As the year kicks off, the gallery scene in Bangkok – and beyond – has plenty of new and interesting art shows underway
Well, we made it to 2021, which is a relief, and if you missed checking out all of last year’s Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB) exhibits, they will continue to be on display till January 31st. As far as the smaller galleries are concerned, there’s also loads to choose from including several group shows, a few solo shows, one brand new gallery, and a farewell exhibit (if you happen to be in Chiang Mai).
The Relative of Differences
La Lanta Fine Art: Until January 10
There’s still time to head over to La Lanta Fine Art to catch The Relative of Differences, a solo exhibition by Chiang Mai-based artist Morakot Ketklao, whose work explores the connections between the personal and the shared experience of global climate change. With her acrylic on linen paintings, she relates her everyday observations of the nuances and subtleties of her immediate environment to those of our ever-changing planet through abstract forms.
Reflection of Infinity
SAC Gallery: January 21 – March 14
Towards the end of this month, SAC Gallery will unveil Reflection of Infinity, a magnificent curated retrospective of the late Thai-based French sculptress known simply as ‘Val’, with sculptures dating from 2007 to 2016. Born Valérie Goutard, the artist had a deep bond with Thailand, and was one of the most renowned international artists to build a career here. Her work creates a unique sense of space via curves and contrast, with the weight of the bronze seemingly at odds with the gravity-defying light lines and delicate balance inherent in her works. Her final collection of bronze and glass was produced alongside Murano’s glass masters in 2016, and some will be on show for the first time in Thailand as part of this exhibition. Val has been hailed by Artsper Magazine as one of the most significant French sculptors of the past century.
Michael Kvium & Christian Lemmerz
Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok: Until January 31
Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok presents a “duo” solo exhibition by Michael Kvium and Christian Lemmerz. These two well-respected artists have, incidentally, both held solo exhibitions at Tang’s Hong Kong gallery (back in 2018). Specializing in oil on canvas, Danish painter Michael Kvium has been exhibited at major art museums in Denmark, and his main subjects tend to be distorted figures with abnormal faces and bodies. Meanwhile, Germain-born Christian Lemmerz’s sculptures in marble are both disturbing and visually arresting.
The Space Between Us
IconLuxe (1st floor, IconSiam): Until January 31
The Space Between Us is a curated pop-up group show exhibition, featuring a range of local and international contemporary artists, being co-presented by Tang Contemporary Art Bangkok and IconSiam. This unique art space, at IconLuxe, will open a door to a whole new world, where art fans can engage in several different cultures and various ideas, all presented through these new media artworks. The creative talents taking part are: Chen Tianzhuo, Chen Zihao, Chong Ai Le, Dinh Q. Le, Entang Wiharso, Gongkan, Guan Saimei, Jiang Zhi, Kitti Narod, Ling Jian, Pannaphan Yodmanee, Roldan Manok Ventura, Su Bin, Tawan Wattuya, and Yuree Kensaku.
Friends
Kalwit Studio & Gallery: January 8 – February 28
Artist Kraisak Chirachaisakul, the father of Wal and Kit Chirachaisakul, specializes in the time-honoured techniques of printmaking, mezzotint, and drypoint. In his latest show, Friends, the lines of the prints give feelings of stability, simplicity, relaxation, or even clutter, to create a beautiful picture. The images express the elements of love in various forms, as explored via the friendship between two women. Emotions, feelings, desires, gentleness, romance and beauty are all conveyed through lines and colours in these prints.
The Impressionists
RCB Gallery MODA: January 8 – April 18
River City Bangkok’s MODA Gallery (2nd floor, RCB) presents a multimedia exhibition featuring the 10 greatest Impressionist artists, namely: Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri Rousseau, George Seurat, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Paul Gauguin. The exhibition is divided into different sections, beginning with the overture room, displaying nostalgic Paris boulevards back in the 19th century. Afterwards, discover picturesque installations of reproduced masterpieces such as the famous green bridge as seen in Monet’s The Water Lily Pond. Early bird tickets with special prices now available.
Happyology
ChangChui Creative Park: Until January 31
Happyology is a group exhibition organized by Number 1 Gallery, which is being held at the ChangChui Creative Park. This exhibition represents each artist’s perspectives, attitudes and notions of beauty, but also touches on current economic and political issues. Collectively, the show can be compared to a classroom, where all sentiments, point of view, and thoughts are collected and studied. The 10 artists taking part are: Boonhlue Yangsauy, Tewaporn Maikongkeaw, Ratthaphoom Piwpantamit, Anon Lulitananda, Prawit Lumcharoen, Nattiwut Choomanowat, Pat Yingcharoen, Thunchanok Plakulsantikorn, Phadungsak Kheawpong, and Thinnapat Takuear.
Venus in the Shell
River City Bangkok’s RCB Galleria (2nd floor): January 7 –February 28
In Greek and Roman mythology, Aphrodite, or Venus, is the goddess of love, desire, beauty, prosperity, fertility, and victory. Over the centuries, she has been depicted in the forms of sculptures and paintings, such as The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, or the armless Venus de Milo sculpture. The upcoming solo art show Venus in the Shell, by Phannapast “Yoon” Taychamaythakool – an internationally acclaimed artist and illustrator – takes visitors into an extraordinary world of mythology and imagination, presenting the artist’s own interpretations of this mythic beauty, divided into four chapters: Forbidden Flower, Moonlight Dive, Mandragora in the Vase, and The Wanderer.
Overflow – From Trash to Art
Warin Lab Contemporary: January 23 – March 21
New on the Bangkok gallery scene is Warin Lab Contemporary, which is located in the 100-year-old residence-turned-art-space that formerly housed Serindia Gallery (Charoenkrung Road, Soi 36). In keeping with Warin Lab’s mission of providing a space to discuss social issues through art, and its focus of an overall environmental theme in 2021, the inaugural exhibition here is all about consumer waste. Entitled Overflow – From Trash to Art, the show has Thai artist Wishulada Panthanuvong reflecting on waste accumulation by creating a site-specific installation in which grandiose furniture such as a functional sofa, table, ceiling lamps, and hanging sculptures – all of which are made of trash – are placed inside the space with the intention that the viewers can have a pleasant time in this “invented” living room.
Once Upon a Time, in the Places I’ve Been
Ardel Gallery of Modern Art: January 17 – February 21
Once Upon a Time, in the Places I’ve Been is a solo exhibition by Professor Emeritus Pishnu Supanimit, a writer, critic, scholar, artist and art instructor who is highly respected in Thailand’s contemporary art circles. The show’s title refers to the cities and countries the artist has visited, and across 93 individual works of art he captures and portrays the nature, architecture, landmarks, and traditional and cultural stories from the wide-ranging continents of Europe, Asia and America. Of special note are Pishnu’s watercolours, which draw the audience in not only because of their graceful presentation, astounding light and colours, and dazzling ambiance, but also from the importance of each place and its remarkable backstory.
Hysteria
Toot Yung Art Centre (Chiang Mai): Until February 15
If you’re in Chiang Mai, and you can make a side trip to the Mae Rim District, then a visit to the Toot Yung Art Centre is recommended. The gallery space itself is lovely, as are the pastoral surroundings, and on display until mid-February is a group show entitled Hysteria, which gathers together the works of eight forceful Thai women artists (described as “atypical taboo shakers” in the press release). “For a long time, I wanted to propose an all-female exhibition showing something different: strength, humour and gender equality,” explains Myrtille Tibayrenc, curator and director of the Toot Yung Art Center. Incidentally, this will be the very last exhibition in this current space, as Toot Yung’s current location will be officially closing its doors at the end of February.
