Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit's HEAVY exhibition transforms spectatorship with participatory photo stacks

HEAVY (2023), a solo exhibition by Thai filmmaker Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, is currently showcased at Bangkok CityCity Gallery. The exhibition features more than 120 large-format photographs, comprising production stills and personal images from a vast archive of over 50,000. Visitors can interact with approximately 103 prints arranged on ten wooden plinths, while 17 prints adorn the walls. During the preview, actors from Thamrongrattanarit's films participated by carrying frames. This exhibition delves into the management of memory through image interaction and reflects on Thai youth culture and social media. Previous exhibitions by Thamrongrattanarit include second hand dialogue (2019) and i write you a lot. (2016), along with films like I Believe That Over 1 Million People Hate Maythawee (2010) and Fast & Feel Love (2022).