I received photobooks from Somsak Pattanapitoon which is a collection I have known about for a very long time, but I had never seen the entire set until now. The book is titled "Rak Thai, รากไทย - The Base of Siam" (2005–2007). Looking through the complete collection, I learned that it is actually part of a trilogy, consisting of The Base of Siam, Sukho+Thai, and Muang Krung Muang Thep. Together, they form "Sam Krung," representing three historic Thai capitals. This trilogy is a must-have and a crucial study for anyone interested in Thai photobooks, mainly because it carries a deep underlying concept that goes far beyond the conventional beauty typical of Thai photography from that era.

All three series were captured using black-and-white infrared film, delivering the exact kind of striking beauty I had anticipated. However, what truly caught my attention, beyond the aesthetics, was how the concept of "roots" is explored through various lenses. It delves into the essence of Thainess and the cultural prosperity passed down since ancient times. This heritage acts like a strong, deeply anchored taproot that eventually sprouts in a different location, giving rise to something entirely new like the Sanctuary of Truth in Chonburi. In the context of Brahmin-Hindu beliefs, this transition could beautifully and fittingly be described as an "Avatar" or a reincarnation of that core spirit.

Another fascinating detail I noticed is that the photographs in The Base of Siam do not actually feature many literal roots. Instead, large tree branches are used as visual stand-ins. If you were to turn these images upside down, they would easily resemble "Inverted Roots." I am not entirely sure if Somsak intended this, though I highly suspect he did, given the striking similarity in form. Either way, it serves as an intriguing symbol that flips the conventional meaning of a root. Instead of drawing water and nutrients from the earth, these branches seem to be absorbing a "special signal" from the heavens above.

This symbolism extends to the stupas tapering off into the sky, which deeply represent the meticulous refinement of the human mind toward total cessation, or Nirvana, in Buddhist philosophy. These structures feel like another form of root built by human hands. Yet, these roots are bound to decay and erode over time. In Ayutthaya, they can no longer draw sustenance from the heavens or serve as ladders to Nirvana, largely due to human actions. Ironically, the very creators are often the ones who bring about this destruction.

When looking at the photos of the Sanctuary of Truth, there are not as many natural branches as one sees in Ayutthaya. Instead, what sprouts here is entirely man-made, driven by intense faith. These creations function as "Neo-Inverted Roots," once again absorbing divine power or sacred mandates from above, especially if we view the sanctuary as a bridge to the gods. Bound by shared faith, people continue to sustain and pass down this beauty and spiritual wisdom of Thai culture, keeping it alive until the next inevitable turn in the cycle of human change arrives.