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The Night Scene & the Riots
- AN OUTLAW EX-PRIME MINISTER'S LEGACY

William R. ''Will''  Morledge,   News page correspondent (Midnite Hour) and contributing editor -
 book reviews.
Bangkok,
01 May 2009
William R. Morledge

May's Nightlife News
Bangkok Nightlife - 15 Years Ago   
Ask Us - Matinee Massages
A Thai Smile......
Graffiti - Bangkok's Art Vandals # 43








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Godspeed, Mr. Rick

Richard Omer Menard
? - 2009
      We were informed by his daughter that Rick Menard, creator, owner and manager of the Grand Prix bar, passed away 16 April at 12:30pm, in Las Vegas from lung cancer.   He leaves behind a wonderful family and a trail of friends stretching around the globe.

      Entrepreneur, raconteur, innovator, chef - these are among the many 'hats' Rick wore while at the helm of the world-renown Grand Prix.   He was a generous and good-natured host to friends and strangers alike.   'Mr Rick' was an inextricable part of the 'Bangkok fabric', and will not be forgotten by the hoard of friends still remaining in this City of the Angels.



         For those of you who may have missed our November 2008 issue, *CLICK HERE* and see Rick's own remarkable story of his life in Southeast Asia, and beyond.
.




         The Midnight Hour rarely takes an interest in Thailand's political matters - and then, only when these matters affect our local Night Entertainment Scene.   This month we will discuss the recent Songkran riots with a long-time observer of Bangkok's nighttime activities; a person we will call Somchai.

         MH:        The Nation (newspaper) headlined the recent rioting as 'Songkran Inferno'.   Whether or not this language was on the slightly-hyperbolic side, the news and photos of the unfolding violence reached around the world.   Do you feel that this news had a negative impact on Thailand's, and specifically, Bangkok's expat Nightlife Scene?

         S:    Answering that will be easy, however answering without bias will be difficult - especially when I have spent a number of days at the several hotspots around town, including the final day of Red Shirt rioting at Government House.   There was, by the way, enough real fire to go around -and I don't mean gunfire- as well as the threat of a wholesale 'inferno' - I'm sure there are some individuals, some neighborhoods, out there that would buy into The Nation's headline.   Remaining as objective as possible, we can look to hotel occupancy rates as an indicator of how tourism in general was affected, and from that, extrapolate that the Night Life Scene was affected proportionately.   Generally, hotel occupancy is lower in Bangkok during the Songkran holidays, however several hotels noted that this year's Songkran occupancy was slightly lower than anticipated - but all by single-digit drops, I might add.

Lest we forget....

- From THE NATION, 2005   
You were saying, Mr T.?

         MH:    Did you get any indication from bar owners or managers as to whether the Songkran riots hurt business?   And if so, which areas were affected?

         S:    Talking with bar owners is not usually a reliable source of information - some will try to tell you what you want to hear, some will tell you that business was great, so that you will, in turn, report that they have the most successful bar in the Universe, and there are even some that will tell you the truth - an old Night Owl truism.   We should remember that this is Central Thailand's 'hot season', and traditionally tourism -including Nightlife tourism- is down.   However in recent years, as Thailand's tourism industry has matured, there has been less of a drop-off in tourism during the 'hot season'.   But, in direct answer to your question, there was, as expected, no consensus among the several bar owners as to whether there was a drop-off in business.   The only thing we can be sure of was the Nightlife Scene did not shut down during the days of civil unrest - and both Cowboy and Nana were celebrating Songkran in the usual manner from morning till night.

      The use of Humvees instead of the usual tanks was both welcome, and a curiosity - these vehicles have not previously been deployed in Thailand during emergency situations.

         MH:    But wasn't tourism already depressed since the earlier "Yellow Shirt" riots and closure of Suwannaphum International Airport?   Should we not take this into account also?

