Genius Loci: Chiang Mai Series | A Zine about Film Photography Journey

Issue #2

Genius Loci.

Journey about dialectic process between Man with His tools ___________________________ 02

Chiang Mai Series

Tha Phae Gate | Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Genius Loci.

Genius Loci in classical Roman religion, means the protective spirit of a place.

Christian Norberg-Schuluz on “Genius Loci - Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture” has splited spirit of a place into 2 parts, Landscape and Settlement. Including Space and Character as the forms of it. Space refers to every 3 dimensional forms that created the tangible things. And Character refers to the atmosphere of the place, the spatial feelings, or everything that consist of intangible things.

To be more simple, Genius Loci is a feeling that reminds you about the place, whether it comes from the memories, culture, human interaction, society, or even the physical of the architecture itself.

When I was visiting Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand for an event, I was amazed by how the Panta Rhei circumstance was emerged solidly. The dialectic process between the so-called modern life and cultural traces or evidences has proved can live together in their harmony. There was some kind of odd ambient that took me away from the chaotic situation that I usually faced on a daily basis. Even maybe I think that Chiang Mai’s city form is kind of a little bit similar to my hometown that consisted with historical and ancient buildings, surrounded by the mountains, and sort of freezing temperature that was really hitting my body trembling. But the people, markets, temples, city’s pattern and even tuk-tuk somehow has really got me lost for awhile.

It was really a fascinating journey and experience to be done. Met a lot of new friends, ate khau soy, stopped by law-officer for driving-license checking when I was going to Doi Suthep with motorbike, I would never forget this episode of my journey. Really looking forward to have another chance to visit Chiang Mai again someday, I wish.....

And here are some pictures that I think it could represent the value of what it means about Genius Loci.

I wish you will get your own pleasure by opening every page of this zine. Kapunkhaap!

Chiang Mai

The dialectic process between Man with his tools are constantly inevitable. Taking architecture as the tool and people as the Man always strict in a condition as philosopher Heraclitus says, Panta Rhei; everything flows, and nothing stays.

Genius Loci Pha Ngoeb

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

About Chiang Mai

01

Chiang Mai

In the late 13th century the Lanna Kingdom covered most of Northern Thailand, as we know it today, as well as neighbouring parts of Myanmar (Burma), China and Laos. Back then it was bordered by Burma (now Myanmar) to the West, China to the North, the Khmer Empire of Angkor (now Cambodia) to the East and Siam (now Thailand) in the South.

The 700 year old city of Chiang Mai was built in 1296 to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields) by its ruler King Mengrai. Earlier capitals of the Lanna Kingdom had been at Chiang Saen, Fang, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and WiangKum Kam. The last capital before Chiang Mai was Wiang Kum Kam which was established in 1281 and situated some 5kms southeast of present day Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was destroyed by flooding from the Ping River around 1294. It then lands hidden for nearly 700 years and was only rediscovered in 1984. Today the excavated ruins of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam are preserved and on the show as a national treasure and are well worth a visit.

Genius Loci

02

The Lanna Kingdom was ringed by high mountains, teak tree forests and well stocked rivers and its fertile valleys and plains were a rich source of agriculture. Chiang Mai was the main trading town between southern China and the seaports of Burma. As such, it was frequently attacked by its neighbours who tried to claim this prized gem as their own.

After centuries of defending itself Chiang Mai was successfully invaded and incorporated into Burma as a vassal state in 1557. Over the next 200 years Chiang Mai fell at various times under the rule of the strongest invader, be it Burma or Siam.

In 1774 the then Lanna King with assistance from Siam finally drove the Burmese out of the Lanna Kingdom. The Lanna Kingdom eventually became part of Siam in 1892. The Lanna Kingdom was gradually dissolved and condensed into a 20,000 km² area centered around Chiang Mai. In 1932 the whole Chiang Mai area officially became a province of Siam. In 1949, Siam officially became known as Thailand.

Today’s well-known as Lanna’s Architecture Style

Chiang Mai Mai Chiang

Wat Phra Singh

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Genius Loci

Wat Chiang Man

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Doi Suthep Temple

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Genius Genius Loci Loci

Silver Temple

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai Mai Chiang

Wat Chiang Man

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Three Kings Monument

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Wat Pha Lat

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Wat Phra Singh

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Doi Suthep Temple

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Genius Genius Loci Loci Wat Phra Singh

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Wat Phra Singh

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Moslem Street

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Genius Loci Tha Phae Gate

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Street withing Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Street within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Alley within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai Mai Chiang

Alley within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Alley within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Graph Cafe

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Graph Cafe

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Warorot Market

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Boulevard within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Lanna Architecture Center

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai Three Kings Monument

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Faculty of Architecture Chiang Mai University

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Wat Pha Lat

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Wat in Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Warorot Market

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Warorot Market

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Warorot Market

Genius Loci

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci Food Supply Market in Chiang Mai Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci Street within Chiang Mai

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Genius Loci Sunday Night Market

Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200

Chiang Mai

Genius Loci

Warorot Market

Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200

Genius Loci.

See you on another series!

Chiang Mai

Sometimes, pictures can speak louder than words. imamsupratiko99@gmail.com @imamssss