Our Place In Their World focuses on a string of moments when the head of state and commoners from the far east—Siam, traveled to the west at the turn of the 20th century. On the threshold of Siamese modernity, King Chulalongkorn perceived the seriousness of foreign affairs with imperial power. His Majesty desired European recognition of Siam as a fully independent power, then made a diplomatic journey to Europe for the first time in 1897. It marked the beginning of an auspicious moment of Siam having its place in the international assembly. The project presents an official narrative of modern-groomed Siam together with the chronicle accounts of commoners. Among the commoners are: K.S.R. Kulap, who took a prominent place in the history of Siamese journalism; Nai Tong Khum, a 16-year-old who traveled alone to Europe and the United States and lived abroad for 25 years; and Boosra Mahin who led a theater troupe to Europe. Their performance at the Berlin Zoo in 1900 was recorded and is now added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

‍Our Place In Their World redrafts the historical scene of Siamese maritime crossing by assembling the remnants of the forgotten with the grand narrative. The project demonstrates the coexistence of different narrative layers in the same moment, in which they are interwoven in a multitude of ways.

Our Place In Their World is commissioned by Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation for The Spirits Of Maritime Crossing, a collateral event of 60th La Biennale di Venezia, 2024. This project is made possible with the support by Thai Film Archive, Office of Art and Culture - Chulalongkorn University, National Archives of Thailand and "The Landscape of legend : The Drive of Cultural Ecosystem in Chiang Saen Basin, Chiang Rai" by Mae Fah Luang University.