Chicano Culture Makes Its Way in Thailand

A crowd jelly in a crowded room when a burly tattooed man finishes beating a young recruit and takes him into a hug. This is how the rite of passage of one of Thailand's “Chicano” bands ends.

This Mexican-American subculture has made its way into Asia, with people in Japan and now Thailand embracing the music, style, and swirling of this US-born movement in the 1960s.

Dressed in loose t-shirts and jeans, bandanas and sunglasses that only partially cover their intricate tattoos, some Thais are seen every weekend in the damp streets of Bangkok celebrating the fusion between their traditions and Chicano culture.

But while the Chicano movement was born in the United States as a political and social force to combat oppression against the population of Mexican descent, its Thai reinterpretation focuses primarily on its aesthetics.

“I just want to combine a Thai touch with Chicano style to make this lifestyle simple and accessible,” explains band leader Chalakorn “Leng” Arttanasiri, as he steps off his Harley Davidson.

Rushing his cigarette, the 40-year-old man, with his body tattooed with images of the Virgin Mary, a Mayan goddess and part of the cast of the film “The Godfather”, claims that his group, “Barbarian Has a Gun 13", celebrates Chicano clothes and tattoos.

Its members reject accusations of cultural appropriation, ensuring that they take advantage of shared values of the humble class to create a “Taicana” culture.

“On normal days, we dress like normal people,” Leng says. “But on meeting days like this, we need to have options for our dress so that we can look elegant and show off like the others,” he says.

With a past in drug trafficking, Leng grew up in a slum and was in prison before running a Chicano clothing import business that led him to create this group.

But, despite the hard initiation, they do not practice the violence with which Hollywood usually associates these groups.

“It's just a way to prove their will,” explains Leng about the 13-second beating that the new members must endure.

“We can't go around hitting other groups to prove our superiority,” he says.

“We live in peace because we are in a Buddhist city. We're in Thailand.”

- “We are a family” -

“We are law-abiding citizens who simply love the Chicano subculture,” says Pongtep Singto, a fan of “lowrider” cars, vehicles modified to have their underbody at ground level.

The 32-year-old man became passionate about this type of car from the Chicano culture, collecting and modifying them to his liking, and eventually ended up making them the same.

“Everyone has an honest career. Some may have tattoos all over their bodies, but they're all good people,” he adds.

At a recent meeting, men with ink all over their bodies were chatting lively while their children played in the yard.

Among them was the new recruit, Chaiya Nob, who explained how veterans — only 13 of them who can bear the name of the group tattooed on their bellies — advised him before allowing entry.

“Dressing like that doesn't mean we have to act like males, like gangsters and do illegal things,” says the 31-year-old.

“We have to do good and be respectable citizens. Our choice of clothing may not be appropriate, but our attitude is approachable,” he says with a smile.

For them, the band is about celebrating Chicano culture. And, besides, doing it together. In the words of Leng: “We are a family”.

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