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What better way to test the inner creative spirit of Thai students than to bombard them with images of the surreal? On June 16, a warning was sent out; the clowns are coming. Two weeks later and they have arrived and are alive and well, up to all manner of peculiar activities, traipsing around eight of Bangkok’s universities over two months.

The experiment begins. First stop for our intrepid colony of clowns is Assumption Univesity (Abac) in Bang Na. A safe enough distance from the metropolis of central Bangkok, Abac is situated in the middle of vast farmlands; an apt location for a troop of clowns to bewilder unsuspecting students with their tomfoolery.

Beyond the courtyard plaza, with its classical columns and arcades, scenic stretch out alongside neatly manicured lawns up to the university mall. The mall is a small building, complete with obligatory convenience store, restaurants and a book shop. This is to be the beginning of a two-month tirade against the conventions of popular culture and art. Is Bangkok ready for such shenanigans? This writer can only frown and shake his head with a wry smile.

‘Lunge’ are here, and the show begins with an air of significance about it. A few groups of students converge around the action with looks of puzzlement on their faces as an oversized baby crawls into his living room and begins playing with his toys. In come the mother and father to watch the enormous television, completely unaware of their son’s presence.

The curtain on the television is pulled up to reveal an advert for a new product aimed at keeping children quiet – whiskey-in-a-baby-bottle. The students look amused. Satire is at large in Abac.

A game show begins. As with any game show, contestants are needed. Interactive circus street theatre would normally call upon the audience for help at this point, but the terrified looks on the students’ faces suggests that convincing Thailand of the joys of street performance may take a little longer than expected.

Day two begins in the cathedral plaza, below marble halls and painted ceilings. University orientation is under way, and droves of students are in the vicinity. The performance space is a little out of the way, but word seems to have spread and a healthy audience is already in attendance before the show has even begun.

The students, being a little more prepared this time around, embrace the idea of interaction with the show and at last, a game show contestant is found and the fun begins. There is no turning back now.

On the final day of ‘Lunge’s’ first tour stop, members of Abac Bang Na’s own arts and performance students club sit through the entire two hour performance. “That was really cool,” mentions one of the newly devoted. The club is so impressed that the clowns are invited back to the university for a work-shop.

The first week of performances comes to an end. The clowns, musicians, mime artists and everyone else involved revel in the satisfaction of confusing and entertaining students by challenging the safe boundaries within which their enjoyment is so often confined.

More or less every person passing by the show at least stopped and had a quick look at what was taking place. The audience numbers never dipped below 30-40, and some 500-600 people saw the show every day. Some of the students were so taken by what they saw that they offered up their services for future performances.

“It’s good to see that there are at least some Thai kids who are interested in more than commercial pop and hanging out at the mall,” quips Top, one of the performers. Next week; the action moves on to Thammasat University in Rangsit to join ‘Art Addicted.’ Thammasat, they are coming.

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Kornkrit Jianpinidnan is a Bangkok-based, internationally renowned photographer, having been part of exhibitions in Tokyo, Barcelona and Brussels. Having grown up in Chiang Rai, he moved to Chiang Mai to study in the faulty of arts at Chiang Mai University.

Kornkrit majored in printmaking and quickly came to the decision that Chiang Mai was just too small and limited for his own creativity. “I came to Bangkok in 1998 because there was nothing for me in Chiang Mai,” he says. “I love Chiang Mai, but for my career I had to move. I got out of Chiang Mai as soon as I graduated, on the very same day.”

Kornkrit’s manner is incredibly soft, and his sensitive nature emanates from his nervous body language and the conflict he seems to feel with the outside world. 31-year-old Kornkrit’s love of photography was not discovered instantly. “At first I didn’t like photography because I was not so good at the chemical and mathematical side of it, but after time I came to understand the theory of it better, and so I can do what I want to do more now,” he reminisces.

Kornkrit’s latest solo exhibition is somewhat striking to say the least. The first impression of the white room on the seventh floor of Chulalongkorn’s Center of Academic Resources is that it is very bleak. Not only is it bleak, but there is an unconventional feel about this exhibition. The photographs are not presented to the audience as one might expect. Towering images are placed on the floor, leaning against the walls. Three projectors are pointed towards three of the walls surfaces, displaying slide shows of enormous, blurry images, with hints of colour that evoke pure intrigue.

