Solids by the Seashore (2023)

[bunniefuu]

-Here we are, Fon.

-Thank you.

-Wow, it's a preserved old building?

-Yes.

The building is over

a hundred years old.

It used to be a tea

house and restaurant.

A tea house?

Architects back then

were really skillful.

So when I renovated it, I tried

to keep everything as they were.

Oh, Shati, this is

Fon. Fon, here's Shati.

-Hello Fon.

-Hi Shati.

I look forward to complete my

project here with your support.

Sure. I'm glad to help.

I read about your subject.

It's really fascinating.

Other artists haven't been so

interested in our beaches here.

By the way, I think we're around the

same age, right? Don't be so formal!

Oh, right.

Anyway, I'm counting on you.

Fon, if you need anything,

just let Shati know.

Please show Fon the area around

the sea walls and sandbags too.

Absolutely.

Now, let's have a look

at your room upstairs?

This is the hall you could

use as your working space.

And here's the bedroom.

You remember Golf, our senior?

Golf...?

Who's he again?

Golf, the good-looking guy

from Tawee Wattana store.

Oh, right.

Well, I was at the

mall the other day

and saw him holding

hands with a guy...

They look like boyfriends!

-Really?

-Yes. Really!

And don't you remember?

Back in school,

he still went out with girls!

That was long ago! You can never

tell, even with the macho ones,

-they still end up doing each other!

-You're just assuming!

Stop it.

It's not our business!

Right, I should just

mind my own business?

You say I'm nosy?!

No, I didn't mean it that way.

Hey! What're you doing?

-Why didn't you chop the cabbage first?!

-It'll shrink anyway!

Doesn't your husband

get tired of you?

Always so crude!

He never spends enough time with me

to get tired! Always at the tea house!

-Yeah, I saw it.

-Unlike your man!

That one, he's all good.

Right, he loves me so much,

he does everything for me!

I bet.

This afternoon, representatives

from local environmental group

has submitted a request

to investigate the process

on solving the problems from

industrial settlements...

As-salamu alaykum.

Walaikum Assalam.

There's some curry left. Help

yourself if you're hungry.

No, I'm still full.

Naema and Farida

also said salam.

Walaikum Assalam.

How're those two anyway?

Do they plan to have babies yet?

Well,

maybe not yet.

By the way, Shati?

You remember Faisal?

Faisal...?

Ilham's son.

I think he's a nice young man.

I can talk to Ilham for you.

How about that?

I will think about it.

Quite a lot of people, huh?

Yes.

It's a popular picnic spot.

I remember when I came here a few years

ago there were many more sandbags.

The sea must've

washed them down now.

Do you come here a lot, Shati?

Well, sometimes.

I like to come and sit here,

enjoying the cool breeze.

As a kid, I loved

coming here with my Toh.

Your... Toh?

Meaning my grandma.

Back then the beach was

much cleaner and wider,

with rows of

beautiful pine trees.

It must be so beautiful

back in the days.

But now it's like my eyes already got

used to the beach in this condition.

I think the roti tastes different

from when they sold it at a stall.

Well, after Abang Hakim

opened this new shop,

he hardly does the

cooking himself.

He mostly just let

his staffs do it.

So, Shati, do you

always like visual arts?

Yes.

I do.

It's like when I look at art,

I get transported

into another world.

It feels so free.

Another world, really?

That's wonderful.

And how about you, Fon?

Why're you making

your art project here?

Actually, a few years ago,

I came down here to do an

exhibition with someone,

about the seawalls,

same as this time.

Actually some pieces

were already finished,

just needed to be installed.

But then...

something happened...

and everything had

to be put on hold.

Was that when the

former mayor got shot?

Yes.

So I felt like I still haven't

achieved what I wanted to do.

Kind of like...

being stuck halfway through...

The other artist you did that

exhibition with, is it Chatchai?

I remember he was working

on a similar subject too.

Yes, that's him.

Chat...

You were also there that time?

Yes.

I may name the exhibition:

"Solids by the Seashore".

What do you think, Fon?

I think it's good.

I think it represents

our work well.

"Solids" refer to

seawalls and sandbags,

all the constructions

that ruin the seashore.

Or you have any other

ideas in mind, Fon?

I'm not so sure.

At first I was interested in the

consequences of these structures,

the end effect.

But I think your idea about the

title is already good, Chat.

