If you asked Vasin Srivarathanabul about what he does, the answer might range anywhere from artist, photographer, designer, businessman, website owner, lecturer to editor at Hi-Class magazine, which is his best-known career. Born in Bangkok but raised in the States, Vasin said that he is somewhere between Thai and farang, and can’t help that he might have some different points of view towards art, culture and society. His latest exhibition, Virtual Thailand, reflects this different perspective through exceptional photography and digital imaging. Virtual Thailand runs at the Four Seasons Hotel through Mar 31 .
How did you create these amazing pictures?
These images were done with joy and excitement. It took a lot of time in taking the photographs and the process afterwards. Each image was made from many hundreds of photographs stitched together seamlessly to get the whole environment in one image.
Where did you get your inspiration?
I really appreciate the environment where [I captured with these images]. You can feel the history as well as the future of these places. It makes you imagine whatever happened there, and what will happen next? If you remain observant, you can find charm everywhere.
How would you describe your style?
If you see the images, you’ll notice there are lots of distortions. If you have been to these places, you might not find the angle where I took the photos, because it is an image of the whole environment. These images represent the whole environment in one image: 360×180 degrees. These images can also be viewed as virtual tours through the Internet at www.at-bangkok.com. To perceive them depends on the eyes of the beholder—there are no rules.
Where was your favorite place for taking pictures?
I like places that are crowded. People are always moving, and at some point I draw attention to their motions, which pose questions to the viewer such as, “what were they doing before, and what are they going to do afterward?”
Did growing up in the US have any influence on your perception of the arts, photography, or Thai culture?
I always feel displaced—not Thai, nor farang… sometimes I feel miserable that I don’t belong anywhere. That’s why I always have the eye of an alien.
What are you working on now, and when will it be launched?
I’m working on www.at-bangkok.com, which is an online travel lifestyle guide. It’s a new, innovative media that gives a realistic impression of travel destinations, hotels, restaurants and spas. The highlight is the 360×180 degree virtual tour that you can interactively view as if you were actually in those places. This is where I get the material for my exhibition.
Credit: https://bk.asia-city.com/events/article/curator-vasin-srivarathanabul
