Bangkok Art Biennale

Bangkok Art Biennale

Peter C | Posted on January 29th, 2019 in Art

Over the last couple of months, Bangkok has become a giant art gallery as part of the Bangkok Art Biennale. The event features contemporary artworks by 75 artists from 33 countries at 20 locations around the city. Admission is free.

Polka Dot Hanging Pumpkin

Bangkok Art Biennale / Beyond Bliss

In all, there are over 200 contemporary artworks on show at the Biennale. Some are in fixed locations while others rotate around venues. The theme of the exhibition is socio-political and environmental issues and dubbed Beyond Bliss. Artworks on display are aimed at invoking happiness.

The Breathing Flower

Bangkok Art Biennale Activities

There are also workshops, art related events, a short film competition, and live performances. The Bangkok Art Biennale venues are mostly historical sites & malls. The venues include Wat Arun, Wat Pho & Wat Prayoon temples, Siam Paragon, Central World and Siam Discovery Malls. A Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) box at One Bangkok will provide you with a free map and information on the venues and exhibits.

Basket Tower

Pumpkin

Bangkok Art Biennale / Artists & Highlights

The artists are mainly from Thailand though, the Bangkok Art Biennale has an international flavor with artists from around the world. The most well known is the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, one of the worlds most influential female artists. She is famous for her unique polka dot works. You can see her hanging polka dot pumpkins at Central World and a smaller installation at Siam Paragon. Choi Jeong Hwa representing South Korea is responsible for the giant inflatables, the breathing flower, the fruit tree, and the happy pink pig.

The Spinning Wheel

Thai Artists

Thai artists include Kawita Vatanajyankur featuring her experimental videos such as performing textiles where Kawita transforms her body into a knitting needle. This is also being performed as a live show at the Peninsula Hotel every Saturday until February 2nd at 15.20 to 16.30. Also representing Thailand at Bangkok Art Biennale is Komkrit Tepthian who created the Giant Twins (a fiberglass statue merging a giant Yaksha Guardian & a Chinese Warrior) at Wat Arun.

The Giant Twins

The Lost Dog

Another impressive piece is the massive Lost Dog Ma Long bull terrier statue by French artist Aurele Richard. The dog has been specially created for the Bangkok Art Biennale. It?s 5.9 meters high and made of fiberglass covered with gold leaf. It sits outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

The Lost Dog

The Love Me Pig

Bangkok Art Biennale Locations

• Wat Arun
• Wat Pho
• Siam Paragon
• Siam Discovery Center
• Central World
• Central Embassy
• One Bangkok
• Wat Prayoon
• Empire Tower Sathorn
• Nailert Park Heritage Home
• Bank of Thailand Learning Center
• Alliance Francaise
• Siam Square One
• Siam Center
• Bangkok Art & Culture Center
• East Asiatic Building
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel
• South East Insurance Tower
• The Peninsula Hotel
• OP Place
• Theatre of Indulgence
• The EMQuartier

Must-See Exhibits

If you don?t have time to visit all the venues at the Biennale we recommend Bangkok Art & Culture Center, Wat Prayoon, The East Asiatic Building, OP Place, Central World, Siam Discovery Center, Siam Paragon, and One Bangkok. Check the map below for more details on the locations. The best starting point is One Bangkok (MRT Lumphini) where the Bangkok Art Biennale information office (BAB Box) is located.

The Fruit Tree

Bangkok Art Biennale Photos

We visited all of the venues at the Biennale and these are our personal favorite exhibits. You can see more exhibits in our gallery at the bottom of the page.

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