One of the biggest art and design-focused events in the capital, Bangkok Design Week has officially returned, featuring artworks, installations and events in hip venues across the city.
Working with the theme “Co with Creation”, the latest run of the annual event features wonderful and thought-provoking pieces and concepts that reflect a new way of life in the pandemic era.
Five neighborhoods—Samyan, Ari-Pradiphat, Charoenkrung-Talad Noi, and Thonglor-Ekkamai—are taking part in this year’s festival, with some of the biggest highlights popping up in the Old Town area. Illuminated set-ups can be seen in abandoned shopping mall New World in Bang Lamphu and publishing house Bumrung Nukulkij on Bamrung Mueang Road.
Bangkok Design Week 2022 will run until 13 February. Here’s a collection of cool shots from two host locations.
Charoenkrung
Start off at The Grand Postal Building on Charoenkrung-Talad Noi, which is playing host to SIT/VID/ME, a communal space that invites everyone to come together safely in a creative atmosphere. Also set within the building is Co with Garden. This joint showcase between CEA and Kernel Design presents a modern outdoor space where you can relax amid verdant greenery. You can also browse through the stalls at the small market in this venue.
Continue your art exploration at community space Charoen 43. This freshly launched venue is hidden behind recently opened café and gallery Madi. Ahead of its grand opening, Charoen 43 collaborated with Bangkok Design Week to display several art exhibitions inside a series of renovated shophouses.
Don’t give up already, because there’s more to see in Charoenkrung. Into Thai Films by TASSHA at House No. 1 displays costumes from and posters of famous local and international movies. Meanwhile, River City Bangkok will be showing Mental-verse by Eyedropper Fill, a short documentary that aims to raise awareness about depression.
Jump Master Skate Haus, housed in a century-old structure, is temporary home to two exhibitions—Shadow Theatre by Spanish artist Jaime Hayon, with support from hip hotel brand The Standard, and Collector Project’s Wathu+Dip.
Old Town
Most of the exhibitions in this historic area are centered in Phranakhon. Bumrung Nukulkij, Bangkok’s oldest publishing house founded during the reign of King Rama V, unlocks its doors for the first time in many years to provide a setting for Future Paradise. This installation ponders the question of what life will be like in the next 10 years. Don’t forget to check out the pop-up café of Craftman Roastery and eye-popping projection mapping shows during the evening.
At former shopping destination New World, Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Architecture, in conjunction with HUI Team Design, presents New World x Old Town, an exhibition that features nine wonderful artworks that reveal the rich history of this one-time commercial area of Bangkok.
More art and events can be enjoyed at venues in Samyan, Ari-Pradiphat, and Thonglor-Ekkamai.
For more information, visit Bangkok Design Week’s official website.