THE PEOPLE'S FADING LIFESTYLE

La Fete French Thai Cultural Festival features no less than six photography exhibitions this year, not the least of which is being shown at Catherine Schubert Fine Art, a cosy space nestled in the residential heart of Sathon district.

Theatre of the People No. 07’.

This exhibition is the first opportunity for Thai art lovers to see first-hand the work of Ambroise Tezenas, a rising star of the French photographic scene. Comprising of 15 prints, it delves into Beijing's disappearing hutongs, narrow streets and alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences, taken between 2001 and 2005 during the Olympics preparation period, when the city was being transformed.

Tezenas' photos are full of paradoxes and contrasts beginning with the name, "Theatre of the People". There are no people in this series taken of the older residential parts of this ancient city, the capital of the most populace country on earth. The shots truly are of the people's theatre - the stage where the people play out their lives - not the players themselves.

Also, of course, the title is a reference to China's communist system, which is supposedly a government by the people, yet it is the powerless people whose homes are in the process of being flattened.

Unfortunately, Tezenas has been unable to attend the exhibition to share his ideas and techniques, however, aesthetically, the prints are a photographic triumph and it is little wonder why he was awarded the 2009 Nikon Story Teller Award.

The photos are all taken at night and Tezenas has obviously had to use longer exposures resulting in only a small loss of clarity in the foliage of some distant trees. His control of the depth of field is otherwise masterful, with parallel layers receding to the vanishing point much as a painter would compose a scene, creating the illusion of three-dimensions.

‘Theatre of the People No. 27’.

Tezenas' vision, beyond giving a unique insight into a vanishing lifestyle through documenting the remaining hutongs, manages the sources of light, both direct and ambient, to startling effect. Not only does he tell a story, he draws the viewer into the narrative.

This piece of photographic sleight-of-hand is most effective in Theatre of the People No. 07 and Theatre of the People No. 27 (both 96x120cm). In the former, the surreal snow, besides glowing eerily, almost lifts off the surface as the viewer changes perspective from one side of the frame to the other. In the latter, when the viewer moves side-to-side, the interlacing tree branches shift in the light as if walking beneath, not panning horizontally.

Another strength evinced here is that each print, all of which have been flawlessly mounted on aluminium sheets, presents an intriguing colour. Each has its own peculiar blend of hue, saturation and brightness that bridges the cusp between bands of the colour spectrum.

This is the sixth exhibition at Catherine Schubert's gallery that showcases Western, Chinese and Thai contemporary artists. While the space itself consists of only two rooms with a low ceiling, what the space lacks in size the gallerist herself more than makes up for by proffering quality artwork.

Catherine Schubert has built up a lifetime of contacts from around the art world and has used this global network to fill a niche, adding another brilliant facet to the Bangkok art scene as well as providing a new outlet for international artists to showcase in Thailand.

"Theatre of the People" is on display until August. Catherine's next show will feature another photographer, this time a Belgian, Seline Chariot, opening in September.

'Theatre of the People' is on view at Catherine Schubert Fine Art, 11 Yen Akat Soi 3, Sathon Road until August 23. The gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday, from 2 to 6pm (or by appointment). Call 02-287-0819 or visit http://www.catherineschubertfineart.com.

Relate Search: La Fete French Thai Cultural Festival, Ambroise Tezenas