This past Saturday, 23 January, boarders had a rare glimpse of nineteenth-century Thailand.  Students went to the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, where they visited the exhibition “Siam:  Through the Lens of John Thomson”. Thomson (1837-1921), from Scotland, was one of the first photographers to document Asian life for European viewers.  The subjects of this particular collection were diverse, ranging from formal portraits of H.M. King Mongkut to more candid shots of dancers and labourers.  Students found the panoramic views of Bangkok especially interesting, as they could identify landmarks they had visited.

The boarding community encourages its members to attend such events; this particular exhibit not only fostered interest in photography but it helped to further connect students with the history and traditions of our beautiful host country.

For more information on John Thomson’s life and works, please visit the National Library of Scotland’s site: http://digital.nls.uk/thomson/index.html

Written by Kailash Mani