In 2023, Thailand's art industry continued to grow. Among the numerous events held nationwide, Adulaya Hoontrakul, director of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), highlighted three significant exhibitions: "Colorful Bangkok", "Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023" and "Womanifesto: Flowing Connections".
"Colorful Bangkok" is a cultural festival held in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), government agencies and private organisations. The festival spans three months from November to January and aims to showcase diverse activities including light installations, music and art exhibitions.
For the second edition, the festival has introduced "Colorful Bangkok Expo 2024", scheduled to take place from Jan 18-21 at the City People's Square. This expo will showcase and market various works which will hopefully lead to further opportunities for artists.
Mor Dum was created by Busui Ajaw, an Akha artist. (Photos: Suwitcha Chaiyong)
"'Colorful Bangkok' is a significant initiative created by the BMA, which demonstrates its support for art and culture. This festival stands out because it brings together all genres including performance art, fine art and music," said Adulaya.
Also this year, "Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai" returned with the theme "The Open World". Organised by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, the event features artwork that tackles important issues such as history, cultural diversity, nature and ecology. Thought-provoking pieces are displayed across key venues in Chiang Rai including galleries, exhibition halls, museums, temples and historic sites.
"The Thailand Biennale has been consistently supported by the government which led to its growth and expansion. The event plays a part in developing the ecosystem in Thailand's art industry. The Thailand Biennale has an interesting format as it is organised in different provinces in each edition. In this year's edition, artistic directors and curators are natives of the North. This enables them to integrate northern art with contemporary art. This characteristic makes this edition special. Thailand Biennale will run until March 9. People should visit Chiang Rai to discover this exceptional event," Adulaya commented.
The third highlight of 2023, "Womanifesto: Flowing Connections", on display at the BACC until Saturday, is a retrospective of the group's female artists from the first Womanifesto exhibition in 1997 until the present. It showcases the work of over 30 female artists featuring pieces from past events as well as recent creations.
"It is rare to have a collective of artists still actively creating work for over 20 years. We cannot deny that due to women's role in society, female artists may face more challenges in continually creating artwork, unlike their male counterparts. In this exhibition, the group explores their femininity and art practices together. The exhibition brings together artists who have worked separately for years," Adulaya explained.
People in the industry were thrilled when the government announced that art is one of the 11 areas that will be developed and supported by the Thailand Creative Content Agency, as part of its "soft power policy". Adulaya was delighted with the news.
"For 30 to 40 years, Thailand's art industry has been developed by artists, art managers, private organisations and education establishments. If the industry receives support from the government, the development of contemporary art can further expand the ecosystem and have a more significant impact than in the past. Government support for the art industry is viewed as a long-term investment. However, we still have to wait and see the policy direction."
The trend of art spaces outside galleries continued in 2023. In January, Bangkok Expressway and Metro teamed up with Bangkok Metro Networks to turn 1,000m² of the MRT Phahon Yothin station into "Metro Art". The programme features sculptures and murals which change every three months. There is also an art market and live music by emerging and established names.
In April, Future Park department store spent 10 million baht to launch "Future Art Land" as a new art space in Bangkok. Its opening exhibition, "Festal Life Art Exhibition Space", showcased over 80 pieces from 30 artists.
Adulaya Hoontrakul, director of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. (Photos: Pattarapong Chatpattarasil)
In June, Erawan Bangkok launched "Scene Erawan" which showcased the exhibition "Destiny" by 30 creators from various fields such as philosophy, textiles and stage.
In October, Seacon Square Srinakarin collaborated with 10 organisations and groups including the BACC; Creative Economy Agency; School of Architecture, Art and Design King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang; HOP: Hub of Photography; and Ground Control to create "MunMun Art Destination (MMAD)" as a new centre.
"The pop-up at Seacon Square Srinakarin is an initiative between the BACC and BMA. It offers an expanded space with the same format as the BACC. We support the formation of a community living together. This type of community provides another avenue to help people have access to art more easily. We have to admit that art knowledge is not general knowledge, but we believe that it can relate to everyone. Bringing art to diverse communities may connect people who are curious about art, but are unsure how to access it. This approach can enhance art appreciation and education," Adulaya said.
During intense political turmoil under the junta led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, many artists expressed their objections against the military government through their art and exhibitions. After Srettha Thavisin became prime minister, the visibility of political art in Thailand seemed to dwindle. However, Adulaya maintains a firm belief in its enduring presence.
"Political art is not a trend. It has been around for several decades and will continue to remain in the art scene. If a situation bothers artists, they will react to it and express their viewpoints through their work. It will never truly disappear," she said.
In today's digital age, AI-generated art has become a topic of discussion. Adulaya said she is interested in seeing if any artist can successfully use AI as a tool.
MunMun Art Destination at Seacon Square Srinakarin. (Photos: Seacon Development)
"We should not be afraid of technology; we should control it instead. AI is like other technologies in the past that were considered threats or even replacements. However, they never completely replaced humans. It depends on how we use them. Hence, it is not easy for AI to simply replace artists, but it is possible they can be considered another type of artist," Adulaya commented.
Next year, the "Bangkok Art Biennale", one of the largest contemporary festivals, will return for its fourth edition with the theme of "Nurture Gaia". In Greek mythology, Gaia is the goddess of life and nourishment. Observing how local and international artists interpret and create works aligned with the theme of Mother Earth is intriguing. Adulaya said the "BAB" is a noteworthy event to explore in 2024.
"In 2024, BACC will present four major exhibitions. The first, the 'Early Year Project', aims to support emerging artists. After that, there will be a social exploration of post-Covid Bangkok. Thirdly, the 'Master Series' delves into Thai history, showcasing works by artists who created media art from 1990 to 2000. Finally, an exhibition will present photographs by international artists," Adulaya said.
Beyond The Site by Wang Wen-Chih from Taiwan, at ‘Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023’. (Photo: Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC))