         S:    Of course, tourism dropped off quite suddenly and quite drastically when the rioters closed the Airport.   And while the level of tourism stayed depressed for several days, it made a relatively quick recovery.   Taking hotel occupancy again, as well as other indicators, things seemed to return to normal about three weeks after the Airport reopened.

         MH:    So, then, let me expand a little - taking into account both Red Shirt rioting and Yellow Shirt rioting, you do, or you don't, foresee any far-reaching effects of the recent protest demonstrations?   

         S:    Actually -if we are referring to just tourism and the Nightlife Scene- the effects of these highly-illegal civil insurrections were, in themselves, actually quite minimal in the short term.   And, in a sense, this is self-defining - the disruptions to tourism didn't last long - that's why we call them "short-term".   What Thailand, and Thailand's tourism industry should be concerned about are the long-term, or as you called them, 'far-reaching' effects.   The closure of the Suwannaphum airport and the attack on the ASEAN delegations in Pattaya have given Thailand a black eye in the international community - it is, quite rightly, seen as a break-down in law-and-order here in Thailand, and it appears to the outside world that any violence-prone minority can make a mockery of rule-of-law.   It is entirely conceivable that these two events have hurt Thailand in the long-term, both in the area of foreign investment and in the tourism and Night Life Scene.   It is a little too soon to measure these effects accurately, however.

      This is the third, and last Siam Gas truck to be strategically placed by the Red Shirts at the Din Daeng flats area.   The gas trucks were used to intimidate both the general population and the government - the threat of igniting the contents was made explicit by the Red Shirts.   The military, however, were not intimidated; they removed the three vehicles in a systematic manner throughout the day.

         MH:    You note that these protest movements were 'civil insurrections', and that they were illegal.   But aren't you overstating the case here?   Do not the citizens of Thailand have the right to protest?

         S:    OK, if you want to go there....   Perhaps you are suffering under the same over-simplified view that the protesters themselves are harboring.   I believe that you will find there are the local equivalents to "the right of assembly" and "the right to free speech".   I do not believe you will find "the right to protest" in the Constitution, or anywhere else.   This is not just a semantical exercise, or a 'spin' - it is essential to understanding exactly what rights the people - all of the people - do have.
         This is not mootable, it is not a 'grey area' - the protesters believed they had the right to be out on the streets, and to violate others' rights by prohibiting others' free movement, or by prohibiting children from attending school, or going to a public park, or visiting Government House, or etcetera - whatever.   The protesters believed that they had the right to destroy public property, to threaten neighborhoods with horrific gas explosions, to burn public busses, to disrupt the right of the citizenry to travel on public transportation to wherever they wanted or needed to go.   They believed that their cause was just, and that this gave them the right to attack our Prime Minister in his official vehicle.   -As an aside, had they tried that in the U.S. or in China, for example, there would have been a blood-bath of the first order.
         However, the rioters' freedom to assemble, their freedom to speak as they wish, did not, and does not include the right to stop even one small child from going next door to visit another.   This goes all the way back to the very roots of "freedoms from" and "freedoms to"; no individual or group has a 'freedom' which allows them to suspend, or trod on the freedom of others.   The Yellow Shirts and the Red Shirts were plainly guilty of civil insurrections.
         The Nation newspaper called the recent Red Shirt activity "Urban Terrorism".   The threat to ignite three large gas trucks and gas-powered busses in an highly populated urban area - if carried out, would have consumed the entire area; buildings, people, vehicles - everything.   Recall if you will, the holocaust at the Petchburi Road flyover a few years back, when just one gas truck overturned and burned.   These are terrorist tactics in anyone's book.


      Neighborhood residents distribute snacks and drinks to the soldiers guarding their area.   Relieved to be rid of the Red Shirt rioters, these spontaneous expressions of gratitude to the military were commonplace.   This photo was taken on Rachaprarop near where the public bus was destroyed by Red Shirt arsons.

         MH:    So, what is the answer?   If these protests, at least all of them so far, always lead to excesses, civil disobedience, and insurrection, do we bar these and other groups from congregating in the future?

