Thailand Within Reach: featuring Natcha Wongchanglaw
Updated: 1 day ago
This discussion regarding diaspora, connections to homeland, and migration is specifically in reference to Thai culture and the art of Natcha Wongchanglaw. As someone who has moved around Thailand for much of her life due to her father’s work, Natcha Wongchanglaw is well-versed on Thailand as a place. She does not experience severe homesickness but sometimes misses the easy-going vibes of Thai culture, being close to her mother, and authentic Thai cuisine.
Thailand can be described as a place which is conservative but with open-minded people and a nation which harbours on a mixture of tradition, culture, and modernization. Thai people are known to smile a lot and are generally kind, friendly. The culture instills politeness, so saying ‘no’ to someone can be quite difficult, and a smile may not necessarily mean they agree with you. Such behavior should not be mistaken for weakness, but rather a more forward-going outlook. And contrary to popular belief, Thai people actually do not always enjoy hot or sunny weather despite living in a hot country. As Natcha describes: “Yes, we can tolerate the heat, but that doesn’t mean we like it!”.
The topic of migration is often infused in the works of Natcha Wongchanglaw, such as the Rights of Passage series depicting diverse identity-erased persons in a montage having their face covered by a passport to convey a conceptual notion of the temporary visa-free status of a passport as the sole identifier of a person to a nation, essentially erasing individuality. Being one of the most hotly debated topics, migration through the eyes of Natcha Wongchanglaw entails empathy, as she states: “I think people easily forget how their ancestors also came from somewhere else. We often talk about ‘immigrants’ as though they are a separate group of people, when migration is actually part of so many families’ histories. Behind immigration policies, passports, visas, and borders are individual people trying to build lives, families, and a sense of home”.
In regard to the current debates of migration and diaspora. Specifically, diaspora is often regarded as a form of homesickness or even as a tragedy in some cases, especially if segments of the diaspora happen to be refugees or dissidents who wish to see change happen in their country of origin. But communities try to sustain their traditions, customs, and beliefs, at least some of them, as they find a new home in a distant land. However, celebrating diversity or trying to learn about other cultures can be regarded as a form of cultural enlightenment.
What we can ultimately gain from Natcha Wongchanglaw is a sense of a new environment. As a person with ties to Thailand, a practicing conceptual photographer, installation and performance artist, and college professor, she communicates and enlightens us on her experiences as a traveled and distanced person in both art and the classroom. She aims to bridge the cultural divide between many of us and share narratives about herself as well as others as how diaspora and migration poses challenges, not just for those trying to adjust to their environments, but also by those who react to their presence.
With a study in hybrid identity, the works of Natcha Wongchanglaw navigate the distance between Thailand and the United States, and conceptually conveys identity as a notion which transcends borders, a journey which tests the human spirit. In essence, the art of Natcha Wongchanglaw is a communication on her profound individuality shaped by her varied experiences and cultural ties to Thailand, rather than behaving as a sort of ‘representative’ or identifying as a migrant.
