On the right hand side is a storm of colours that invite you to ponder its intricacy. On the left is an aerial view of a landscape of forest and blue-gray water. These two massive three-panelled abstract works, by Joe Delaney and Soichiro Shimizu respectively, form the entrance to the recently-opened Bridge Art Space, the latest addition, following hot on the heels of Speedy Grandma and Soy Sauce Factory, to the growing art community in Charoen Krung.
An installation by Tada Hengsapkul.
"The space was in a beautifully derelict state when we first looked around," says co-founder Dan Burman, who named the gallery for its location near Taksin Bridge. "The atmosphere and the potential of the building as a site for the generation and propagation of the arts, in their many forms, was tangible. This art space is a means to connect with an audience, a place of collaboration and a journey."
Delaney's painting and Shimizu's mixture of painting and engraving are part of the gallery's inaugural exhibition "Threshold". The exhibition also features five other international and local artists whose works are installed throughout the four-storey block, from Tom Meddings' Japanese manga-flavoured illustrations, Ryuhei Asano's white-on-black intricate lines, Tada Hengsapkul's mystery room installation, Sina Wittayawiroj's projection on fluorescent tubes and Lee Anantawat's shrine of excrement.
Reactivate 3 by Soichiro Shimizu.
On the opening night last week, French artist Pierre Bechon took over the third floor and put on the time-and site-specific performance "Sunyzer". With energetic music as accompaniment, Bechon removed his clothes and embarked on what appeared to be an Icarus-like journey to worship the Sun.
Burman named the exhibition "Threshold" to reflect the exchange and integration of both old and new ideas that formed the exhibition.
"We are at an intersection of contradictory ideology; between Sathorn Unique, a monument to the 1996 financial crisis, and Wat Yannawa, a busy Buddhist temple," says Burman. "We exist on the cusp of both Old Town/Chinatown and the central business district, with downtown on one side and the river on the other. We brought artists together, to connect and respond to each other and the particular location and moment we inhabit."
Lee's playful parody of tradition in Holy Poo is a good example of this dialogue between the old and the new. On the right hand side, there's a shrine for excrement with a donation box for toilet paper and air freshener. On the left are Chinese fortune-telling sticks (Kau Cim) which are shaken to reveal the user's fortune. Results include "Out Of Body Experience", "Stepping On Golden Dog Poo", "Nice Pooping Session" and many more.
'Threshold' is on display until Oct 11 at Bridge Art Space, Charoen Krung 51. The gallery is open daily 10am-midnight. Call 086-986-9421 for more information.
