Aside from "Journey Of 999 Elephants" -- an exhibition in which 999 artists joined to paint 999 exact same models of elephants that are now strewn everywhere from CentralWorld, Zen, on the BTS Skywalk over Ratchaprasong intersection and on the second floor leading to the entrance of Central Chidlom to Central Embassy -- the highlight of the capital's art scene this month is "Galleries' Night", which is taking place this Friday and Saturday.
With 38 galleries joining and staying open late, this third edition of the fair -- the first time as an independent event after being part of La Fête festival for the past two years -- is testimony to Bangkok's blooming art scene and also a physical challenge for art lovers, a two-day marathon of wine sipping while appreciating art and mastering Bangkok traffic survival skills. Luckily for us, the whole thing is cut into two "ARTracks", Silom and the Riverside line on Friday and Sukhumvit line on Saturday.
Here are some shows that have already opened, but that we recommend you go visit again, plus those that will open on the day and those we're looking forward to.
Silom and Riverside Line
Kicking off the opening night is French light designer Matteo Messervy's display on the front face of the new building of the French Embassy. Designs range from abstract to those of serene scenes of nature, forest and sea. While on the riverside Chareon Krung area, catch a 15 baht orange line boat to Tha Tien pier, where artist Tracey Moffat's The Ferry Gallery is located. Here, you will get to enjoy her artworks as well as Chao Phraya River at night.
Work by Hélène Le Chatelier.
Over to the other side of the river, in Khlong San district, The Jam Factory Gallery presents pop-up store "The Who?" by Jitsing Somboon, an artist and creative director for Greyhound and Playhound. Exploring the idea of how to turn a model into a fashion icon, he will help visitors create a clothes brand together with installation of materials, photographs, moving images works and performance.
The shows that have already opened and worth revisiting include Speedy Grandma's "Unity Management Course" with artist Thepnara Kongsawang re-creating some of the atmosphere of his one-year army conscription; Bridge Art Space's first anniversary celebration group show "Threshold Part 3"; Kathmandu Photo Gallery's black and white portrait series "Under The Bridge" by Andrew McNeill; and closer to the city centre at Bangkok Citycity Gallery with Kornkrit Jianpinidnan's photography show, which is an experimental blend between fashion and commentary on current society.
My personal favourite, however, is at Whitespace Gallery with French artist Hélène Le Chatelier's solo show "Naked Memories". Boldly honest, her Chinese ink on paper portraits of female nudes are at times vivid and at others shyly obscure. A small collection of miniature bust sculptures have completed the show by giving us a dimension to her portraits that have previously remained elusive.
Sukhumvit Line
On the Sukhumvit line, we begin at Numthong Gallery with "Absurd Aesthetic" by Anon Pairot, which opened recently. But before we get down to the art itself, the first absurdity is how, after a long walk from Ari BTS station, you often find the aircon isn't on, and the only day the gallery seems to be fully open is on exhibition opening days.
Back to the artwork, one wonders what the artist means by the word "absurd". On the right wall, upon entering, a massive amount of (fake) cockroaches are strewn onto four huge canvases, with space in the middle that bears the words "LIFE", "HAPPY", "FAITH" and "LOVE". Serving as a centrepiece is the rattan-woven supercar sculpture Homemade Weaved Chiangrai Ferrari, while on another wall is a series of canvases with a randomly mixed pool of acrylic paints.
Moving back closer to the Siam area is The Jim Thompson Art Center with "The Making Of Golden Teardrop". We all are pretty familiar with Arin Rungjang's Thong Yod dessert-like sculpture from his work at the Thai Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale 2013, but this time The Jim Thompson Art Center has also uncovered and put on display background elements to the original aspect of this exhibition with video, photographs and research documents, and the process of looking back at history through Thong Yod dessert.
More shows that have already opened include "La Vie En Rose", a photography exhibition by Mattanin Voramala as part of Low Fat Festival at Thonglor Art Space, and "The Optimists" by Paul Ulan-Taylor at RMA Institute.
Not that art exhibitions can ever be compared but I don't think "The Optimists" in particular lives up to RMA Institute's standard. While the white drawings on the background mixed of black, grey and dark blue are simple, yet refreshing, I find the inclusion of portrait photography odd, consequently rendering the whole curatorial process of it rather baffling.
Moving closer to Thong Lor, we have a photography exhibition, "Ultradistancia", by Argentinian artist Federico Winer who has travelled around the world and will now make a stop at La Lanta Fine Art. There is also a site-specific installation show "Traverse" by Jedsada Tangtrakulwong at WTF Gallery that I am particularly looking forward to.
Inspired by the experience of walking through a long, dark tunnel, the sense of fear and later calmness led him to construct two covered passageways with various types of materials in the gallery. In a statement, the artist said the structure is made to "prolong the viewer's engagement with the work, promoting mindfulness and positive thinking". I think it could very likely be the other way round.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/galleriesnight or download the "Galleries' Night" mobile application available now for both iOS and Android.
The Ferry Gallery.
Arin Rungjang’s ‘The Making Of Golden Teardrop’.
