The 12 Thai Values is a conceptual exploration of national identity, cultural assimilation, and historical narrative through the medium of Thai coins. This project examines how state ideology is embedded within everyday objects, focusing on the balance between Thai currency and the 12 Cultural Mandates (1940s) and 12 Core Values (2014) issued by the Thai government. By presenting coins as artifacts of the institution, the series discusses how objects can reinforce national identity and cultural norms to both its people and to foreigners.
The coins used for this series are drawn from my grandfather’s coin collection, spanning the 1930s to 2019. This collection serves as an archive of political objects, embodying institutional cultural policies that have shaped Thailand.
Through the use of macro photography, the project amplifies the details of these coins, shifting them from functional objects to ideological symbols. The combination of light, texture, and scale isolates the coin’s engravings, offering viewers a new perspective on an everyday object and inviting them to reconsider an object that is usually overlooked on a daily basis.
Thawiphum Techaphan is an emerging Thai-Canadian photographer based in Toronto, Canada. He specialises in macro, street, and conceptual photography. Drawing inspiration from his background, Thawiphum uses his work to document his life in Thailand and Canada, exploring the cultural and social differences and similarities, as well as using it as a tool to enhance his conceptual work. Through his photography, Thawiphum hopes to create works that resonate with people from different cultural and social backgrounds and inspire open discussion about the world we live in.