Siam of the 1860s comes back to life
It is almost like you are in the Siam of the 1860s. Altogether, 60 magnificent photos by the Scottish photographer John Thomson go on display January 10. Here are some of the best and the story behind them.
It is almost like you are in the Siam of the 1860s. Altogether, 60 magnificent photos by the Scottish photographer John Thomson go on display January 10. Here are some of the best and the story behind them.
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The King of Siam and his procession pause for a photo by John Thomson outside a temple. Photos from Wellcome Library, London
Siam through the lens of John Thomson
Rare and unseen images by one of the first photographers in the Far East to go on display.
Duangphat Sitthipat
King Mongkut of Siam, Bangkok
In the mid-19th century, John Thomson arrived in Siam with a fairly new invention of those days: photography. The Scot would set up his camera in exquisite parts of Bangkok and take pictures — in those days having one's picture taken was an elaborate and even privileged activity — of some of the most important figures and places, including King Rama IV and V.
From Saturday, the public is invited to feast their eyes on photographs taken from 1865-1866 by Thomson, one of the most significant photography pioneers in Siam, at the National Gallery, Bangkok.
The Crown Prince of Siam, (Rama V)
A young Siamese prince.
A total of 60 photographs taken by Thomson, who arrived here in 1865 as part of his Far East voyage, will be showcased at the "Siam Through The Lens Of John Thomson" exhibition from Jan 10-Feb 28. Marking the 150th year since his arrival, the exhibition features a collection of photographs that portray a glimpse of Siam in days of yore. This is the largest collection of Thomson's photographs ever mounted in Thailand.
Some of the photographs are also regarded as the best photographs ever shot in Siam in the 19th century. All of them — in black and white — are to be appreciated at a striking size of at least a metre long.
A white elephant belonging to King Mongkut.
"The exhibition takes place at the National Gallery, which is located at the area where many of the photographs were shot," said MR Narisa Chakrabongse, lead organiser and curator of the exhibition.
"Thomson was a fearless man," said Paisarn Piemmettawat, assistant to the exhibition's organiser and a Thomson fan. "He came to the Far East when he was 25. He was afraid of nothing."
Thomson was born in 1837 in Edinburgh. He learnt the basics of photography during his apprenticeship with an optical and scientific instrument maker. In 1862, at 25, he boarded a steamer to Singapore to join his brother who had travelled there before him.
A muscular Siamese boatman.
Together, the brothers undertook a business making marine chronometers and optical and nautical instruments. Thomson also opened a photographic studio, which became popular with European merchants. He then moved around the region, from Malaya (Malaysian Peninsula) and to the island of Sumatra to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and India to photograph the areas ravaged by The Great Calcutta Cyclone of 1864.
In 1865, Thomson sold his studio in Singapore and came to Siam after being imbued by first-hand accounts of Siam, Cambodia and Laos by French naturalist and explorer Henri Mouhot, who came to Indochina in 1858.
Arriving in Bangkok on Sept 28, 1865, he soon showed his ambition to take photographs of King Mongkut at the British embassy. At the time when photography was only practised by a few, his resolve intrigued the king.
Thomson was the first photographer to be allowed into the Grand Place to take portraits of the king and the other royal members. He earned much adoration from King Mongkut for his photographic flair.
"His photographic style can be perceived from the beauty of his work," said Paisarn. "Back then when all he had was natural light, he still managed to get the beautiful photographs."
The Chao Phraya River as seen from the main spire of Wat Arun.
During one royal procession (See first photo above) moving past Wat Pho, the king called for a pause to the moving parade and asked everybody to stay still for photos taken by Thomson.
"The king was sitting on a litter and everyone was sitting down on the ground," said Paisarn. "It was a historical moment that showed great Thai tradition. The king was fully decorated. Imagine how beautiful the photograph of this event is."
A Siamese youth.
Apart from being privileged to photograph all things royal, Thomson also secured an impressive number of views of the capital. He also travelled extensively in Ayutthaya and Petchaburi before setting out for Cambodia.
You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/454637/siam-through-the-lens-of-john-thomson
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