Tamarind Ghosts by Tiane Doan na Champassak presents an exploration of eroticism, censorship and prostitution in Thailand. In days gone by, most prostitutes in Bangkok plied their trade in the area around Sanam Luang Park; under the watchful gaze of the Royal Palace. As they stood soliciting customers beneath the dense branches of the tamarind trees, people started referring to them as Tamarind Ghosts.
All works that make up Tamarind Ghosts have been appropriated by the artist from a range of diverse sources, including vintage prints, found books and Google Street View, before being transformed through manipulation.
Tiane Doan na Champassak (1973) is a French visual artist. His photographic work explores the themes of sexuality and gender identity. The depiction of sexuality is an enduring theme in his practice in which he explores the relation between his own photographic production and appropriated images seen by the filters of anonymity and censorship. The sources are diverse and include the Internet, personal memorabilia and magazine cuttings, all of which are recontextualized in a new light. All his self-published artist books are released under the label Siam’s Guy Books.
