A Land Lost: The Mlabri of Northern Thailand

The Mlabri are an ethnical group from Northern Thailand, currently consisting of about 400 members. Traditionally, the Mlabri are nomadic hunter-gatherers. Through deforestation and expanding acreage in the region however, their territory gradually became smaller until they were forced to retrieve into permanent settlement.
 
With the exhibition “ A Land Lost: The Mlabri of Northern Thailand”, the social documentary photographer Sascha Richter illustrates the life of the Mlabri in today’s context. By documenting the process of settlement, his images capture the consequences that go along with the loss of nomadic cultures.
 
This project is based on the research provided by Dr. Sakkarin Na Nan of the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Nan. During his talk on August 30. at Goethe Saal at 19 hrs., Dr. Na Nan will present his research, especially focussing on the different relationships between the Mlabri and other groups within Thai society.