PANISA ONGWAT

Panisa Ongwat is a Thai-born artist based in Naarm/Melbourne, working primarily with analogue photography. She was first introduced to the medium in 2016 through an introductory analogue course, which sparked a deep interest in darkroom printing and film-based processes. Her practice draws on experiences of living between cultures, using the camera to document quiet, fleeting moments with honesty and sensitivity. Through a focus on everyday life, she reflects on memory, identity, and the richness found in the in-between.

I’m drawn to moments that are easily missed, the ones that carry tenderness, quietness, and layers of meaning. My practice is rooted in observing the everyday with care, shaped by my experience of moving between places and cultures. Working with analogue materials allows me to embrace imperfection and slowness, creating intimate and reflective images.

This series of photographs was drawn from an archive developed during my Majlis Travelling Scholarship, which gave me the opportunity to return to and reconnect with my home country.

I use vibrant colour to hold onto things that might otherwise fade, such as people, places, and emotions. In documenting these encounters, I invite others to pause and notice what’s often overlooked, to find warmth in the familiar, and to reflect on their sense of belonging.