         S:    Not at all.   Denial of the rights of assembly and free speech is not freedom - by definition.   But what we have seen taking place over the last several days is actually most encouraging.   In past times, civil disruptions of this magnitude have precipitated coups d'etat - such as in '92 - and this was certainly Thaksin's intention, according to several sources.   However, it did not happen.
         Under the current Abhisit government, the military was called out to put down the rioting.   The key element here, is that they remained under the incumbent government's control - something unique in our recent history.   'Part Two' to the story is the military employed the concept of "minimum necessary force".   The threat of force was there, but they didn't actually have to use it.   This was something that was noted by the locals, and in fact, hailed by the locals.   When out on the streets, I was witness to private citizens bringing Coca-Colas, Krating-Daengs (Red Bull energy drinks), water and snacks to the soldiers on duty and on patrol.   There were several such reports of the peoples' kindness in the Press.   This is the first time since '92 that the military has been looked upon with favor by the citizenry.   All of this is in an indication that rule-of-law is returning to Thailand.   I also note that they, the military, mobilized Humvees instead of tanks this time around.
         On a further positive note, the local populace actually became enraged at the Red Shirts, both in the Din Daeng and Nang Lerng areas.   This resulted in many confrontations between the two - the population is showing increasing signs of tiring of these attempts to "govern from the streets".   The people are no longer buying wholesale into having their lives being disrupted by an unrepresentative thuggery - no matter how often or gloriously these rioters attempt to 'wrap themselves in the flag' - their frequent cries of 'Prachatipatai' (Democracy) are starting to ring hollow - people are seeing them for what they are - a mob.


      Even the Songkran riots had their lighter moments.   This Chinese journalist was taping, and then re-taping his 'breaking news' - it seems he just couldn't stop cutting the top of his head off, no matter how much he hunkered down.   This photo was taken at the heavily guarded, nearly abandoned Chidlom MRT Station.

         MH:    We also noted the abundance of new Humvees put into action.   Much more maneuverable, of course, not to mention that they had a much less Draconian, much more Schwarzeneggarian presence.   But convicted fugitive and ex-Prime Minister Thaksin reported to CNN, and we quote, "They (the military) trapped the people.   Many people died.   They even took the dead bodies up on the truck and took them away."   We note that there were several stories similar to this surfacing immediately after the riots.   We don't want to appear unduly skeptical, but certainly this is not application of "minimum necessary force"?

         S:    "Schwarzeneggarian"?   Well, first of all, we wouldn't want to leap into believing the word of a convicted fugitive from justice, but we must understand that he was not there in the streets with us, or even in Thailand.   So he either made it up out of whole cloth, or was told this by his henchmen.   Remember that all the venues of riotous activity were covered by the legitimate foreign and local Press, and I'm excluding the media-whores at CNN here....   The population was out in the streets as well.   There was not even a single report, or photo, or video by a single responsible individual or media organization of an instance where the military shot even a single Thai citizen.
         But let's put Thaksin's lie to the test - if there were a truckload, or truckloads, of bodies hauled off, where are the weeping widows?   Where are the wailing children?   Where are the distraught parents?   Where are the missing-person reports, and the list of names - as was produced in '92- when there really were dead protesters hauled away in army trucks.   There are none of these, of course, because no one died at the hands of the military this time around.   The Red Shirts have not only shown their disregard for the law, they have shown their disregard for the truth.


      The Red Shirts burn tires and other items near the public bus No. 73 on Rachaprarop Road.   Later, they would torch the bus.

         MH:    So, then, with at least the promise of a return to a rule-of-law society, doesn't this equate to a better long-term outlook for tourism and for the Thai Nightlife Scene?

