Bangkok Biennial
The Bangkok Biennial is a biennial exhibition of contemporary art which was inaugurated in 2018.[1] The first edition ran from July 1 until September 30.[2] It was the first biennial/biennale event to take place in Thailand.[3] Organised in a decentralised and open-access manner, the 2018 Bangkok Biennial did not have a central curatorial team[4] and was made up of autonomous, self-organised pavilions.[4] Most of the pavilions were located in the city of Bangkok, additional pavilion were located in other parts of Thailand and in the Netherlands and Japan online.[5]
Preceding the Thailand Biennale and the Bangkok Art Biennale, the Bangkok Biennial is one of three very different biennial art events all inaugurated in Thailand in the second half of 2018[6]
The founders of the Bangkok Biennial have remained anonymous to date.[7] They have claimed this is in an effort to work against traditional 'top-down' approaches[8]
History and purpose
History of Bangkok Biennale
Bangkok Art Biennale is a non-profit organization that was established in 2017 to inspire audiences in Thailand, ASEAN, and beyond[9]. By Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman and Founder of the Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited.[10] . First soft opening at the Bangkok Art & Culture Center (BACC) on October 17, 2018.[11] Causing the beginning of Thailand's contemporary art enterprise, King Chulalongkorn recorded that while visiting the Venice Biennale, he experienced a lot of modern art and discovered several disciplines of art such as Art Nouveau, Impressionism, and furthermore. Later, under the reign of [12], His Majesty established a museum at Thung Sala Daeng to serve as a public gathering place as well as a site for international exhibitions. The Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation took place on May 13, 2017 at Venice's Grand Canal. by the Bangkok Art Biennale Foundation's objective as a non-profit organization to help Bangkok become one of the world's contemporary art capitals.[13][14]
Purpose of Bangkok Biennale
Making Bangkok a prominent destination for contemporary art, enhance Thailand's art industry's foundation, and encourage and support Thai artists to attend in Biennales. The objective is to strengthen the cooperation between Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Thai government, and the corporate sector in Thailand. Together with restoring and improving the Bangkok area as a destination for tourists and recreational activities. In addition to exhibiting the artwork, the group also develops an art curriculum and offers training to volunteers and students.
Theme and concept
2018 : Beyond Bliss
First Bangkok art biennale in 2018. The founder has the intention to help people live with the disruption in daily life. While at that time we were living in fear. We experienced fear, chaos, natural disaster, delusion, Terror, and overpopulation. Those things made people more unhappy. And hoping that all of the disruptions will end soon. But it never ends. All those fears are coming into Our life through the NEWS that we read. Especially when we’re in the era of information. That also made us anxious and worried about the future that hasn't happened yet. Human sensory “joy” through the 5 senses, sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Our body will stimulate all the senses and send them to our brains. And after that pleasure will happen and then faded as the times go by. And it’s natural, that we desire and demand more happiness. Otherwise, desire and hopelessness result in unhappiness. And for someone they value happiness as a life goal. And the way they believe that there’s no afterlife. It made them immerse themselves in earthly happiness. Production and materialism provide us with happiness. But some people, they don’t know enough. Some people, who are blind to money, fame, and pleasure, are more miserable. They’ll never find happiness. Otherwise, beyond happiness, there is still beyond bliss. Bliss is a complete stage of joy, an experience relevant to the soul. Ajarn Jayasaro Bhikkhu explains this type of joy is a sensual pleasure, separate from desire. “The bliss is sensual nourish our wisdom, it separate from it is experienced as a natural expression of the things they are” Beyond Bliss is neither happiness nor depression. But there’s no craving for materialistic happiness on fame or power. This theme is used as the main idea of the biennale. By inviting 75 artists to interpret their ideas and thoughts on what’s happiness. And the meaning of beyond bliss, we may find the purpose of life through this biennale. And this theme is challenging both artists and audiences, on the interpretation of beyond bliss on their own.[15]
2020 : Escape Routes
For Bangkok Art Biennale 2020 to be held in Bangkok, The theme is “Escape Routes.” The chaos of the present that meant to be fixed urgently. Based on the current, we should use it as an attempt to understand, adjust ourselves, and escape from the unpleasant whirlpool. Bangkok Art Biennale's purpose is to use Art to bring us out of the maze, which is filled with difficulty. Artists from all over the world will be invited to find the escape route from different difficulties. Such as environment, pollution, social sickness, social malaise, gender, diaspora, inclusivity, and political differences. More than that you’ll be part of Art because the artist will present their way of healing to make us escape from issues by offering art practice as mind escapism where meditation, contemplation, ritualism, healing, and performance become the essence of hope and optimism.[16]
2022 : Chaos and calm (Period 29.10.20 - 31.01.21)
Bangkok Art Biennale 2022 under theme CHAOS: CALM. The exhibition will be between 22 October 2022 to 23 February 2023. The opposite between Chaos and calm reflects the contemporary world that we live in. The artist made the work to represent the turbulence Trauma and anger remind us of the fragility of life during this pandemic, climate change environmental degradation Politics, and various ideological conflicts in the world are unpleasant and delusional. Artists show the result of the destruction of humanity and nature by human hands. In the middle of Choas, there is still a glimpse of unexpected hope and luck as humans and nature adjust themselves to live together. With loss and deterioration, Ways of life will never return to normality. The discovery of Calmness in Chaos might unexpectedly be enriching through chance. This process needs to require empathy, patience, allure, and aside of humor. We might feel calm and tranquil at the same time with the new world of post-pandemic.
