Like other industries, everything related to the art industry, from museums, art festivals, art fairs, galleries and more took a hiatus during the pandemic lockdown. However, after the lockdown was lifted, the country's art scene started to get a little more vibrant. Even Thailand's largest art festivals, Bangkok Art Biennale, returned.
Here are some of the highlights of Thailand's art industry in 2020.
Political art
When the Constitutional Court dissolved the Future Forward Party (FFP) led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit in February, it triggered young protesters to rally. Apart from the protests, many artists expressed their perspectives of political unrest through their artworks.
Established in 2010, WTF Gallery and Cafe aimed to hold art exhibitions that reflected social issues and allowed artists to express their political standpoints. The exhibition, "Conflicted Visions Again" stood out from others when six veteran artists -- Manit Sriwanichpoom, Jakapan Vilasineekul, Miti Ruangkritya, Pisitakun Kuantalaeng, Sutee Kunavichayanont and Prakit Kobbkijwattana -- reunited to illustrate Thailand's political and social history over the last six years. The show was intriguing because it was rare to view an exhibition created by artists with different political ideologies. The show also exhibited how these six artists' viewpoints had changed since the coup d'etat by the Royal Thai Armed Forces in 2014.
Inspired by the disappearance of Wanchalerm Satsaksit, a Thai political activist, "1 2 10 (One To Ten)" exhibited artworks from 40 Thai contemporary artists including Gongkan, Yozanun Wutigonsombutkul and Nophand Boonyai at Joyman Gallery. The artworks were their messages to the public in order to show that these artists could not stay silent even though authorities often threaten people who criticise them.
The renowned anonymous street artist, Headache Stencil, has gained much attention from viewers due to his harsh and straightforward commentary through stencil artworks which have made authorities keep an eye on him. When he held the exhibition, "Do Or Die", which was divided into two sets at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand in July, he could not announce the exact date for the display of the second set for fear that the paintings would be banned. On Constitution Day, Headache Stencil joined forces with 11 well-known artists including Alex Face, Gongkan and Mue Bon to paint on a wall which was built specifically for their artworks in a space owned by a private sector, so authorities could not tear down the wall. Their mural, People Wall, urges protections for freedom of artistic expression and an end to artist intimidation. People Wall runs until Jan 9, 2021 at The Jam Factory.
Law Of The Journey (2016) by Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei at BAB 2020. (Photo © Ai Weiwei Studio/Preecha Pattaraumporncha)
Bangkok Art Biennale 2020
Scheduled from Oct 29 to Jan 31, Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) 2020 showcases more than 200 artworks under the theme of "Escape Routes" across 10 venues including Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Lhong 1919, Museum Siam, Wat Pho, Wat Arun Ratchawararam, The Parq and River City Bangkok. Under this theme, 82 artists in various fields from 35 countries are free to tackle any issue that they want to address such as migration, unemployment, racism, discrimination, terrorism, pollution and climate change through a medium of their choice from paintings, visual games, art performances, sculptures, art installations and short videos.
Anish Kapoor, the British sculptor, exhibited his sculptures, Push/Pull (2009) at Wat Pho. The five tonnes of deep red wax and oil pigment sculpture is about gravity and tension which reflects meditation -- the rhythmic push-pull breathing control muscles and limbs for inhalation and exhalation. The other sculpture, Sky Mirror (2018) is a stainless-steel dish angled up toward the sky at Wat Arun Ratchawararam.
Law Of The Journey (2016) by a Chinese artist-activist, Ai Weiwei, is an all-black inflatable boat carrying faceless refugee figures and uniquely explores the plight of refugee migrations around the globe, at BACC.
A lighting installation titled, Carp Tale at 'Awakening Bangkok 2020'. (Photo courtesy of Time Out Bangkok)
Light installations
Located between old town district of Charoen Krung and Talad Noi, "Awakening Bangkok 2020" showcased almost 40 light installations by 25 selected artists to add some colourful nights to the City of Angel.
