Public Programme #3: In Conversation

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Norito Gallery hosted an insightful discussion on Photography, Class, and Colonial Memory in conjunction with Prapat Jiwarangsan’s exhibition, which explores the 1890s photography of Thai elites in London. Moderated by Pon Chanarat, the conversation brought together Professor Rachel Harrison (SOAS) and researcher Xiangyin Tom Gu (RCA) to examine the complex intersections of visual culture, colonial mimicry, and self-Westernization in Siamese history.

 

The speakers traced how archival images—often seen as neutral historical records—were, in fact, tools of political self-fashioning. From King Rama V’s European tour to the strategic use of photography in Thailand’s negotiations with colonial powers, the discussion revealed how these images shaped both historical narratives and contemporary national identity. Drawing on Homi Bhabha’s concept of mimicry, the panel unpacked the notion of being "almost the same but not quite" in the eyes of the West, highlighting how elite Siamese figures navigated British imperial structures while asserting their own modernity.

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The conversation also extended to broader discussions on photography’s evolving role in Asia, state narratives, and the contemporary implications of archival reinterpretation. As artificial intelligence and digital manipulation challenge historical authenticity, how do we engage critically with photographic archives today?

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