A unique exhibition on Koh Phangan offers a rare chance to step back in time. Through historical photographs, personal stories, and fascinating archival images, you can discover what the island looked like long before beach bars, full moon parties, and modern tourism.
We visited the exhibition and prepared a short photo report for you. If you’re curious about the real history of Koh Phangan, don’t miss it.
Koh Phangan today is almost impossible to imagine without beaches, parties, cafés, motorbikes, and thousands of photos being taken and shared every day. But there was a time when photography on the island was something rare.
The exhibition «Koh Phangan’s Living Memories» offers a glimpse into a very different Koh Phangan — an island preserved through the work of Narin Poolsap, one of the pioneering photographers in the island’s history.
Narin Poolsap was born on 1 September 1928. During his early years, he travelled to Bangkok to continue his education through Buddhist monastic study, where he developed an interest in art, painting, and photography.
In 1949, he returned to Koh Phangan and began working as a photographer and portrait artist.
In 1957, Narin founded the Thai Sahakit Studio, providing photography services including film developing, photo printing, and enlargements.
But his greatest legacy went far beyond the studio.
For decades, Narin documented everyday life on Koh Phangan — its people, traditions, important events, and the gradual transformation of the island. His photographs created a remarkable historical archive, allowing later generations to see the Koh Phangan that existed long before it became an internationally known destination.
Narin was also involved in the local community. Between 1972 and 1974, he co-founded Koh Phangan Suksa School.
He passed away on 8 July 2013, leaving behind an extraordinary visual record of the island.
The «Koh Phangan’s Living Memories» exhibition is a chance to step into that history. Old houses and streets, boats, families, celebrations, work and everyday island life reveal a Koh Phangan that feels both familiar and completely different from the island we know today.
We took many photographs at the exhibition and are sharing them here so PhanganLife readers can discover this important part of the island’s history.
