Laos. It is the largest region equating to around the size of England and Wales combined. It contributes to around one third of the Thai population, however accounts for only ten percent of the countries GDP. The people here identify ethnically as Thai-Isaan or Thai-Lao and have their own dialect, a cross between Thai and Laos. From my general observations people here remain mostly religious and pro-monarchism. Due to its agricultural prominence there are many stereotypes of Thai-Isaan being culturally “backwards”. I live in Isaan’s most prominent city of Udon Thani, however nearby Khon Kaen is larger in size and population. This can be attributed to the presence of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and as such a boom in Udon Thani’s economy that followed. Settlers to this region can be dated back to 1200 BCE, over 3000 years ago. Although mainly flat land there are still mountainous regions as well as large bodies of water. Outside of central areas it remains largely undeveloped.
The population here is mainly agricultural, though over the past ten years or so the shift has moved away from that. This generation is opting to leave that way of life behind in favour of jobs with chain stores, supermarkets etc. This has had a ripple effect that has left what was once a prominent way of life dwindling.
I truly believe we stand at a crossroads and there is something beyond reason that compels me to document here and now.
My mind is British, but my heart is Thai. I have a unique point of view, able to see from within and without. The Thai people destroy mercilessly in favour of modernization, this for instance would be very hard for a Thai person to grasp the need to document. I have also observed that no matter how long you live here I find the images taken by foreign nationals always have an air of distance, as if viewed through the window of a passing train. This is my land and my people, but I am not one of them. This is ingrained into my art.
My project, at its core is built on three ideals. Nature, Modernization and Heritage. I aim to execute my ideas abiding by my trio of tenants. Those being Documentarian, Philosopher and Artist.
Three tenets that I abide by when photographing is that of the Documentarian, though I may have a distinct style my images are based on reality, what I see here and now. I do not alter what is seen and endeavour to show realistic elements rather than one off happenstance. The Artist, although the images are based on what I see in front of me, it is my job to make them visually pleasing. Expressions, compositions, flow and light, all to find rather than create. Lastly and most importantly, the Philosopher. My aim is for my images to evoke questions from the viewer. I believe the answer we are all looking for is somewhere in the murky grey of the mundane. Just like Yin and Yang it is where black and white meet that there is balance.
I want you to look at the beauty of this prehistoric land, one of the oldest basins of humanity and the lives of the people within. Here is a way of life that is rapidly changing and, in my opinion, will be gone in another generation. My mother was born a rice farmer’s daughter, yet I am far removed from that. My partners’ parents are also agricultural, yet after education she works for the Government in our city. Everyone’s children are getting jobs at large scale factories or chain stores owned by large conglomerates which has almost entirely eliminated the need for morning markets and independent crafts. Yet firmly do the people hold on to their beliefs and this prehistoric land stands stoically.
I am in a unique position being of dual nationality, having observed the troubled advancement of my mother’s nation along with the steady but menacingly persistent decline of my father’s. Because of this rapid and seemingly instant changes, I am compelled to further document this before it is lost to time. I believe future generations will face the same economic and social issues that plague post-bubble Japan. The effects of which are seen in declining birthrate, shocking suicide rate, reliance on export etc. I am unsure what a single person can do to prevent this, but I can at least create a focal point for reflection. I hope that you can see my endeavour is a worthy one, though perhaps not as shocking at first glimpse (as it surely would be if I chose to document the extremes of my country).
Alongside my unique viewpoint as described above I believe one of my strengths is tying the documentarian and the philosopher tenets using artistic expression. I embrace the day and each scene that presents itself for what it is, I do not hunt or fish or work a scene. It is my job to use the 32 years of ingrained artistic muscle memory. Each image is in essence 32 years in the making. I am not here to change or provoke into being something unnatural. This presents itself in my image by a natural flow, a movement in stillness, organic in nature. I use framing and exposure (especially prevalent in my monochrome images) to draw the eye through the image, many times in a very unconventional manner. Although these choices can be to an acquired palette, I believe what makes my images speak beyond convention is the compositions. Throughout my images I have an affinity to produce flowing compositions that tie all elements into a seamless whole. To re-iterate my artistic choices are to serve my other two tenets though I do revel in the technicality.
I aim to exhibit a selection of my most prominent images first Nationally then Internationally, available to view at large scale, sequenced and presented with the upmost intent of captivating and immersing the viewer. However, my goals surpass this. My goal with this project is to culminate with a 300+ image book and for it to be published large scale. Alongside partners in this endeavour, I am also looking for suitable sponsorship to commission a documentary on the project.
Many people in the US and Europe are beginning to shun modern sensibilities and are drawn to the allure of “off-grid living” as well as contemplating the downsides of a capitalist society, Isaan is an organic embodiment of that dichotomy. As such I believe the ideas and themes presented would have great appeal to many people.