Thailand LOWRIDER Culture

Finding a familiar culture far from home

A good friend of mine from Albuquerque moved to Thailand more than a decade ago. Last year, I went to visit him and make photographs. Before I left, I had seen on social media that there were lowriders in Thailand. That was all I needed to know. I sent a few messages, made a few contacts, and followed the trail.

Once I got there, I realized most of the people I had been messaging did not speak English, and I only speak a few words of Thai. Still, with a lot of help from Google Translate, which only seemed to catch about 30 percent of what was actually being said, I managed to make friends and start making pictures. I moved through Bangkok and traveled around the country, meeting people and photographing the scene as I went.

A big part of that was a chance meeting with Lu Ku, also known as Chino Loco. He opened doors, made introductions, and connected me with people in the lowrider world. What amazed me was seeing a culture so familiar to me from home, thousands of miles away in Southeast Asia. The pants were creased with the same precision I have come to appreciate. The socks were pulled up high. People hit switches in classic Impalas the same way they do back home.

I was not there to judge what the culture meant to them. What I saw was real respect for something far from where they were born, and they seemed to be living it fully. I was excited to see so many lowriders there, and even ended up driving a beautifully restored 1959 Oldsmobile in Chon Buri.

That is the thing about lowriding. It is worldwide now. I come from a place where the history runs deep, so seeing it translated across borders felt both surreal and familiar. I watched lowriders being hand-built in the jungle. I went to a tuk-tuk garage to fill a lowrider bike with air. I came looking to make photographs, and I left with a new set of friends and a tattoo.

Two men with sunglasses, dressed in streetwear, pose on a city sidewalk with trees and a white wall in the background. One man is standing, the other is squatting.

A woman adjusting her Raiders baseball cap at a night market or outdoor stall, wearing a plaid shirt and jewelry, with a focused expression.

Three tattooed people at a nighttime party, standing close together. The woman in the center has numerous tattoos and is holding a drink. The two men on either side are also covered in tattoos, one wearing sunglasses and a tank top, the other in a da

Black and white photo of a person's tattooed hands with rings and watch, taken from above, showing details of tattoos and accessories.

A man wearing sunglasses, a plaid shirt, and jeans riding a bicycle on a city street, with cars and building facades in the background.

Three men wearing sunglasses and streetwear posing in front of a graffiti mural, with one pointing and another making a gesture, in a black-and-white photo.

A man with glasses on his head and tattoos on his arm, wearing a varsity jacket, stands with hands pressed together in a prayer or greeting gesture in front of a graffiti-covered metal wall.

A group of eleven men standing on a street at night, dressed in casual streetwear, with some wearing sunglasses and caps, in an urban neighborhood with buildings and cars in the background.

A person wearing a Batman mask, sunglasses, a jacket with the word "Classic" on it, and gloves, standing outdoors with trees and plants in the background.

A young boy wearing a football jersey and a cap, looking to the side, black and white photo.

Close-up of a vintage car front with Thai license plate, Chevrolet emblem, and chrome grille in black and white.

A young man with tattoos on his arms, wearing a plaid shirt and a headband, sitting and looking into the camera in a dimly lit room.

Black and white image of a person showing their forearms with tattoos, pillowing 6 fingers, wearing a watch and a necklace.

Black dice with white dots and a necklace with the word 'TOWRIDER' hanging from the dashboard of a vintage car, black and white photo.

A young man standing in front of a graffiti wall, pulling open his plaid jacket to reveal a shirt underneath with a large pendant necklace. He is wearing a cap and has rings on his fingers.

Group of young men posing on a city street at night, some wearing sunglasses and sports jerseys, with motorcycles and cars in the background.

A black and white photo of a shirtless man with multiple tattoos on his chest and neck, looking upward with his head tilted back.

A person showing their clenched fists with tattoos, wearing a ring and a T-shirt with a geometric design, outdoors with a blurred background.

A smiling tattooed man sitting cross-legged on the floor, holding a young child on his lap, both inside a room with a door open to the outside. The man has tattoos on his chest, arms, and neck, and is barefoot. The child has a serious expression and

Five men standing in a line in front of vintage cars and bicycles in a warehouse, black and white photo

A man with tattoos covering his face and head, wearing sunglasses, gold teeth, a white shirt with text, and a beaded necklace, in a black and white close-up portrait.

A woman sitting on a chair, holding a can, in front of a religious painting of the Virgin Mary with hands in prayer, surrounded by roses, in a black and white photo.

Three people sitting on a leather couch in a room with decorative wall art behind them. All three are wearing white shirts, and the two women on the sides hold up their fists, showing tattoos on their arms. The man in the middle wears dark sunglasses

A tattooed man with shaved head serving food from bowls at a table in a room with wooden slatted walls.

A black and white portrait of a woman with braided hair, wearing a bandana, spaghetti strap top, and layered necklaces, looking at the camera.

Two individuals posing in front of religious art featuring the Virgin of Guadalupe. The man on the left is wearing sunglasses, tattoos, and a patterned shirt, holding a drink, with his arm around the woman's shoulder. The woman on the right is wearin

Man with tattoos and sunglasses on his head practicing tattooing on someone's skin.

A man with tattoos, wearing a cap and chain, kneeling and holding a young girl with a pacifier at a night market. The girl has short hair, wearing a dress and Crocs, looking at the camera. Market stalls with lights line the background.

A young child standing behind a glass door, looking out. The child is barefoot and wearing a dark t-shirt and shorts. Two slippers are placed on the floor outside the door.

A vintage 1963 Chevrolet car with a black convertible top in a garage with other vehicles and people in the background.

Two tattooed individuals sitting at a table, looking at their phones and smiling, in a casual indoor setting.

Two tattooed men, wearing sunglasses, engaging in a handshake in a room with floral and butterfly wall art, a framed certificate, and decorative murals.

A person with tattoos on their back, including the word "California," standing in front of a decorated mirror with roses.

A black and white photo of a vintage car parked inside a cluttered garage or workshop with tools hanging on the wall and various objects and debris around.

A man with numerous tattoos and sunglasses standing in an urban setting, wearing a graphic T-shirt with a woman’s face and other artwork, in black and white photography.

A tattooed man with tattoos covering his chest, arms, and neck, standing outdoors under a covered structure, with a vehicle and green trees in the background.

A group of men wearing sunglasses and casual clothes sitting inside a small brightly painted green room, some standing and some seated, with one woman and a man sitting outside at small tables with food and drinks, and a motorcycle parked in front.

A tattooed man wearing sunglasses, a white 'Dodgers' baseball jersey, blue knee-length shorts, and black sneakers stands on a city street at night with a black and white sign behind him.

Three vintage classic cars parked in a driveway in front of a modern house, with the middle car being a green 1963 Buick.

A group of seven diverse people posing in front of a religious icon of the Virgin Mary surrounded by roses, inside a decorated room with shelves of figurines, art, and plants.

Two men in urban streetwear pose outdoors with potted plants and trees in the background. One man is standing and the other is squatting. Both wear jackets, sunglasses, and bandanas.