Bangkok’s streets move at their own rhythm, a blend of chaos, charm and ritual that caught the eye of London-based photographer Barry Macdonald. Fascinated by the wai, he began to see it not merely as a greeting but as a cultural language, layered with subtlety and history. His project Sawadee captures this gesture across the city, exploring what it communicates and how it adapts to modern life. In the exhibition, the wai appears in surprising contexts: marking social hierarchy between friends, elders and monks, performing in muay Thai or khon, offering comfort in massage parlours, or appearing in mascots, public signs and LINE stickers. Even as younger generations use it less, the wai remains a quietly potent emblem, a gesture instantly recognisable and deeply entwined with Thai identity.
Until December 14 2026. Free. Palette Art Space, 4pm-9pm
