"This video documentary is an extraordinary reverse-reading about "tourist paradise" of Phuket. I turned my camera to the invasion of the islands and their broken-wing guards, Sea gypsies." Hakan Akçura
Two Chapter: Invasion of the islands Sea gypsies (Chao Lay): Broken-wing guards of the islands
Music: Rawai Sea Gypsy Village Band Maker: Hakan Akçura Stockholm, October 2011.
My presentation of my video, Phuket: Two sides of the islands", MESP 2012 The Agent Ria:registeredinart Event, Saturday 18 February, 4 - 6pm at Stills Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK https://vimeo.com/37521136
Full Description
Sea Gypsies were the first people to settle in Phuket over 1000 years ago and still survive today selling fish, seashells and craft items to locals and tourists. There were 12,000 sea gypsies in more than 30 groups across Thailand’s Andaman Coast waters.
Fishing is the sea gypsies only livelihood. Since the province began promoting tourism, sea gypsy villagers have been repeatedly threatened by hotel or resort owners who attempt to prohibit them from fishing along beach fronts where resorts are located.
Despite some publicity about their way of life in the wake of the 2004 tsunami disaster, they still live as second-class citizens and don’t have the full rights enjoyed by other Thai citizens.
Land rights issues were the biggest concern. Most sea gypsy communities are located in coastal areas and many do not have land title deeds. Some sea gypsy cemeteries are now located inside marine national parks or other areas designated for tourism purposes.
Sea gypsy Yupa Chaonam of the Phi Phi Island community said, “We are not allowed to do anything [in the surrounding area], which we are told belongs to a developer. We just want to know what is our territory and what is not. It’s as if we are a forgotten people with no public development for us.”
This video documentary is an extraordinary reverse-reading about "tourist paradise" of Phuket. I turned my camera to the invasion of the islands and their broken-wing guards, Sea gypsies.
Work metadata
- Year Created: 2011
- Submitted to ArtBase: Tuesday Dec 2nd, 2014
- Original Url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtGLU3QniJk&list=UUlqFlDS4HwbnlZzWneqrYVQ
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Work Credits:
- hakanakcura, primary creator
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Artist Statement
"I am an open flux artist. The following attributes that are the target of my creations are the things, I believe, all the contemporary artists who can't refrain from creating with concern and responsibility should have: To witness 'the essence of time' (zeitgeist) once again, that is to be more adverse and radical on this earth that is going down the drains; to heed the sharing and wide circulation of their creations instead of their ownership problems. To be independent. Along with being an artist who shows the way, opens the minds and redefines new problems, being an artist who also can be open to all kinds of interaction and communication, and being a playmaker when necessary. To try to create and furthermore try to protect the existence of courage, originality and composition without falling into the swamp of elitism and populism."(Hakan Akçura, "Theory of Open Flux", NY Arts Magazine, September, 2008)