         S:    Yes, but we shouldn't take it for granted at this point.   These Red Shirt-Yellow Shirt riots have divided the Thai nation politically in unprecedented fashion.   Before, politics used to be a bunch of good-old-boys at the top, all corrupt, all waiting for the next election, waiting for their turn to dip from the well.   The guy with the most 'canvassers', and the most 'red ones' to hand out had it in the bag.   Now with the dawning of the age of colored-shirt adversaries, many enemies have been made, people are actually getting arrested and prosecuted.   The bad blood hasn't disappeared, and it is likely to be around for the long haul.
         As you know, political fortunes can reverse, and the strangest of arrangements can actually come to pass.   For example, who would have thought five years ago that Samak could become Prime Minister?   No one took him for anything but a loud, vulgar, minor politician getting all he could, while he could.   If we want to examine the possibilities downstream for Thailand's tourism and Nightlife, the very worst that could happen would be if Thaksin were to succeed in his attempts to return and once again become Prime Minister.   Remember, despite his recent protestations of wanting "rule-of-law" and wanting "Democracy" for Thailand, his record is something entirely different.   When in office he went on record as saying specifically that Democracy was not his objective.   As for rule-of-law, 2,500 people were extrajudicially executed in the streets and by-ways of this nation - on his watch, and under his oversight - this should never be forgotten or diminished in any way.
         You will recall that the blackest days, or should I say, 'nights' in Thailand's Nightscene history were also on his watch, when he had Khun Purachai crack down on the Night Entertainment Industry across the board, creating politically expedient Entertainment Zones, and threatening to close down entire Night Entertainment Areas.   If you at Bangkok Eyes want something to keep you awake at night, that's it.   That's the one.


         MH:    We remember the bad old days of the Purachaian era very well, and would like to thank you for your 'historical' perspective and outlook on the future of Thailand's Night Entertainment Scene.

      Two Molotov cocktails were thrown in the vicinity of the gas truck parked at Flat 5 on Din Daeng Road; the first one detonated (see glass shards in the photo above), however the second one did not break on impact, and a concerned citizen came over and extinguished it immediately.




            

- In the LAND OF SMILES -


          This month's Thai Smile can be seen most any evening in Washington Square....






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Please CLICK HERE and send to us for publication.   

Many Thanks,
William R Morledge



            
 Historical Minutiae Dept.

 ASK US (ALMOST ANYTHING 


Matinee Massages

- STOPOVER HEAVEN

SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

Hello,

          Thanks for the great website.   Maybe you can answer a question for me?   I have a layover in Bangkok and I'll only be there from about 6 AM to about 1 PM the same day - very short time!!   Are there any massage places, soapy massage, etc., that are open early, like 9 a.m.-ish??    

Thank you.
K.

Hello K.

         First, let us apologize for taking so long to reply.   Your inquiry is, in fact, becoming a FAQ - (frequently asked question).   We recently completed a recon of the Bangkok expat neighborhoods and we found that almost all of the massage parlors - of all types - will open at either 10:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.   We did not find any that opened any earlier than that (however other readers may be advising me shortly if I am wrong / unaware).   If you are taking a trip in from the airport in the morning, you should be able to make it into town in about 35 - 40 minutes, and you should return to the airport at least 1 hr and 20 min. before your flight out (in reality 2 hours not necessary).   This would be cutting it very close, but would just give you time for a one-hour massage of your choice while on your Bangkok stopover.

Best,
'Boge' Hartman



? ASK US (ALMOST) ANYTHING !
  • Email bangkokeyes@gmail.com and "ASK" - -   Click Here
  •           We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in Bangkok - be it Historical or very recent.   Send us an e-mail and we will do our best to answer you soonest.
    'Boge' Hartman
    Historical Research
    * Zootramp Publications



     TOP
    Let the May 2009 Follies  begin...
    BANKOK EYES' Expat Night Scene.