Aey, you collect

a lot of antiques.

Yes, I do. Most of them

are from around here.

Did they sell these?

I found them by chance and

they were no longer in use,

so the owners just

gave them to me.

You like antiques, Fon?

I think they are

full of stories.

And where did you

get this mirror?

This mirror...

It's from the old ice

factory in this neighborhood.

When I got it, the locals said

it was a gift for the

opening of the factory.

Should be around 80 years old.

As-salamu alayhum.

Wa alaykumu s-salam.

As-salamu alayhum.

-Make yourself at home.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

Faisal is very famous now.

The mosques in Malaysia

really love him.

Ramadan month last year,

he was an imam in Kelantan.

The people there are

very fond of him.

They say that

his readings are so eloquent,

like an imam from Saudi Arabia.

-As-salamu alayhum.

-Wa alaykumu s-salam.

Long time no see.

And really, has our side ever

asked him to be our imam?

Some have mentioned it.

But over here...

there's a lot of politics!

To have a kid as imam,

they would think we do

not respect the elders.

We don't want to get in trouble.

The kid has talents, though.

And yet they don't support him.

Whoa...!

The elders can be exaggerating!

-No one wants to come home!

-Well...

What are you looking

at, young lady?

Toh, do you think

that the sea today looks

darker than normal?

You don't like the shade

of the sea today, Shati?

I think the sea looked much

brighter the other day.

I want the sea to have that

bright blue color everyday.

I would've wanted to

come here everyday.

But we're already here

everyday, aren't we?

Because you always take me here.

So next time

we should go to

some other place?

No.

I like it here.

I get to sleep on your lap.

I love the wind here too.

Take a nap for a while.

"Beach Morning Glory"

You're going anywhere

this evening?

No. No plan.

Do you like to exercise?

I do some.

Why?

I'm thinking we can go hiking

at that mountain nearby?

Yes, let's go!

There are lots of trees here.

The path is very well-built too.

Not many people come by though.

Be careful when

you're taking photos.

My friend came up

here the other day

and got her earphones

stolen by monkeys!

Guess I should put it away then.

Here we are!

This is nice.

I was worried it might

not worth the climb.

I like coming here,

whenever I feel

lost or not okay.

It feels relieved being

up here in open space.

It comforts me.

Anyway I just wanted

to show you the view.

So, today...

do you have something

that's not okay, Shati?

I think I miss my grandma.

Your Toh?

I feel like, at home,

she was the only one who

understood me the most.

You must loved her a lot.

Yes, I do.

I loved her very much.

Hey!

Show me the photo!

Whoa...

Oh, no!

I look ugly!

Is this really an artist's work?

No, you look natural!

-Can I get a bag of dumplings?

-Sure.

It's the cycle of the seashore

in the monsoon season.

The waves are strong

and usually cause beach erosion.

But when summer comes,

the waves would bring the

sand back to the beaches.

But since they started building

seawalls to protect the beaches,

the erosion became

worse as a result.

And what they did was

building even more seawalls,

until there's no

natural beach left.

Nothing like what it was before.

Like this beach here,

they filled it with

sands from elsewhere.

So it ended up

looking like this.

"Shape of the Sand"

Wow.

They're really not the same!

This is barely sand!

They excavated sands from

somewhere else and put it here.

Different types of

sand can't combine.

No matter how much sand they bring,

the beach will never be the same again.

With these projects,

when their method is opposed,

they'd just switch

to do it another way,

which is still never

the right way to do.

Let's go!

-Sure you know how to ride?

-Yes.

I'm just not sure about holding the breath

while crossing the bridge to make a wish.

But let's just try and see!

Shati, do you have

a wish in mind?

Nope.

I told you I don't

believe in those things.

Fon, you go ahead

and make your wish.

-I'll make a wish for you.

-No, don't!

-Didn't know artists are superstitious too!

-Sometimes, I guess.

Hold on tight.

We're leaving.

One,

Two,

Three.

Hey, Shati!

Why are you smiling by yourself?

What were you thinking about?

Thinking about someone?

No. I wasn't thinking

about anything.

-I'll have this cake if you don't mind!

-It's hers!

She doesn't eat it anyway!

There's plenty of them!

-By the way, what is it?

-You're smiling again!

This is the kind of

smile of someone in love.

No. It's not.

Anyway...

when are you going

to tell us...?

