Friend's tireless aid to Thais hit by floods inspires photographic fund-raiser to rebuild homes

Model turned photographer David Elliott

Locally based model-photographer David Elliott’s first exhibition, A City Under Water, at JaaBar in Central, is a fund-raiser to help victims of last year’s flooding in Thailand.

“Last November, I made a four-day trip to the heart of the flood zone,” Elliott said. “A friend of mine was heavily involved in the flood aid. Every morning, we were arranging and picking up supplies and driving to Pathum Thani [province], where we would rendezvous with the boats – a necessity in navigating the floodwaters. The waters rose to the shoulders of the few people whom braved them. There was such a starkness in contrast to the imagery I captured and to the murky, milk tea-coloured water which we were floating in.”

Lending their support at Saturday’s exhibition opening were models David Oshry and Anna Rivera, photographers Jesper McIlroy, William Furniss and Lucy McNally, actor Darren E. Scott and socialite Yumiko Honda.

“The project was inspired by my friend Mednune and her devoutness to help the Thai people,” Elliott said. “She was there working tirelessly, as long as there was one person suffering, she was getting up and about working. In the wake of any calamity, we all want to do something, and it was then I decided the imagery I captured, could be used as a device to help her bring something back to the beautiful souls of Thailand. All proceeds from sales will go towards re-building homes for those who lost theirs to the flooding.”


CITYSEEN
P. Ramakrishnan
Jun 14, 2012

David Oshry, David Elliott and Darren