A recent article in the South China Post on Economics in Asia’s party capital Bangkok caught my attention as it touched upon the topic of economic realism — a subject which is the focus of my paintings. Having walked Bangkok’s famous Soi Cowboy in December 2021, the strip is a shadow of its former persona. As I walked the empty street my eyes were quickly drawn to the neon signage and iconography of the clubs and bars reminiscent of Vegas and NY’s Times Square back when. These neon works were glaringly sexist, culturally biased i.e. Suzie Wong’s. But the rear view mirror tends to soften the rough edges to these advertising mad men’s use of insensitive typography, seductive graphics, and the occasional pornographic billboards. So old that’s it’s now hip. From my memories of living in SoHo before it became a retail mall, NYC’s Times Square had some of that same vibe. Edgy, gritty, and loud. So here we are now five decades later looking at Times Square the theme park. Can’t help thinking I’m re-living the same transition of Bangkok’s entertainment model from Hangover to Disneyfication. Thailand’s tourism economic engine which accounted for 20 percent of GDP has taken a huge hit during the pandemic. The numbers are sobering. However, the cost to the workers whose livelihood centered around businesses that cater to tourists are catastrophic. Many as the Post article points out have no social safety net. A majority share their income with extended families. Economic transitions can be hard to spot when you’re living that shift. But thanks to writers and the creative community we’re able to get a clearer picture of the changes around us.