Hiromi Thusa is a London based Japanese artist. She moved to London in the late 90s and after studying photography for 3 years, she completed a Masters degree in printmaking at the University Arts of London. During her master degree, Tsuha’s interest shifted to spatial explorations and her work adopted the features of installation art, which was inspired by her own biographical experiences with habitable environments, investigating the notions of loss and hope.

             For this residency, She is interested in exploring the interwoven relationships between Bangkok’s architectural culture and its famous street food scene in relations to its mobility, transition and its occupation of physical but also cultural space and its role within the city’s identity.

Period: 1 NOV – 3 DEC 2017

“Where is my food?”

By Hiromi Tsuha

Opening Exhibition : Sunday 10 Dec 2017, 6pm.
Exhibition period: 10 Dec 2017 – 7 Jan 2018
Tentacles Gallery
My introduction to the vibrant Thai food scene was during my visit to the country in 2015. Since then I have returned as a traveler in 2016 and highly appreciated the affordable but nonetheless tasteful street food. During this 1month residency, I was aiming to embrace this unique cultural element and explore it through my work, especially after hearing a news about new regulation on street vendors. I was curious about the way the new rule “returned happiness to the people” has now shaped the street food culture of the country.
During this month I saw the positive changes this rule brought for the pedestrians and wheelchair users’ mobility on the streets in Ratchaprarop road. However, I wondered where the vendors have gone. In Thong Lor, I have enjoyed eating out on that street a few years ago, but this time only handful of vendors are still there.From my personal point of view, these changes have completely altered atmosphere of the city’s streets.
where is everyone?
where is my food?
These are the questions that come naturally to me when I wonder around the city. Through this work, I am attempting to share my concerns of how these changes will impact on the charm and uniqueness of the Thai culture. People certainly will continue love Thai street food and I hope it will continue to make people happy.
27/11/2017
Hiromi