Bangkok is Thailand’s cultural and commercial centre. In 2019, it was the world’s second most visited city. Year on year, there are approximately 22.78 million tourists, and on Instagram there are roughly the same amount of images tagged with #bangkok. Eugenia Falqui (b. 1993) breaks away from all this tourism, shooting the surreal, unexplored and often humorous sides of the city. She explains: “This is my take on a place that has been my home for two years. I am not Thai. I do not pretend that my images offer an insider’s look at the city, but I’m compelled to explore scenes often neglected in promotional images. There are no TripAdvisor-worthy compositions here; I strike a contrast with the temples that have been photographed a thousand times. I often wonder: if those popular attractions could speak, what would they say?” Falqui is the winner of the Aesthetica Next Generation Award, in partnership with London College of Communication.
Lead Image: 8 March 2020. Closed rolling shutter of a shop in Chinatown during the COVID-19 spread. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
1: A green wall painted in the height of the pandemic in April 2020. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
2: A plant casting its shadow on a closed yellow rolling shutter of a shop in Chinatown area. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
3: A red tiny chair in the sun with red cups in a tray on it. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
4: An orange rain jacket hangs in a room where the gatekeeper of a condominium usually sits. Due to COVID-19, gatekeepers are encouraged to sit outside instead. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
5: A green bush in the Saranrom park close to the Royal Grand Palace. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
6: A red pickup truck found in Soi Sukhumvit 15- Asok area. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
7: A parking lot exit sign in Asok area. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
8: A shop sign in the heart of Chinatown on a bright blue-sky background. Image courtesy Eugenia Falqui. From the Bangkok Dreaming series.
