Rabil Bunnag (born in Bangkok 1902 – 1999) finished his studies in Singapore at age 21 & returned home to work for the Botanical Division of the Forestry Department. This enabled him to travel extensively on forest inspection tours all over the country’s forests. Coming upon strange, beautiful flowers, he was inspired to photograph them for study, leading him deeper into photography. After 1937 Rabil left government service to set up the ‘R. Bunnag’ photography studio on Silom road. He later became a lecturer in Pictorial Photography at Bangkok Technical College. Before passing away at the age of 97, Rabil donated some 23,000 photographs of ancient sites and objects to the National Archive.
Press Release -
After seeing this set of black & white photographs of the ancient ruined cities of Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet as recorded by Rabil Bunnag in 1953, the question inevitably arises: “The magic of the ancient spiritual aura that once haunted these old sacred sites, where has it all gone? Why hasn’t it survived the process of modern restoration?”
In Rabil’s atmospheric images, the Buddha statues and pagodas are overgrown with creepers, evoking romantic adventures through mysterious mythic lands; with exquisite patience and meticulousness, he captured the optimum play of light and shadow to bring out their potent beauty.
STANDING IMAGE OF THE BUDDHA, WAT SI IRIYAPATHA, GAMPENG PET © Rabil Bunnag
“These photographs are most valuable for...