A ghostly invisible man dressed all in back leans against a tree. The picture is taken from one of Kornkrit’s previous projects, ‘Invisible Man: Leave.’ “The Invisible Man series of photos is about the past. The idea is about a person that doesn’t want to live in the city. He doesn’t know where to go in his life and when he feels so sad and down he suddenly disappears. The invisible man represents parts of me and parts of people around me. It is about people that want to change.”

Elsewhere, the silhouettes of raging horses are shown on five, large prints. “The horses are from a previous exhibition. I love the shapes of the horses and the feeling of them running.”

An image of a bed of sand coupled with another image of a shooting star ripping through a Bangkok skyline add to the stark mood conjured from viewing Kornkrit’s work. A chain of 25 prints adorns the far wall of the white room, with lifeless images of Bangkok by night. “The concept of the longer set of pictures was that something strange happens in the night. You look to see something, some secret that presents itself to you, and you want to know what it is. It is something from the most simple of scenes that present itself for you to investigate.”

“I enjoy using my photography to tell things about my life and the things that are surrounding me. I am expressing something that I want to tell the world. My pictures are me telling parts of the story of my life. Sometimes I tell about good things, and sometimes about bad things.”

Kornkrit’s exhibition is aptly named ‘Ghost Story.’ “I began this project of Ghost Story by looking at my older pictures from other exhibitions,” he explains. “I looked for things that are strange in my past work. This exhibition is about my past, and about things I cannot forget. Like my ex-lover, or a mistake that I may have made, or a bad feeling that I may feel. A feeling I may feel when I walk down the street and it just comes to me.”

His recent focus on urban landscapes may have come as a result of his father’s death. His views on life shifted somewhat and he began to take in the alienating, haunting images that one might not usually associate with Bangkok. If his work is a reflection of himself, then his thoughts must run deep into dark places. “My inspiration comes from things I see everyday, and also a lot form my fantasies and dreams. Sometimes I just look at an object and I get inspiration from that.”

One noticeable attribute of Kornkrit’s photography is that it defies you not to look deeper into the image and question its meaning. The images are dark, occasionally blurry and their strangeness comes in the menial objects and situations he photographs, transforming them into something new. “My work used to be a lot more blurred that it is now. At the moment I am trying to use a little bit more colour and contrast. In this exhibition I am talking about the night,” he explains.

“In a previous show I looked at how to pass the night, but Ghost Story is another concept entirely. I wanted to say that so many different things happen in the night. I wanted to explore that emotion,” he says.

In the future, Kornkrit says he wants to continue with his projects. He says that he can already feel which elements of his current work are exciting him, and these are the elements that he wants to explore further and develop into new themes. “With this exhibition I want to tell stories. Sometimes you cannot find an answer, there are only questions. The ghost element represents things that come up that I don’t want to feel in my life.” Kornkrit clearly thrives on exploring those emotions that frighten and disturb him the most, which must be a reason why his work feels so emotionally involving.

“I sometimes make money from my work, but sometimes it is not so easy. I also do a lot of commercial work and private work when I can. If I am working on fashion projects then things are good for me,” says Kornkrit. As a photographer Kornkrit is hoping for more commercial, private work for the future.

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Daryl Scott is the real king of clubs in Bangkok, so who better to sit down with and find out what the perfect recipe for a party in the City of Angels is?

Hi Daryl, how are you doing today?

I am doing fantastic to say the least! On my computer now shoving flautas down my throat drinking Herradura margaritas at Coyotes Mexican joint! Watching their cute waitresses.

How did you come about to be in Bangkok working in the club scene?

After September 11, a few deaths in my family, and my apartment building catching on fire, I decided I wanted a slight change in my New York life. So to cut the bullshit short, Andrew Clark from Qbar brought me here to run Qbar for a year, and to open a new one and it was all groovy. Set up my freaky foundation!

How has the club scene evolved during your time here?

