Seeing the invisible workers
Internationally known German photographer Ralf Tooten is among 75 artists from 33 countries invited to show his collection of works titled “Asian Workers Covered” at the Bangkok Art Biennale, the first biennale in Bangkok. For this occasion, Tooten, who has dedicated his professional life to architecture and portrait photography, achieved an incredible feat. He found a way to present his poignant images of Thailand’s working class in unusual environments and contexts in the Thai capital. He transported the workers’ visual stories back to the street on which they originated, and he makes his subjects look cool. His 14x14m portrait of a female worker looks out over shoppers at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Pathumwan intersection, while screens in downtown shopping centres flash his portraits at passing Bangkokians. Art lovers now have a chance to view Tooten’s stark portraits in a more private manner, as the photographer has decided to put some of his “A.W.C. — Asian Workers Covered, 2018-2019” on exhibition at the newly opened Le Link Gallery on Soi Ton Son, Phloenchit, until Feb 3. On show are portraits of completely covered-up construction workers, male and female, young and old, local and foreign migrant, toiling in intense heat on skyscrapers and along roadsides. On their lunch breaks, they sit by the side, laugh, eat and smoke, sometimes without removing their protective clothing — masks, sunglasses, balaclavas, scarves — rendering them virtually invisible among ordinary Thais. “It’s Tooten’s great photographic collection, offering ordinary Thais another view of their country as well as reminding them how and by whom their cities are built,” said Benjamin Link, curator and gallery owner. Le Link Gallery is open WednesdaySunday, noon until 6pm.