      PATPONG  I  
    MAP
                The Club 66 shut down this last February, however, after a change of owners, it has reopened once again.   It is located on the 2nd floor above King's Castle II.   Welcome them as they step into the line of fire.
      PATPONG I   

                The venerable Madrid has a new sign above the door - which reads "Madrid 2009".   This however, does not signify a change of ownership or the friendly service within.   Keep on keeping on.
      PATPONG I   

      PATPONG  II  
    MAP
                Mike's Place is reported to have a new owner (Lolitas is out).   A quick visit inside reveals a comfortable, if smallish lounge type bar.   Other services not defined.   They intend to keep the original name (until such time as they change their mind...)   Welcome them to the big uneasy.
      PATPONG  II  

                The (Unnamed Short-Time Hotel), up one flight of stairs in Cosmo's Stairwell has locked the door and switched off the lights.   Ashes to ashes - so be it, then.
      PATPONG  II  

      SOI  COWBOY  
    MAP
    Door Art Of The Month
    Award

                Although Cowboy 2 already has enough neon to run the price of your drink up, they have added some more (as is the way of Soi Cowboy these days).   Lookin' good.

    SOI  COWBOY

     THERMAE  ANNEX  
    MAP
                 The Thermae has some new neon up.   The Thai language reads as before: 'Thermae Bar & Coffee House'.
    THERMAE  ANNEX  -  NEAR  SUKHUMVIT  SOI  15
     NANA  PLAZA  
    MAP
                One month after the Mon Cherie Music Lounge A Go-Go Bar closed, the Play Skool (then, two words) opened, and has never looked back (July 1995) - one of Nana Plaza's success stories.   This is a 'for-the-archives' shot of their outdoor neon - better seen from the 2nd or 3rd levels than at ground level.
    NANA  PLAZA

                Another 'for-the-archives' shot, this time of the Pretty Lady.   Again, this neon almost invisible from ground level, although the bar is on that level.
    NANA  PLAZA

      SOI  KATOEY  
    MAP
    A 'Life' Sentence



             A lifetime membership to a Karaoke Lounge?   Ummmm..... can we think it over first?
     SOI  KATOEY  -  SILOM  SOI  4

      SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS  
    MAP
                The Asuka actually opened in late January, but due to invisible neon (recently rectified) we didn't even notice.   Ostensibly for the Nippon crowd, the lovely owner says that she often has farang customers pop in for a drink and some friendly conversation.   They are located 50 meters into Sub-soi 4, next to the Santana Club.   A belated welcome, and wish them luck as they wade into the piranha pool.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The Villa Italia had it's soft opening a couple of weeks back.   Not exactly a bar-restaurant, it is definitely a Night Entertainment Venue.   The Italian owners would like to categorize it as an Italian Lifestyle Venue - a place for young and old to get together for a glass of (Italian) wine, and enjoy the large selection of antipasti and other free snacks.   It is located at the end of Sub-soi 7 (much further into Soi 33 than most of us have been) in a large and comfortable converted villa.   Welcome them to Sin City.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                Legends Sports Bar & Grill, which had their soft opening last month (see our April issue), had their 'formal' grand opening this month, as scheduled.   In the meantime, as promised, they nailed up their new neon - (might we, however, suggest a couple bits of sticky-tape?)   Keep on rockin'.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                The Music Station Bar & Pool has added an outer "sound barrier" around their once-open frontage - it seems the neighbors were complaining about the noise.   (Or perhaps jealous of the Music Station's success?)   Whatever.... let the good times roll.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                We noted last month that the Papa pub was poised to reopen at any time, and reopen, it did.   In the process, they got some additional neon - all is well.   Welcome them back to the same old millstone.
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

                If, on 24 April, you had mistaken Soi 33 for a motorcycle B-movie set, you would be forgiven.   The Renoir Club 1849 - (just the 'Renoir' to you and me...) was hosting the Harley-Davidson crowd who were in town (and will be through mid-May).   If you are an aficionado of two-wheel steel, that was the place to be - some fine machines....
    SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS - SOI  33

      WASHINGTON  SQUARE  
    MAP
                We previously (last month) posted a photo of the recently opened Crazy Girl, but it was mostly covered with party balloons.   This photo is just 'one-for-the-archives'.   The beat goes on....
    WASHINGTON  SQUARE

                The Sportsman Bar & Restaurant, now occupying the old Studio 22 digs (below the now defunct Mambo) had it's soft opening a couple weeks back.   They will be having their official opening on 7 May, and will have some brand new neon (and the rest of the decor) in place.   We suspect the sign will be similar to the below, but we will be back next month with photos, in any case.


