Happy, No Happy

My documentation of life by the railroad tracks in Central Bangkok came about with a conversation I had with a man who lived there. He invited me into his home and asked me simply, “Bangkok: happy, no happy?” In that instant, I had an epiphany. Here, in this tiny sliver of land, we can find all the ranges of emotion that encompass the joys and sorrows of the human spirit – the representation of all humanity.

My work had always been about connecting my viewers to my subjects. I believe that if we can relate to others and understand them, then we can accept them. By offering views into the windows of people's lives, I hope that we can find something of ourselves in their frailties and strengths and remember that we are all one people.

Finn Slough

Finn Slough is a small, quaint community facing an uncertain future as it becomes increasingly vulnerable to encroaching development. Founded by Finnish fishermen in the 1890's, the title of the land was bought in 1989 for the purpose of developing a multi-million dollar housing project. Efforts to evict the residents of Finn Slough have been based in part on complaints that the vintage buildings are not up to code, yet even under the constant threat of legal action, support has steadily grown. Current priorities are to raise public awareness and have the village designated as a protected heritage site. To date, they are still struggling to preserve their unique home and way of life.