The long-time resident on his favorite spots, seeing ‘elephants strolling outside luxury malls’, and more

What does the word ‘Bangkok’ evoke for you?

Bangkok has been described as the Venice of the east. To me Bangkok evokes allurement and chaos. Personally, Bangkok has a special meaning as part of the title of my first video installation, How to Explain Art to a Bangkok Cock [1985].

What is your first memory of Bangkok?

As a child, watching my cousins dive and somersault naked in Chao Phraya River, with the Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun, in the background.

Where do you feel most at home?

I feel most relaxed sitting in solitude in the courtyard of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho. Many memorable works, by Huang Yong Ping, Anish Kapoor, Montien Boonma, and Antony Gormley, have been displayed at this temple as part of the Bangkok Art Biennale.

What is the mark of a true ‘Bangkoker’?

Ouch! That sounds a bit painful. Bangkok residents prefer to be called Bangkokians. Bangkokians are suave, creative, and hospitable. But don’t brush them up the wrong way – then you’ll see the real Bangkokians behind the façades of Bangkok smiles.

Which famous figure best embodies Bangkok?

Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, nicknamed the strongest human being in the land. His work rate and diligence won him a recent landslide election. But with Bangkok’s recent floods his popularity has waned.