    WASHINGTON  SQUARE

      QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA  
    MAP
              The Cockwell Inn, pun intended, has opened in the old Divas digs.   Bar beer remains the operative descriptor.   They've been turning a decent trade so far, so wish them luck as they enter the dark side of 'bright city lights'.
    QUEEN'S  PARK  PLAZA -  SOI  22

      SOI  EDEN  
    MAP
                The Bill Healthy Massage (which has been there since before Soi Eden attained "critical mass") has gone the way of the touchhole cannon - they must have found a way out from under it all.   In it's place is a brand-new Plame Relax Massage.   Modus operandi unchanged.   The Plame has just opened, so they are still getting their neon in order, however the young masseuses are at the ready.   Welcome them to the neon jungle.
    SOI  EDEN -  SOI  7/1   SUKHUMVIT

                Tarntip Massage & Spa have some new neon out at curbside with their current 'menu' of prices.   The Tarntip is a legitimate massage / spa.   Keep on a slippin' and a slidin'.
    SOI  EDEN -  SOI  7/1   SUKHUMVIT

                The J-Hong (a 'working-name') has opened in the recently closed-down Tequila Dragon digs.   They will have some new neon up one day soon, so, we shall return and get some more photos at that juncture.   Welcome them to the big uphill.
    SOI  EDEN -  SOI  7/1   SUKHUMVIT

                The Bai Fern has offered massage for a couple of months, however their earlier sign indicated "Bell's Massage".   They now have some new curbside neon (below), however the same massage services are found within.   The young woman greeting customers at the front said they were calling it simply, "Bai Fern Massage".
    SOI  EDEN -  SOI  7/1   SUKHUMVIT

      SOI  TWILIGHT  
    MAP
                The Bunny Massage ('Bonny' in Thai) has nailed up some new neon - a big improvement over the old.   The Bunny, as with other venues on Soi Twilight, caters to gay clientele.   
    SOI  TWILIGHT

      OTHER  NIGHTSPOTS  OF  INTEREST  
                Bangkok Rocks promises to be a first-class live R&R venue. Their promo material has indicated an opening date of 1 May, which would be right about   ...now.   However, knowing Thai tradespeople as I do, I'm inclined to go with their sign (below) - "opening early May".   Unfortunately we had to go to press before opening night, but we will definitely follow up in the next issue.
    SOI  19  -  SUKHUMVIT  ROAD





    15 Years Ago This Month....

    May

    A PAGE FROM BANGKOK's NIGHTSCENE HISTORY
    Bangkok Eyes jumps back in time 15 years to have a look at who was new - and who was through.   We'll be willing to bet that many of you "Old Bangkok Hands" will be reminded of some bars you'd almost forgotten about.   (We also will be willing to bet you WON'T EVEN REMEMBER an even greater number....)

                The Takara II Bar Ber closed 15 years ago this month.   It was located on the second level - above today's King's Castle II.   This left the once-ubiquitous "Takara Group" with only one remaining Nitespot: the Takara Turkish Bath & Massage (today's Takara Massage), which is still at it's original location directly opposite.
      PATPONG  I  -  May 1994  

                Also fifteen years ago this month, an unnamed bar (the door touts referred to it as the Peter Bar) took over the reins from the New Castle Bar, which had opened only one month previous to that.   It was located upstairs - near Mizu's.   No Nitespot exists at that location presently.
      PATPONG  I   -  May 1994  

                The Bar Play Boy having only recently reopened, re-closed for the final time fifteen years ago this month.   It was located upstairs on the second level next to Takara Massage.
      PATPONG  I  -  May 1994  

                The Melody Bar A Go Go also closed it's doors 15 years ago.   It was located across from Foodland in half of (what was until recently) Siam Drug, next to Cosmos Stairwell.
      PATPONG   II  -  May 1994  