The nightclub scene has always been very unpredictable and inconsistent in Bangkok. Qbar was the pioneer fo’ sho, then I think it started to evolve when I opened Mystique. I tried to take the party scene to another level. I just wanted to throw sick, sexy, over-the-top theme parties. That’s what I know best, midgets, dancers, anything retro, sucking vodka out of the nipples of ice carvings.

What were some of the mistakes that were made with Mystique and what did you learn from that club?

Well, who knew the government would make these zones, and we opened a mega-club in a residential area. That screwed us and we shut.

Superfly is here at last, so what can we all expect from that? Anything new?

Superfly will be great. We are focusing on a killer 7-nights-a-week branded, theme nights. Just wait till you see the crazy parties we have in store. Hype magazine and Superfly will make love together the last week of every month to do an eclectic, funktastic, musical theme party for your soul. Superfly is all about creating an amazing atmosphere around the music. That has always been my specialty and always will be.

With Astra relocating and Timeout closing, what sort of state do you think the club scene is in right now?

I am sure if they were raking in the money, they wouldn’t be shutting down. It’s like sex, if it is amazing, you keep doing it! If it tastes good, you keep eating it, if it feels good, you keep feeling it. Don’t believe the hype.

Are you more concerned with running local nights or bringing in international talent?

It is all about branding your local nights around the music and theme. I care more about my local DJs. It has to really make sense for me to do an international DJ. I would create a huge theme and environment around him or her.

Do you take any slack for booking DJ Domination so consistently?

Bangkok and everywhere has haters, he has been a great friend of mine for 14 years. Saw him tour with Wu Tang, and many others, worked with him in the studio in Miami. Let me put it to you this way: If I was a DJ I would promote the balls out of myself like I do as a club owner, then you get popular, you get a lot of work, you make more money, it’s business.

What are you hoping to bring to the table in 2007?

We are entering a new realm now. It is the time to put a dip in your hip, and a glide in your stride. I am the preserver of the booty. I will make sure you put a boogie in your butt.

Where do you personally go for on a night out in the city?

It depends on the music I listen to before I leave my apartment. If it is rock and roll, I want to get tattooed, eat at a food stall, go to DJ Octo’s night on Thursday and pull my pants down on the dance floor. I love to go to Funky Dojo and the Tunnel too.

How difficult is it to work with the powers that be in Bangkok ?

It comes with the territory of the nightclub business here. It can be very rewarding but very frustrating at the same time. I never get jaded, upset, pissed, violent, suicidal, but I do what I gots to do, and take care of who I gots to take care of.

What does God on Silom soi 2 add to the nightlife scene in the city?

It is a no-holds-barred, psycho nightclub where the alternative lifestyle vampires can suck each others blood and shake what they haven’t shaken before! Total debauchery. Gay, straight, limbless, whatever you are and whatever you want to be, everyone partying together to make a great freak cocktail.

And finally, what makes the perfect night out in the City of Angels?

A bottle of anything and a glazed doughnut to go.

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If you’ve been anywhere near a party in Bangkok during the past 12 months, then you will have heard DJ Oum’s energetic electro assault. Terrorizing dancefloors at the likes of Astra, Glow and Bed, Oum is one of the main players on the Bangkok DJ circuit. You can’t miss him, thanks to his black-rimmed glasses and shaved head. All HYPED up and with somewhere to go, we caught up with the local superstar to see what makes him tick.

Why did you decide to become a DJ in Thailand? It’s not an obvious career to choose.

Just for the sake of loving the music I play.

Do you have any other musical background apart from DJing?

I started learning Piano at the age of five. Then I moved into band instruments (drums, guitar) as a teenager, founded an alternative band called Box-Sur with another three friends who were playing music together at that time. Box-Sur had its first album released in 1996 with Stone Entertainment. With a fast growing indie scene at that time it was quite a success.

Where are all the other DJs in Bangkok? It seems like there are not very many out there. Why is this and when will it change?

I’m sure there are many good ones out there who never had a platform to perform their passions. The scene is limited even though there are quiet a lot of good clubs here but most of them are farang dominated. That makes it harder for Thai DJs out there to make it I guess. For me, it’s not really a problem though ’cause a lot of them are my good friends.

Do you have any other jobs apart from DJing?

Co-producer Nimit productions.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at a party you were DJing at?

