Acolytes of Boyhood

This photographic series documents the daily lives of young novice Buddhist monks in Thailand and Laos. Rather than focusing on worship and religious symbolism, this series emphasises everyday moments, the unifying experiences shared by all boys around the globe, such as playing football in the courtyard or completing homework by the light of a window. By foregrounding these shared experiences, the photographs draw parallels between monastic life and the ordinary experiences of boyhood. The photographs were made with local access and consent, allowing for close, observational documentation of daily life as it unfolds. The series aims to present monastic childhood not as something distant or exotic, but as a lived experience shaped equally by discipline, routine, and play.