                This month, fifteen years ago - the Montana Pub, up on The Ramp, reopened after a one-month closure.
      PATPONG  II   -  May 1994  

                The Hare & Hound became the New Hare & Hound this month, a decade-and-a-half ago.   Years later, the Hare & Hound would sell out to the Dollhouse (still there today), and eventually moved to Washington Square (still there today).
      SOI  COWBOY  -  May 1994  

                Fifteen years ago this month, the Pretty Girl opened it's doors between the Matterhorn (-which is now renamed 'Red Lips'), and the Star Pub & Restaurant.   Note: -It was owned by the Pretty Lady and Crazy Lady people (both of which were located where Obsession is now).   The Pretty Girl would eventually become today's Pretty Lady.
      NANA   PLAZA  -  May 1994  

    Source: Zootramp Publications -
    Saloon Count Archives and Data Base   



    VICARIOUS ART CRIMES   # 43

    MIDNITE HOUR's

    [ Check out Bangkok's own source of evil spraycans, etc, at Montana Land <link>. ]

    GRAFFITI IN THE NEWS

    Historic Graffiti Uncovered

    - GRAFFITI MURAL BY KNOWN ARTISTS
    FOUND IN NEW YORK LOFT


          Some time ago, the Media covered an interesting "graffiti find" in New York.   The graffiti, a mural, was discovered in a loft in a 10-storey building which was being converted to luxury flats.   The mural was created by many hands, several of which were budding artists in the late 1970's and 1980's, when the loft was owned by art critic Edit deAk.   Among the credits for contributing artists were 'Fab 5 Freddy', and Jean Michael Basquiat and 'Futura 2000'.

          The discovery of the graffiti mural brought an immediate halt to the building's conversion to luxury flats, while art experts Namers, Alberto Murgrabi, Lisa Dennison (former director of the Guggenheim, and now executive vice-president at Sothby's), and others, confirmed the mural's authenticity.

          Once confirmed as 'the real thing', the mural was stabilized by art conservator Harriet Irgang using a process whereby the front surface was covered with an adhesive, then tissue paper, then cheesecloth along with a stiff fabric.   It could then be peeled off - separating the plaster from the coarse mortar behind.   It was then transferred to a light-weight backing suitable for moving to exhibitions and galleries.

          The graffiti mural was first shown at the Gallery 151 (Soho Building) as part of The Wild Style Exhibition - a retrospective exhibition of the graffiti art movement.   Namers have been in discussions with a select number of major museums, and plan to donate the mural to one of these.   


    Forces Of Evil Consume Bangkok

             Youths trespassing on private property play takraw, some using dangerous, unapproved sports shoes.   The area in which they are playing, we might emphasize, is not in an area authorized for sports.   In the background can be seen the many acts of vandalism spraypainted on the walls.   Some of the youths are smoking and drinking beer on the sidelines.   We knew it would come to this.   The world has finally gone to Hell in a handbasket....


    - And now to Bangkok's own brand of Graffiti....


    Graffiti #295
    Kokscrews
    10 ft. high x 20 ft..



    Graffiti #296
    Jademan
    8 ft. high x 18 ft.



    Graffiti #297
    Teemz
    8 ft. high x 18 ft.



    Graffiti #298
    Big Red Heart On
    8 ft. high x 15 ft.



    Graffiti #299
    Sweet Nuthins
    5 ft. high x 4 ft.



    Graffiti #300
    Angelette Cometh
    8 ft. high x 20 ft.



    Graffiti #301
    Layer'd
    45 ft. high x 28 ft.




    GRAFFITI ARCHIVES :
    Graffiti, Graffiti , and more Graffiti - Bangkok's original and ONLY graffiti Site !


       The MIDNITE HOUR Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.

    (Boge's photo, above, is not a graffiti per-se, although there are those who have insinuated....   - Ed)


           
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    William R. Morledge

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 A quaint, friendly PUB &
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