Street Report 6 - Phaa Bai

For the sixth edition of 'Street Report' - a series of extensive photographic surveys, this one by Barry Macdonald - the metaphor of "city as tapestry" finds its physical and tactile form in the iconic blue-and-white tarps ("Phaa Bai") seen throughout Thailand. Being the most affordable and lightweight of the tarp class, its distinct striped pattern recurs in almost every layer of street life, from picnics and construction sites to sacred spaces. Besides being deployed for both quick fixes and elaborate draping, the iconic tarp's design has even been observed being mimicked in high-street retail branding.