Art has been and still is a vital part of our life and history though it has evolved over the years. The Renaissance gave us legendary works of art like Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's David. Fast forward to the present and we still view art regularly albeit in different forms -- now on a 55in. OLed TV. Hey, Netflix movies and shows are still work of art, don't judge. I understand that there is a vast difference between sitting on your couch and going to a gallery or an exhibition. Guru provides you, dear readers with refreshing breaks like a list of new galleries that are worth your time.
BODHISATTAVA LGBTQ+ GALLERY
Baik Baik Restaurant, Song Phrapa 18, Don Muang
Fb.com/BodhisattavaGallery
Opened: November 2020
Described as a "garage band project" by its founder, artist Oat Montien, the Bodhisattava LGBTQ+ Gallery is an art space that seeks to highlight LGBTQ+ artists in Southeast Asia. Oat, who has worked for museums like the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and BACC in Bangkok, decided to open the gallery when Covid hit and, after realising that despite a large LGBTQ+ community, Bangkok didn't have a gallery that showcased artists who are from the community. "Being a queer artist myself, I would like to show that our LGBTQ+ community isn't just about bars and parties," Oat explains. "I believe that through art, our voices can be heard -- loudly." The gallery, situated in a Balinese garden, is described by Oat as having a "unique energy" or "somewhat queer", which is just right for an art space exclusively for LGBTQ+ artists of Southeast Asia.
"The gallery operation was tailored for this climate," Oat explains. "We open by appointment and do very small openings. All our guests feel at ease and can have lengthy conversation about the artworks. We are very much about representing marginalised voices and bringing together our community so the pandemic safety measures became a benefit that made us even more cosy and intimate."
The current exhibition on display is "Pockets Full Of Rainbows: Selected Prints By Orn Thongthai", which brings Orn Thongthai's 10-year journey as a printmaker into one collection. Riddled with positivity and humour, the collection highlights themes of inclusivity and queer intimacy, which is why it's worth visit for a belated Pride Month outing.
WARIN LAB CONTEMPORARY
Charoen Krung 36
WarinLab.com, fb.com/WarinLabContemporary
Opened: February 2021
Art has always been a medium that has been used not just to promote but to also effect social change, so much so that certain artworks can be censored because of their powerful messages.
Warin Lab Contemporary continues that legacy in their gallery by showcasing art that tackles important social issues. "I believe art has a versatile role in society," says Sukontip Prahanpap, Warin Lab Contemporary's founder. "Apart from delivering aesthetics, art can be a communication tool to engage audiences with social issues. Warin Lab Contemporary is founded with the purpose to be a catalyst for social change." Sukontip entered the art business in 2013 and opened the La Lanta Fine Art gallery on Charoen Krung in 2016. But La Lanta and Warin Lab are vastly different in their purposes.
Warin Lab is focusing on the environment this year. The current exhibition is by Thai artist Ruangsak Anuwatwimon called "Reincarnations III: Ecologies Log Life", which is centred around the extinction of Schomburgk's deer, an animal that was last seen in 1936 and is believed to be extinct due to hunting and urban expansion. Warin Lab also holds educational programmes and talks, which are open to the public. The latest talk was on the critically endangered pla siew sompong or Trigonostigma somphongsi, which is available for viewing on their FB page.
Sukhontip says that the third wave caused them to adjust gallery openings and the number of visitors allowed, but it also made them create and use digital avenues to make content available for the public from video footages of installations to webinars.
HOP HUB OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Seacon Square, Srinakarin Road
Fb.com/HubOfPhotogrpahyBangkok
Opened: June 2021
Instagram has provided everyone a photo gallery of their own that's easily viewed and accessed, and while it has helped in showcasing the creations of aspiring and experienced photographers alike, it still doesn't beat having your work showcased in an actual gallery.
While HOP, or Hub Of Photography, does provide that, it's also so much more than just a gallery. Its three founders, Theerachat "Tom" Potisit, Sirima "Pahparn" Chaipreechawit and Marisa "Eve" Rungroj all come from different backgrounds in the art scene. Tom is a noted photographer that uses his photography to put a spotlight on environmental and social issues. But he makes it clear that HOP is not just about him or the founders. "We want to be able to welcome everyone. It's just not about us anymore. It's about anyone who loves photography."
The word "Hub", Tom explains, is the operative word in the gallery's name. "We want to be a place where people feel comfortable to come, explore, be inspired and expose themselves to other works." Not only do they showcase works from seasoned photographers but they also have the Whoop! Gallery wherein amateur photographers can submit their photos to be exhibited.
Because they only just opened on June 17, the new restrictions haven't hit them though there's still an effect: "We are facing so many challenges at the same time but we work as a team to move forward," says Tom. They did face a little snafu with their FB page after they were blocked for showing what the site tagged as an "inappropriate picture". "It's important for the gallery to be able to show the creativity of the artists without the limitation of being online or social media," he explains.
333 ANYWHERE
Charoen Krung 30
Fb.com/333Anywhere
Opened: March 2021
Starting off as a collection of antiques by its founder, Tira Vanichtheeranont, and dubbed 333 Gallery, the gallery later expanded to showcase Thai contemporary artists with the mission to make it widely known globally.
333 Anywhere has expanded their scope from local to international as they encourage international curators to also display pieces in the gallery. That's not to say though that local pieces, curators and artists are no longer welcome as they continue to champion the works of Thai artists.
Originally started as a Thai-Vietnamese gallery, Tira named the gallery after a popular beer brand in Vietnam: "Ba ba ba" or "333" so that people will know the works exhibited are from Vietnam. 333 Gallery expanded and began to showcase Thai contemporary art, but in the interest of widening the art being exhibited, 333 Anywhere was birthed with "anywhere" being the key term as they seek to show more international contemporary art. They also have an "e-commerce" platform, 333Art.gallery, where artists can upload works they want to sell and customers can get their hands on works of art for themselves.
Though the number of visitors has slowed, it has had a silver lining -- virtual exhibitions, which have garnered a lot of "visits". While their physical visitors have decreased, more people have reportedly been visiting the gallery digitally. Be sure to follow them on Facebook for their latest virtual exhibitions.
