Taking its name from Bang Pu, the Recreation Center close to where the Chao Phraya river meets the sea on the Bay of Bangkok, this solo show at Bangkok University Gallery (BUG) brings together new work-in-progress developed during my artist in residence at BUG in February 2025 in dialogue with two existing works.

I first became aware of Bang Pu while on a research residency at Matdot Art Center in February 2024 when I was conceiving a new work for the Bangkok Art Biennale, BAB 2024 .

I was struck not only by the distinctive architecture of the Bang Pu Recreation Center but also the way the migrating seagulls were not only welcomed there each winter but actively celebrated as a feature, a tourist attraction.

In the UK seagulls are seen as a nuisance. They scavenge for food in urban seaside areas sometimes even swooping in to snatch food from people’s hands as they are eating. Visitors are implored not to feed the gulls, not to encourage them, while the reverse is true at Bang Pu.

The seagulls at Bang Pu come each winter to seek sun. They have not come from as far as the UK, travelling more commonly from regions such as Siberia, Mongolia and China, while those seagulls from the UK that migrate tend towards the Mediterranean and Africa.

For Recreation, Collins is presenting a personal portrait of her experience of visiting Bang Pu through a series of both still and moving photographs.

In dialogue with this video and photographic portrait of Bang Pu, Collins will be showing Love Brid (2009), a short film portrait of Bridlington, a seaside town on the North East Coast of England which was made entirely from still photographs.

Collins will also be projecting an archive of images accrued to date of Rising Tides, which was a commission for the Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB 2024): Nurture Gaia.

Bangkok University Gallery (BUG)
SPACE 1
27 February – 31 March 2025
09.30 – 16.30 HRS. MONDAY – SATURDAY
(Closed Sundays and Public Holidays)
Building C6
9 1 ถ. พหลโยธิน Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

For Recreation (2025) Susan Collins would like to thank Chayanoot Silpasart PhD, Tuksina Pipitkul and Bangkok University Gallery for the invitation to be artist in residence and their support in making new work for the exhibition

For Rising Tides (2024) the artist wishes to thank:
BAB 2024, British Council Thailand, MATDOT Art Center, Siri Sala Private Thai Villa, Hermitage Community Moorings and Brian Curtin, and Matt Jarvis (as always) for his creative technological support.

Love Brid (2009) was commissioned by Animate Projects for Coastcards.