Contemporary artists shook the art world at Bangkok Art Auction Center's recent "To The Moon" auction with 22.88 million baht in sales, breaking auction records amid a challenging economy.
The first auction of 2022, "To The Moon" featured 122 works from old masters to contemporary artists, with various mediums ranging from traditional sculpture, painting and mixed media to digital art in the form of NFTs.
The minimalist painter Suntur's You've Got My Blessing became the artist's new high going for 2.2 million baht. Memories Of The Sea by Gongkan, by an up and coming artist in the Thai and international art scene, went for more than 1 million baht
Niam Mawornkanong, who has been working for the past 20 years, became an overnight sensation with pieces selling for more than four times their starting price. Each of his three lots went for more than 500,000 baht.
You've Got My Blessing by Suntur.
Street artists such as Muebon and Linecensor also hit new auction records. Meanwhile, a small abstract painting by Thawan Duchanee sold for 1.85 million baht.
The sale also featured 13 NFTs, including Sakwut Wisetmanee's first such iteration, reflecting the standing popularity of the old master in this new age. Sakwut's NFT presented the working process of the master portrait artist and included a printed version of the work topped with a drawing on canvas. The lot realised a price of 2.2 million baht.
The auction was an exciting stage for artists' works to be seen by collectors, where rare gems and rising stars were introduced and affirmed by the art market.
Memories Of The Sea by Gongkan.
Sakwut Wisetmanee's NFT printed on canvas. (Photos: Bangkok Art Auction Center)
