Urban Bangkok: Contemporary Reflections

The city of Bangkok is a destination that represents many things to many people, both residents and visitors alike. To Thais, Bangkok may be the cultural and religious hub of their 70 million-strong nation, or perhaps it's the glowing lights of opportunity for those from the country's hinterlands, determined to better their lot. To visitors from other lands (10 million or more annually) Bangkok may be a colourful and photogenic vacation stopover, a place to chill and party, or an opportunity to shop, to seek renewal in its famed spas, to sample the world-renowned cuisine-or all of the above But Bangkok is a complex city, with multiple and often confounding facets, moreover one that seems to be in constant flux. For the foreign visitor, or even long time residents, capturing and understanding the essence of the city can seem elusive, even impossible. Photographer Joakim Leroy has dedicated years to produce a compelling portrait of contemporary Bangkok. Leroy distills the glittering gold of temple spires, the colourful shops and streets, the flashing neon lights, into sometimes poignant, sometimes dramatic monochromes, and thereby approaches the very heart and soul of this great metropolis and its charming inhabitants.