Artist in 2018 edition
An unknown number of artists were included in the first edition of the Bangkok Biennial. Originally billed as "150+" artists,[17] the event's website, published materials and mobile application listed 249 artists when the event opened in July 2018.[18] The actual number is likely higher.
Artist in 2020 edition
Finding a means for escaping the notion Art produces an 'escape route' to happiness that challenges the audience to understand the meaning of the concept of escape. As a result, the works presented and created by numerous artists this year can be appropriately defined as 'the escape'. There are around 200 works and over 82 artists. Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor, Yoko Ono, Leandro Erlich, Lolay, Rerkrit Tiravanich, and Chantana Thipprachat are among the artists included. Since the subject demonstrates how the world is changing and contending with the pandemic, paintings portray suffering, human conflict, epidemics, and war. A faceless refugee's corpse is inside an all-black inflatable boat, depicted in Ai Wei Wei's "Law of Journey," which uses diverse media to express the tough evacuation.[19][20] Recognizing the present day, The artwork of Anish Kapoor beautifully integrates with the surroundings of Wat Arun Ratchawararam while presenting the transformation of everything and the existence of nature.[21] Example artist in this year , Wasinburee Supanichvoraparch (Thailand) , Martha Atienza (Philippines) , Lu Yang (China), Farhana Islam Tani (Bangladesh) and etc.[22]
Artist in 2022 edition
there are 42 artists participating in the exhibition. By presenting reflections and presentations of works of art that occur in the present There are many international artists performing throughout Bangkok. For the first time, there are still artists from Africa. Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa Participated in the 2020 Bangkok Art Biennale exhibition. Thai artists have also presented their artistic perspectives as well. For example artist, Stephanie Jane Bert (Singapore), Kavita Wattanachayangkul (Thailand), Kamin Lertchaiprasert (Thailand), Jakrawan Niltharong (Thailand), Jitti Kasemkijwatana (Thailand).[23][24][25]
Venue
Venue
Bangkok Art Biennale journey is not just walking in an art gallery. But it's the experience of traveling and enjoying the landmarks in Bangkok. Such as Temples, riverbank, heritage, art center, park, department store, and heritage building. The overlapping between space and art through artists interpretation on each year's theme. They guide us through the path of avenue and symbolism.
Virtual venue
pandemic's consequence on the world's art system, which resulted in a decline Art was regarded as an extravagance and unnecessary stuff, which contributed to the fight to survive. Cut backs, disruptions, cancellations, and postponements all contributed to the unpredictability that followed. finding a means to save and create a new Restoration for the survival of art[26][27]
2020's venue
In order to survive the difficult situation and maintain development, the theme "Escape Route" in 2020. Since the pandemic's spread and the political instability. The limitations of travel, self-isolation(quarantine), and social distancing have a huge impact on art viewing at physical locations as well as virtual venues that are condutced online. Fortunately, the first COVID-19 wave was not particularly severe, and there was only a partial lockdown. More than 400,000 viewers have visited an online website, and there are roughly 2.3 million visitors participating both physically and virtually. [28]
venue list in each year
2018
The route was divided into two categories, such as the River Route and the City Route.[29][30]
1. Bank of Thailand Learning Center
2. Wat Arun Ratchawararam
3. Wat Ohra Chetuphon Vimolmangklaram
4. Wat Prayurawongsawat
5. O.P. Place
6. The peninsula Bangkok hotel
7. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
8. The East Asiatuc Builfing
9. Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
10. Siam Discovery
11. Siam Square one
12. Siam Center
13. Siam Paragon
14. CentralWorld
15. Central Embassy
16. Nai Lert Park Heritage Home
17. Alliance Francaise Bangkok
18. One bangkok
19. The Emquartier
20. Theater of Indulgence.[31]
21. BAB Box
2020
