Yugo Hattori

Yugo Hattori is a filmmaker, working across documentary, visual effects, animation, and cinematography, fields we both share. Our paths crossed two years ago when we were invited to collaborate on Why is the River Laughing, a performance and exhibition during Bangkok Design Week 2023, organised by our friend Mike Hornblow. I met this mysterious, smiling Brazilian travelling around on a Saleng, a small motorbike with a sidecar, often used for deliveries or mobile stalls, which he had named "Picnic." He customised it to carry a projector screen, a large battery to power lights and other devices, and even grass on the floor, embodying his original vision of turning his bike into a mobile hangout space.

Yugo moved to Thailand just before the pandemic, dreaming of pursuing a borderless filmmaking experience. Like many creatives, he later moved to Chiang Mai for both economic and lifestyle reasons. Two years ago, he rode from Bangkok back to Chiang Mai, stopping in three towns along the way. In each place, he spent two weeks shooting, editing, and screening a short film, reviving his vision of independent, community-based cinema. Picnic's “last ride” ultimately led him to Chiang Mai, where he now resides (you can see his work on his YouTube channel).

For our photoshoot, Yugo chose a more intriguing location than his apartment, a former roller skating rink called "Space Roller," not far from the Chiang Mai bus station. It was a place he felt connected to and wanted to include in a future project. As I rode with him in his Saleng, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had ever been stopped by the police for his unusual mode of transport, but he assured me that it made him invisible, a sentiment that seemed strangely appropriate.

At Space Roller, we were greeted by dogs and a few homeless people. The building showed clear signs of decay, with Thailand's weather having taken its toll over the years. It was already late, and the interior was dark. Despite this, Yugo seemed completely at ease in the space, even with the ghostly and ominous warnings painted on the walls. While we survived the journey, Yugo undoubtedly has many more stories to tell.