Portrait of Ban Don Klang

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From the chaotic capital city of people and cars on the road to “Ban Don Klang," a small village in Phanom Phrai District, located in the southeast of Roi Et Province. Here, I discovered the simplicity of a life free from the chaos of cars. Most people here travel by bicycle and motorbike, and only some houses have cars. People in the village knew each other and came to greet each other intimately. Some are relatives or friends. As a visitor, everyone in the village wondered why I came and what I did there. They didn’t feel the attraction of this place, maybe because they were used to it. Unlike me, a visitor, I was interested in everything I saw because everything was new.

I named this series of photographs “Portrait of Ban Don Klang," presenting Ban Don Klang, how they live and what they do each day through the perspective of a visitor like me. “Portrait of Ban Don Klang” wants to reflect the way of life of the people of “Ban Don Klang." The photographs present people, pets, daily activities, activity, ceremony (merit ceremony), and the environment of villagers in Don Klang.

Morning Shopping

On weekdays, some villagers buy fresh food from mobile groceries and knick-knacks from the small village grocers. If they want more varieties, they will go to the big market in the district (Phanom Phrai) on Wat Klang Road, two villages away. This market has a complete range of goods, food, and appliances as if it were a shopping centre for the surrounding and Don Klang villagers.

Morning Market in the district (Phanom Phrai) on Wat Klang Road.

Bannachomdonklangwittaya School

Bannachomdonklangwittaya is a small school, the only school in the village. Every child in the village must attend this school. I see how fun they are together. Some children skip school and refuse to go to school.