Soi Convent, in one street, offers everything that Bangkok has to offer: a somtum bowl where all classes, religions, ages, and nationalities are colliding. In this culturally diverse neighbourhood, street food vendors, moto-taxi drivers, and security guards are witnesses of the social and economic change of the city. Many people have lived and worked in this area for decades, which is currently profoundly impacted by Covid, gentrification and an economic shift to other parts of town.
Pok Pok is a short video tribute to the cultural diversity of the residents and people from Soi Convent. Using collage, visual effects and stop-motion, Pok Pok reverses the roles, and scale, giving visibility and prominence to the people of Soi Convent compared to the offices and infrastructure surrounding them. The title “Pok Pok” is often associated with the sound of the mortar from Somtum vendors, a food popular among taxi drivers, and office and construction workers, among others.
“Pok Pok” is a video collage using photographs and footage from soi Convent. Reversing the roles “Pok Pok” is a tribute to all vendors, motorcycle drivers and small business owners who have lived and worked in this area for decades, which is currently profoundly impacted by Covid, gentrification and an economic shift to other parts of town. this
“Pok Pok” was created for the Liv_ID project, Soi Convent[ion] . Music by the talented Jean-David Caillouet.