Organised by Time Out Bangkok, the annual light festival, returning for its third edition under the theme, "Re/Wind/Fast/Forward", to reflect on the Covid-19 situation, reviews what we have surpassed, with a view to accept the changes that may occur in the future.
Scheduled between Dec 11 to Dec 20, The Gateway, Journie and Take A Walk, created by Don Boy and Yimsamer, are located at three iconic landmarks -- the Grand Postal Building, Warehouse 30 and Prince Rama Theatre.
Other attractions include a lighting installation titled, Carp Tale created by a group of artists, Digital Picnic. The Carp Tale depicts a carp swimming upstream against the river's strong current and jumping over a magical gate to become a powerful dragon. In addition to creative light installations, there will also be live music and a craft fair.
Silpakorn University's Faculty of Architecture (Arch SU) teamed up with local communities such as Kasorn Lamphu Club and Bang Lamphu Community to organise two events "New World Old Town" and "Khao San Hide And Seek: Khao Soi Khao San", which have impressive light installations as their main features.
Located at an abandoned mall, New World, in Bang Lamphu area, an exhibition, "New World Old Town", featured lighting installations created by Atelier 58 and Wire Knot Studios. Mapping design depicted a koi, a type of fish, swimming in a pool from the first floor of the mall and continuing along an elevator from the first floor to the roof. According to a story, in 2011, street vendors wanted to get rid of mosquitoes in the stagnant waters in the New World Mall. Vendors released several kinds of fishes in the stagnant water including koi and tilapia.
"Khao San Hide And Seek: Khao Soi Khao San" aimed to attract people to Khao San Road, which had become quiet due to the Covid-19 outbreak. A highlight of the event, "Hide And Seek Night Walk With Lighting Installation", projected eight light installations in the area. To make visitors feel closer to Khao San Road, there were walking tours, which provided a delve into the history of Khao San Road.
A lighting project, Read Write Learn Light was located in front of Pimarnwit School, which is the only school located on Khao San Road for 101 years. Another light installation, Chao Phraya Ambient by Wire Knot Studios took people back to the past when the road was a large rice market in Bangkok.
A light installation at 'Khao San Hide And Seek: Khao Soi Khao San'. (Photo: Bang Lamphu Every Day Facebook)
Multimedia art exhibition
"Something Nouveau. Klimt, Mucha, Beardsley" and "Van Gogh. Life And Art" were two outstanding multimedia exhibitions at River City Bangkok. At Something Nouveau, visitors could appreciate classical artworks by three masters -- Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley and Alphonse Mucha -- through technologies such as 3D images and virtual reality (VR). "Van Gogh. Life And Art" presented more than 300 paintings in 40 minutes through LCD screens including Van Gogh's masterpieces, The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Bedroom In Arles.
The list of 2020 art events would not be complete without the art exhibition "A Little Letter From Someone Somewhere" by renowned illustrator Yozanun "Suntur" Wutigonsombutkul since it was the most successful exhibition in 2020. The show could attract big crowds to JWD Art Space every day. Most young visitors were there to view impressive paintings, listen to music and send letters to their future self in the next decade.
Yozanun's 25 paintings were accompanied by 25 different pieces of music by 26 musicians and filmmakers, who created original work for each painting assigned to them. For each painting, there is a QR code to scan which gives visitors the opportunity to hear music play on their mobile phone as they take in and enjoy the environment. Many visitors came in a room titled A Letter To Future You to send their letters in a red mailbox surrounded with spectacular projection mapping and diorama techniques. The exhibition also included a three-dimensional design and Yozanun's first sculpture, Unsend Letter.
It is impressive to see an artist who can create an exhibition that can connect a multitude of people. It was a brilliant idea to collaborate with artists in other fields, which led to fascinating creations and broader audiences. Yozanun proved that art is exquisite and inspirational and can reach a massive audience.
'Van Gogh. Life And Art' at River City Bangkok. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)
At 'A Little Letter From Someone Somewhere', 25 paintings by Yozanun were accompanied by 25 different pieces of music by 26 musicians and filmmakers. (Photo: Wirat Thongchew)