The route was divided into three categories, such as the Heritage , Art&culture ,and Mixed up spaces[32] BAB (Box One Bangkok) 1.BACC (Bangkok Art and Culture Centre)
2. LHONG 1919
3. Museum Siam
4. The Parq
5. The Prelude One Bangkok
6. Wat Arun
7. Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho)
9.BAB Virtual venue
2022
1.BAB Virtual venue
2.BACC (Bangkok Art and Culture Centre)
4.JWD Art space
6.The prelude, one Bangkok
7.QSNCC
9.The PARQ
10.Wat Arun
11.Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho)
curator team and management
Name list of Curatorial team
2018 - Professor. Dr Apinan Poshyananda
- Luckana Former
- Sansern Milindasuta
- Dr.adele Adele Tan
2020
- Asst Prof Wutigorn Kongka
- Ong Puay Khim
- Sun Wenjie
- Dow Wasiksiri
- Asst Prof Kitti Sangkaew
2022
- Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda
- Jirat Ratthanawongjirakul
- Chomwan Weeraworawit
- Loredana Pazzini-Paraccianithis
- Nigel Hurst
- Mami Kataoka
- Alexandra Monroe
International Advisors
2018
- Alexandra Munroe
- David Stuart Elliott
- Dr. Eugene Tan
- Nanjo Fumio
- Nigel Hurst
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Sunjung Kim
2020
- David Stuart Elliott
- Alexandra Munroe
- Fumio Nanjo
- Marina Abramović
- Marco Scotini
2022
- Dr. Eugene Tan
- Wang Chen
DEK BAB
DEK BAB is the activity that happened for the first time at the Bangkok art biennale 2018 art students can apply to be a guide. and the artist's assistant, including having a baht in the installation of the works. The opportunity to work with international artists and the experience in the Thai Art industry. By having trained and worked in the exhibition with many position Artist Crew, Liaison, and Docent.
Management
Artistic directors
2018 - present : Prof. Dr. Apinan Poshyananda
References
- ^ "1st Bangkok Biennial to Open With Riverside Aerobics". 22 June 2018.
- ^ "Bangkok Biennial announces its official lineup of artists". bk.asia-city.com.
- ^ "Battle of the Biennials: Which Will Define Thailand?". 21 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Out of the shadows, almost".
- ^ "The boom in biennials - The Nation".
- ^ "Thailand's rising contemporary art scene – Prestige Online – Society's Luxury Authority".
- ^ "What's holding back Bangkok's art scene?". bk.asia-city.com.
- ^ "A trio of biennials".
- ^ "ฐาปน สิริวัฒนภักดี มากกว่าศิลปะที่ซ่อนอยู่ใน Bangkok Art Biennale". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Foundation's Mission". Bangkok Art Biennale.
- ^ "BANGKOK ART BIENNALE | บางกอก อาร์ต เบียนนาเล่". Nairobroo. 22 October 2018.
- ^ King Vajiravadh
- ^ Poshyananda, Apinan (2020). BAB 2020 : escape routes : 2nd Bangkok Art Biennale. Bangkok: Bangkok Art Biennale Management Co., Ltd. ISBN 9786161842505.
- ^ 1st Bangkok art biennale : beyond bliss 2018. Bangkok: Amarin. ISBN 978616830786.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ 1st Bangkok art biennale: beyond bliss 2018. Amarin. 2019. p. 505. ISBN 9786161830786.
- ^ BAB 2020 escape route.
- ^ "Marvel at 150+ Artists at 1st Bangkok Biennial". 7 May 2018.
- ^ "Artists 2018 - Bangkok Biennial". bangkokbiennial.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10.
- ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale". bab20.bkkartbiennale.com.
- ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale 2020 Escape Routes : ศิลป์สร้าง ทางสุข". www.bot.or.th.
- ^ พุทซาคำ, สุวิชา (3 December 2020). "12 งานศิลปะใน Bangkok Art Biennale 2020 ที่ไม่อยากให้พลาด". The Cloud (in Thai).
- ^ "Works". Bangkok Art Biennale.
- ^ "BAB2022 : Art For Air ได้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของ Bangkok Art Biennale". ART for AIR. 17 December 2022.
- ^ https://www.bkkartbiennale.com.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale 2022". Thaddaeus Ropac.
- ^ "Virtual Venue - Bangkok Art Biennale". virtualvenue.bkkartbiennale.com.
- ^ "Venues - Bangkok Art Biennale". bab22.bkkartbiennale.com.
- ^ "Venues - Bangkok Art Biennale". bab22.bkkartbiennale.com.
- ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale 2018". BKKMENU (in Thai).
- ^ "เก็บให้ครบ! 20 สถานที่จัดงาน Bangkok Art Biennale 2018 ทั่วกรุงเทพฯ". www.thaiticketmajor.com.
- ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale 2018". BKKMENU (in Thai).
- ^ "Bangkok Art Biennale 2020". BKKMENU (in Thai).
External links
- Bangkok Biennial at the Wayback Machine (archived December 8, 2021)