2nd place
silver star award
Phanuphan Kitsawaeng
united states
title
FORGOTTEN SPACE
The series Forgotten Space is highlighting the inequality system in Thailand by documenting different kids from working families class who are living in poverty. In fact, they are living next to the wasted areas—the area that is created by capitalism. However, inequality is not only the difference in their environment but it is divided by education and the number of opportunities that are available to them. People who are still living in poverty have only very limited access to clean water, clean air, and electricity. However, the best way to reduce inequality in societies is to improve the quality of the social environment, and the real quality of life for everyone.
“My motivation in photography is to explore the isolated places around South East Asia and let people know, and see the places through my point of view.
Mark used to be a part of the volunteer work with Thailand Healthcare organization: working South East Asia: including Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. He joined the community for teaching, help, and document the people who had not gotten a chance to meet what many would consider a decent standard of living.
Mark is a recently graduated MFA student in Photography at The Photo Arts Conservatory of NYFA (The New York Film Academy). He hopes to work with UNESCO, or UNICEF after he graduates, and continue to use his camera to bring forth global awareness and change for the better.
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entry description
It has been known that billionaires own most of the world’s wealth; however, In Thailand, the wealth disparity is even more extreme. Credit Suisse Research Institute shows that 91.7% of Thai people have wealth under $10000, and 7.5% between $10000 and $100000. Moreover, The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook report shows that 1% of Thai(billionaire) people own more than 67% of the country’s wealth. In another word, there are no other countries in the world where the wealthiest control more than 50% of the country’s wealth. It emphasizes that Thailand is one of the unequal countries in the world. As a result, capitalism has created a society where people are separated on many different levels: including upper, lower, and working classes. Because of the different levels, the upper class looks at the lower lifestyles as ridiculous. However, what the upper class sees as ridiculous, the lower class sees as ordinary.The series Forgotten Space is highlighting the inequality system in Thailand by documenting different kids from working families class who are living in poverty. In fact, they are living next to the wasted areas—the area that is created by capitalism. However, inequality is not only the difference in their environment but it is divided by education and the number of opportunities that are available to them. People who are still living in poverty have only very limited access to clean water, clean air, and electricity. However, the best way to reduce inequality in societies is to improve the quality of the social environment, and the real quality of life for everyone.
about the photographer
Mark Kitsawaeng is a photographer from Thailand, currently living in Los Angeles. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Film from RSU (Rangsit University in Thailand). With a strong background in commercial photography working for Thailand's largest entertainment company, GMM (Grammy), his images are technically skillful and evocative. After honing his craft in the entertainment world, Mark turned the gaze of his camera towards underrepresented communities to bring forth the greater good.“My motivation in photography is to explore the isolated places around South East Asia and let people know, and see the places through my point of view.
Mark used to be a part of the volunteer work with Thailand Healthcare organization: working South East Asia: including Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. He joined the community for teaching, help, and document the people who had not gotten a chance to meet what many would consider a decent standard of living.
Mark is a recently graduated MFA student in Photography at The Photo Arts Conservatory of NYFA (The New York Film Academy). He hopes to work with UNESCO, or UNICEF after he graduates, and continue to use his camera to bring forth global awareness and change for the better.
back to gallery