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THAILAND’S BIENNALES<br />
t last, <strong>Thai</strong>land is<br />
joining the pack<br />
of art biennialshosting<br />
countries,<br />
with no less than three<br />
major art events running in<br />
Bangkok, Krabi and other<br />
cities through February 2019.<br />
Iconic sites, from the capital’s<br />
famous temples to lush<br />
natural reserves on the<br />
Andaman coast, will soon<br />
host a plethora of artworks<br />
and exhibitions by both <strong>Thai</strong><br />
and international artists.<br />
As a large number of visitors,<br />
artists and curators converge<br />
towards <strong>Thai</strong>land, could this<br />
unprecedented occurrence<br />
boost the country’s<br />
reputation as an emerging<br />
contemporary art destination?<br />
about hosting artworks, notes<br />
Kunavichayanont. Art practitioners<br />
working in such environment also<br />
had the opportunity to engage at<br />
a deep level with local actors and<br />
local communities since the early<br />
stages of the project.<br />
Supported by business tycoon<br />
Thapana Sirivadhnabhakdi, CEO<br />
and President of <strong>Thai</strong>Bev, the<br />
Bangkok Art Biennale promises<br />
to be a lavish affair, running<br />
from <strong>Oct</strong>ober 19 until February 3<br />
under the theme “Beyond Bliss”.<br />
Seventy-five artists, including<br />
international big-names such as<br />
Marina Abramovic, Yayoi Kusama<br />
and the Nordic duo Elmgreen<br />
& Dragset, have positively<br />
responded to veteran curator, and the<br />
Biennale’s artistic director, Apinan<br />
Poshyananda’s invitation to take<br />
part in the event’s inaugural<br />
Right<br />
Chemi Rosado-Seijo’s<br />
photo collage “Bowl-<br />
Pool La Perla”, 2007.<br />
Bottom, Clockwise<br />
Artists who will take<br />
part in the <strong>Thai</strong>land<br />
Biennale and their<br />
previous work;<br />
Dusadee Huntrakul,<br />
Wichoke Mukdamanee’s<br />
sculpture in 2005,<br />
Mella Jaarsma<br />
‘DogWalk’ Two<br />
channel video, 3’ 10’’<br />
2015/2016,<br />
Yuree Kensaku,<br />
Hot Pot Sweet<br />
Dream, 2014.<br />
Could this unprecedented<br />
occurrence of 3 art biennials<br />
boost the country’s reputation<br />
as an emerging contemporary<br />
art destination?<br />
edition. Their <strong>Thai</strong> counterparts<br />
include Kawita Vatanajyankur,<br />
Pichet Klunchun, Dujdao<br />
Vadhanapakorn, Jakkai Siributr and<br />
Tawatchai Puntusawasdi.<br />
For this occasion, indoors<br />
institutional sites such as the BACC<br />
will accommodate a number of art<br />
performances and installations,<br />
while <strong>Thai</strong>Bev Plc is also putting<br />
to contribution its real estate<br />
properties such as the East<br />
Asiatique Building on the Chao<br />
Phraya riverside and the newlybuilt<br />
One Bangkok complex in the<br />
heart of the city.<br />
In Krabi province, where the<br />
Ministry of Culture is holding its<br />
first-ever <strong>Thai</strong>land Biennale in<br />
luxuriant settings, international<br />
and <strong>Thai</strong> artists taking part in<br />
the event have also immersed<br />
“This year, the spotlight<br />
is shining on <strong>Thai</strong>land,” says<br />
Luckana Kunavichayanont, a<br />
member of the Bangkok Art<br />
Biennale’s curatorial team and<br />
former director of the Bangkok<br />
Art and Culture Centre (BACC).<br />
Of course, this attention comes<br />
with a number of questions<br />
raised, particularly regarding the<br />
fact that there are three parallel<br />
events – The Bangkok Biennial,<br />
Bangkok Art Biennale and<br />
<strong>Thai</strong>land Biennale – sharing similar<br />
purposes and timing. Nevertheless,<br />
Kunavichayanont believes it is<br />
in part explained by <strong>Thai</strong>land’s<br />
ultimate readiness to host such<br />
events, both on institutional and<br />
artistic levels.<br />
Since the 1990s, the <strong>Thai</strong><br />
contemporary art scene has<br />
become more and more vibrant<br />
with each passing year. Many<br />
Above, Clockwise<br />
Discussing art to<br />
pave the way for the<br />
upcoming Bangkok<br />
Art Biennale.<br />
Elmgreen from the<br />
Nordic duo Elmgreen<br />
& Dragset on a visit<br />
to Bangkok, Bangkok<br />
Art Biennale.<br />
Korean artist Choi<br />
Jeong Kwa who<br />
will take part in the<br />
Bangkok Art Biennale.<br />
Left, Top and Bottom<br />
Cinema Taipei<br />
new galleries and art centres have<br />
opened their doors, while <strong>Thai</strong><br />
artists are increasingly exhibiting<br />
their works abroad. Within the<br />
country, appetite for art has never<br />
been more pronounced. “This<br />
maturation has been continuous<br />
over the past decade and we’ve<br />
reached a point where hosting<br />
an international manifestation<br />
of contemporary art is the next<br />
natural step,” adds the curator.<br />
Mixing cultural heritage with<br />
contemporary art practices, the<br />
Bangkok Art Biennale also makes<br />
history in <strong>Thai</strong>land through its use<br />
of temples - touristic highlights<br />
Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Wat<br />
Prayoon for instance - as pavilions<br />
to showcase artworks, a first in the<br />
country, where these sites retain<br />
an active religious and cultural<br />
role. Abbots and monks looking<br />
after the sites have been very keen<br />
Courtesy of the artist and 100 Tonson Gallery, Bangkok<br />
66<br />
67
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