After a tumultuous year, the Bangkok Art Biennale 2020 (BAB 2020) -- a beloved and eagerly-anticipated contemporary art festival -- has finally arrived and is putting a much-needed smile on the faces of Bangkok residents.
This time around, mixed-use real estate projects One Bangkok and The PARQ, located in the heart of the city, have joined hands to host the mega event by offering venues on their premises such as The Prelude, BAB Box and BAB Café at The PARQ to display artworks by several acclaimed international artists that are taking part in the exhibition.
The festival, which runs from today until Jan 31, will help cement Bangkok's reputation as a world-class contemporary art and cultural destination. Locals are encouraged to embark on a fun-filled journey of discovery and art appreciation. Admission is free to these events.
Bangkok Art Biennale 2020. Courtesy of Bangkok Art Biennale 2020
Building on the success of the first Bangkok Art Biennale in 2018, the second Bangkok Art Biennale this year is being held under the theme of "Escape Routes". Bringing together a line-up of more than 200 contemporary pieces of art from 82 Thai and international artists, BAB 2020 is inviting visitors to come and discover, experience and interpret highly emotive and meaningful pieces of art which can open their eyes to solutions relating to global issues that affect society, the economy and politics, as well as the environment. The forms of art displayed at BAB 2020 encompass a wide variety of mediums, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, installation artworks, videos, mixed media projects and blueprints.
One Bangkok and The PARQ agreed to sponsor BAB 2020 in a unique and significant way. In fact, the event is part of an ongoing mission by both brands to provide exhibition spaces after the initial establishment of BAB Box in 2018 as part of the Bangkok Art Biennale within a One Bangkok project as well as the "The PARQ Collection", launched recently to serve as a permanent contemporary public art collection. Both moves underscore One Bangkok's and The PARQ's commitment, as private sector players, to incorporate art as a key element of wellbeing into urban life.
Bangkok Art Biennale 2020. photos courtesy of Bangkok Art Biennale 2020
In fact, both sponsors view BAB 2020 as an important event to bring art closer to people's lives. Their aim is to help do away with the old perception that art is separate from the daily experiences of most people and a belief that it only belongs in art galleries, museums, historical sites or cultural landmarks. As a result, this pioneering initiative gave birth to the idea of installing fine pieces of art for public display in mixed-use projects located in the central business district of Bangkok for BAB 2020, especially due to its ease of access via public transportation.
To ensure a memorable experience filled with inspiration for all visitors and art enthusiasts, the curators have carefully selected an array of contemporary artworks by acclaimed and emerging artists from all over the world to be exhibited at the festival. Despite a number of challenges, particularly in terms of the shipping and installation of the works, the artists, curators and local volunteers have been co-ordinating closely in order to help make this much-anticipated event happen.
For more information/updates, visit bkkartbiennale.com or Facebook and Instagram: Bkkartbiennale.
