Hang

Self-Published in 2024
by Wuthipol Ujathammarat

Printed by Studio2b.bag
Binding: Saddle Stitch with a thread
Printing Technique: printed on DFT (Digital Film Transfer) sheets and screened on a canvas fabric

In Thailand, hassling the hacks of drying laundry is typically an offbeat habit that has peculiarly become an artistic norm. A public display of ‘hanging laundry’ is a common urban vernacular that cannot go unnoticed on an unclouded day. It decorates our city streets with evocative palettes in the midst of obscurely inventive clothes racks, often assembled with everyday objects or hung on an unexpected placement.

This peculiar behaviour of ‘hanging laundry’ in a public space is notably influenced by a confined architectural space; particularly the modern day flats without a balcony, and outdated homes that are cramped up in little streets. Consequently, the homeowners are motivated to improvise the hanging of laundry by adapting an outside space where there would be a fleeting moment of direct sunshine. Through a DIY spirit with an endless possibility, these homeowners continue to reveal new approaches to ‘hanging laundry’ in the most inventive and ridiculous way possible. The craft is effortless, with merely an assembly of household objects to form a cloth rack. Yet the placement often requires a level of creativity; whether peeking it out the window, hanging it on a tree branch, or overhanging everything on an awning.

Despite the fact that ‘hanging laundry’ is a creative expression on an urban vernacular that uplifts the Thai laundry spirit for being resourceful and adaptable, this everyday habit somehome raises a question on privacy and safety. A person’s wardrobe is an honest reflection of their identity. It is a self-expression that inspires confidence, and evidently channels their unique personality and lifestyle. Exposing pieces of their identity in a public space—the hanging of laundry—could trigger an effect on vulnerability by a suspicious perception of others.

The ‘hanging laundry’ phenomenon is a visionary routine and a way of life that significantly enhances an ever-changing culture of Thai urban vernacular. Openly visible from every corner possible, this very Thai habit of ‘hanging laundry’ can imaginably be observed as an unintentional urban artistic installation; the brighter the sunlight, the more vibrant it gets.