Drunk, naked lady. People fucking. Some dude tried to steal my job! Busted for playing extra hours.

Do you get many groupies in Bangkok or are all the girls well behaved towards you?

Can’t really talk to them much. I’m a dead meat if my girl finds out! Maybe you have to ask my mate J-Montonn Jira.

Have you ever had the chance to play in any other countries, or do you plan to in the future?

Haven’t played outside Thailand yet but would like to play in Melbourne, Tokyo, Berlin and Gent, Belgium at Culture Club.

Have you had time to produce any of your own tracks yet?

Yes, I produced an album 10 years ago and some tracks which haven’t been released yet.

If you could organize your dream party in any venue, any country, with any DJs, who would you have, where, and why?

There are two types of parties I would like to throw. One is in a warehouse with loads of party people, and I would like to play with Felix Da Housecat, Miss Kittin and The Hacker.

Another one is in the basement with only real electro-lovers spinning pure electro with Meccanoid crews (www.meccanoid.com) and Cream Organization artists like Legowelt. I want people to dress up like they were secret agents. That would be fun. I personally want to have a party where I do not have to worry too much about making people dance.

The reason why I would like to throw one with real electro lovers is that these people would enjoy the chunky basslines, fat beats, old school vocoder and heavy synthesizer like I do. Would be hard to make it happen here since there are very few people who would truly love that. Melbourne, Gent and Berlin are the three cities I would love to have my dream parties in.

Where’s the best place in Bangkok for an afterparty?

At the moment there isn’t anything interesting. Zurich was the best place (of course!). Hanging out at friends’ house parties would probably be the coolest for afters, and the next one would be No.53.

What was your favorite toy to play with when you were a kid?

Those small rideable motorbikes. I called it mini-bike.

What does your mum think about your music?

She supports whatever I do. My mom is pretty cool and understanding.

If you could only live with one type of food for the rest of your life and one record, what would you live with?

Probably chicken rice or beef green curry with rice. For the record it would be Karabao!

Now that you’re 30, do you think you’ll keep DJing in the future or do something else?

I will keep on DJing. I’m full of energy. I’ll travel the world to DJ. Hopefully to be producing an album sometime in the near future. I don’t know what I would be doing in the next 10 years but music remains my passion.

Finally, what’s the funniest joke you know?

My Dad’s dirty jokes.

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Supermodel Cindy Crawford visited Gaysorn shopping mall in Bangkok last Tuesday to promote a new luxury jewellery collection.

“They couldn’t have picked a person that is more of a time freak than me,” said mother-of-two Cindy on her role as an ambassador for the Omega jewellery and watch brand. “I’m able to get a lot more done if I am punctual.”

A large group of reporters and members of the general public crowded around the small publicity area on the lower-ground floor of Gaysorn to get a glimpse of the world renowned supermodel as she promoted Omega’s Bijoux Collection.

“We chose Cindy because we believe, like Omega, Cindy stands for quality and classic style,” said Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega International.

“I only arrived yesterday, but so far I’ve had a chance to eat some delicious Thai food, I’ve been shopping and had a massage,” said Cindy. “I don’t get rocognised so much in Thailand, but I have signed a few autographs when I’ve been out.”

“I love Thailand because the people are so wonderful and hospitable,” continued Cindy. “I would love to stay longer but I have to fly back tomorrow to attend my daughter’s pre-school graduation.”

Traveling all over the world as an ambassador for Omega, Cindy is also able to do some charity work, as all of Omega’s ambassadors, including Nicole Kidman, are able to do. “So far we’ve been to places like Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai,” said Cindy.

“Today we will be holding an auction with all of the proceeds going to Unicef,” added Stephen.

Omega itself, an established brand of quality jewellery, has been investing time and money into the launch of a new boutique on the ground floor of Gaysorn. “Omega is still the first and only timepiece to have been worn on the moon,” said Stephen with some pride.

He continued: “Omega as a brand has been doing very well in Thailand. What we have found is that the Thai market is actually very knowledgable when it comes to watch and jewellery collecting. Omega has a pretigious history in fine jewellery-making stretching back over 150 years now.”

When asked about her secrets to staying beautiful, Cindy replied “The secret is, there are no secrets.”

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