That someone has

proposed to you!

How did you two know?

Everybody knew

except both of us!

Everyone knew that Faisal

asked to marry you.

He's great for you!

You two could get along! He seems

modernized, not conservative.

This is good. So she

can move to Malaysia,

and get away from this country!

It hurts my mind staying here.

That's true.

Fighting against the dam

issue is like skimboarding.

Namning, the Protester

Here.

You sure this one

has no alcohol?

Of course. I still have some

respect for your hairpiece fashion!

Or do you fancy to try?

No.

This is Fon.

-Hi there.

-Hi.

How impressive that you

convinced Shati to come here!

Since I opened the bar,

she still had never came!

Well, I can leave now.

Hey, relax!

It's Fon's first time.

-Let me treat you with a c*ck.

-Okay.

Bring it on!

Our signature.

Make it strong!

You got it!

Toh, Toh...

Is there really heaven up there?

Heaven is real. There's

no doubt about it.

And in heaven, you will

only find happiness.

But the teacher said...

If we do bad things,

or do what Allah doesn't allow,

Allah wouldn't let

us go to heaven.

And do you want to go to heaven?

I want to...

I want to go to heaven with Toh.

If so...

Shati should be very

respectful to Allah.

And heaven will open

its door for you.

So, "End Effect", it is...

Yes.

Shati?

-As-salamu alayhum.

-Walaikum Assalam.

Am I interrupting you at work?

Not really.

I just happen to be

in the neighborhood,

so I figured to drop by.

Didn't expect you to be around.

But luckily, we get to meet.

Alhamdulillah!

The other day I

went down to Pattani

and bought some fish chips.

So I thought to bring some

to you and your family.

Thank you.

-All of these?

-Yes.

You can share them

with your friend.

I'd better get going.

Please give my Salam

to your family.

I will.

Girls here, when

they finish school

the parents all want

them to get married.

It's strange sometimes,

that to be single is harder than being

matched with someone for marriage.

You've seen it

happen a lot, right?

Sometimes I thought

I should just get married

and get it over with.

Considering,

it couldn't possibly

be that bad.

It might be a family the

way it is supposed to be.

You must be tired, huh?

I am.

But it's good to let it out.

Thank you.

Wanna try?

Let's swim!

You're crazy? Now?

Hey!

What? Fon!

People will see you!

Today you look so happy.

Well,

it's been a while.

Thank you for today.

So...

I think I should go.

You also should go to bed.

Umm.

So see you tomorrow.

The other day, Ilham

came by our house.

So we already made

plans for the marriage.

Actually I also wanted

you to be there.

But I think 3 months should be

enough for you to get ready.

It's not too soon and

it's not too late.

About the venue,

Ilham suggested we

could use his house.

I think there shouldn't

be any problem.

Shati, talk to Farida and

Naema. They have experience.

They could be a lot of help.

So that's about it.

Okay?

We'll discuss the details later.

About the imam,

we can let Faisal's

side take care of it.

And we'll have a scholar

in our family, wow...

If Toh was still alive,

she would be very happy.

Why are you so interested

in this topic, Fon?

Well...

I think these constructions

are also nothing different

from our lives as human.

Sometimes it's like,

when we impose

limitations into our lives

and they end up

eroding our own selves.

-Is it ready for print?

-Yes.

"End Effect Exhibition

by Namfon Srisanguan"

The mirror is an analogy

as it's also made of sand.

When we use the sandblaster to cover

its surface back in sand again,

the mirror is no

longer reflective.

It's like when an object is

stripped of its original purpose,

it self-destructs.

I like this piece.

Chat...

Are you okay?

I thought I've already

gotten over it.

But,

it's so hard...

For me who still couldn't

figure out my own path,

but had to be under his shadow,

that I lost all of

my self-confidence.

And now I can't even

tell who I am anymore.

It's okay.

Shati,

next year I want to

take you to Hajj.

I think we'll just need

a little more savings.

Right.

There, we could do ibadah,

make dua for blessings,

and go to places where

there's barakat, must be nice.

What'd you say?

It's good.

Shati!

I'm hungry now.

What do you want to eat?

Shall we go for seafood again?

Aren't you tired of it?

Not at all!

Let's go to Paew's restaurant,

I want to eat the sour curry.

Again? And fried egg?

Fried egg, yes.

With steamy rice...

that's so good!